Hunger Stone :
Recent droughts in Europe once again made visible the “Hunger Stones” in some Czech and German rivers.
These stones were used to mark desperately low river levels that would forecast famines.
This one, in the Elbe river, is from 1616 and says: “If you see me, cry.”
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“when the well is dry, we will know the worth of water.”
-benjamin franklin
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credits: history review
The shape of things to come, I fear. ‘Water wars’ in the not too-distant future.
Best wishes, Pete.
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sadly
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The bed we have made does not look at all comfortable to sleep in. Great post, Beth!
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indeed, and thank you
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This is sad!
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so very
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Why aren’t we waking up yet!
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it’s really a mystery to me, this is so obvious
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Very much so. 🧐
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The tickets to another planet will soon be on sale and be very expensive. 10 gallons of water will get you a first class seat.
I read this some time ago and searched and found it again:
This crossword clue Dowsing ___ (stick that can supposedly find underground water)
ROD = answer
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excellent!
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a very moving post, Beth; it seems droughts and floods will always be with us —
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yes – but things have been pushed even further by our actions
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true; hope it’s not too late to prevent further floods and droughts
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me too
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Perfect quote. Sadly so.
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it is -(
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Most timely. Love this post, Beth. Thank you for a new gem of information
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thanks, Ryan. my pleasure. I love how they said this, it says it all.
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Another daunting sign, Beth.
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Water levels rise in one area and sink in others…
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Yes
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Texas will have to install some hunger stones if we don’t get rain soon.
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Yes
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If you see me cry… Water is so precious. Both too little and too much will make you weep. The villages on the rivers in Germany also marked the high marks of floods. I am thinking as a reminder to always be prepared.
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Yes
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This is all the more dramatic when we know that only last year, Germany had these terrible floodings in the Ahr Valley (reference https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/13/floods-then-and-now-photographs-germany-ahr-valley-flooding-disaster-july-2021
but will humanity learn anything before it’s too late? I dispair some days over the stupidity of us. Very relevant post Beth and thank you for an info I didn’t have – Hungersteine…. indeed! I sigh and weep.
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It is such a delicate balance
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WOW. So powerful even today….thank you for sharing
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I think so too
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Here in Spain the south is truly suffering this dry spell and now I heard that German commerce on the Rhine River is in danger because of the lower water levels…
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Awful
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Frightening
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It really is
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Emotional and More emotional because of water which is emotional in nature 😔
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Like so many of our earth’s blessings that we take for granted will always be available to us. But when low water levels interrupt commerce and convenience, instead of looking at ourselves to blame, we’ll blame it on whatever political party we dislike. Until WE accept responsibility and agree to change, the earth will never recover from how we have treated it.
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That’s exactly right
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It shows the interconnectedness of the earth’s various facets. Each of us is mere blip on the horizon. Drought in one place. Flooding in another: is man so powerful that we can make Ma Nature conform to our convenience? Do we want to have that responsibility?
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Right
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Scary and disconcerting. But attention should be paid.
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Absolutely
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So tragic, so troubling 😦
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Yes, it is both
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Reading down through the comments, I read “the interconnectedness of the earth’s various faucets”! The faucets were wide open here yesterday, ending drought in some areas while flooding others.
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There is no middle ground it seems
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Water, water nowhere; soon no drops left to drink.
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I feel lucky to live by the Great Lakes, which may be called the ‘formerly known as the Great Lakes’ before too lomg
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Nature simply puts up with us and if she gets tired, or thinks we’re too much trouble…it’s pretty much over, since She is the one with all the power. We have screwed up the environment and yet, we still take no radical steps to change what we have done. Huge industries pay huge fines and the government takes the money and allows the pollution and destruction to happen. The stones are just another reminder of what our future may hold.
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Sadly, they are
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Yes.
Sent from my iPhone
>
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❤️
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Poignant.
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it is, and so powerful
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Recently, I heard about this too. It is scary how the rivers and lakes have shrunk in our greater area.
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it is such a bad sign –
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Very much!
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My heart is sad as I remember history. We must never forget them.
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so right
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let’s hope those stones get covered soon…
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yes, fingers crossed –
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That is a haunting history.
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It really is
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That picture represents a very good reminder of where we’re at, and where we need to get back to. I never thought we would get to the point where many need to ration, redirect, and rethink water…but here we are.
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yes, we are absolutely there and this stone is an excellent messenger
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Such a problem all over the planet. Yet, people continue to ignore our beautiful Mother. Time to listen. 🌎🌲🍃
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so right, Jeff
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We’re in the midst of fire season in California. So much smoke in the air it doesn’t feel healthy to breathe.
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that’s so awful for so many reasons. be safe
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A timely piece Beth, especially given the drought we are currently suffering here.
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yes it is, sadly
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Such a sad mark. The drought is everywhere and serious.
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heartbreaking
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Yes!
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This post had such a profound impact on my body. I felt it and it doesn’t feel good. There are just too many not paying any attention and not wanting to understand. Living in different parts of the world where abundant clean water was not a given has taught me how valuable it is. Instead of oil and gas pipelines or in addition to them, we need to find a way to funnel flood waters to places that are in need. It can’t be that hard. Frustration is oozing. Sorry.
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I totally understand your reaction and agree
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Hi Beth,
These stones are so interesting and a solid reminder to conserve and preserve our natural resources.
Blessings to you and thank you for sharing!
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they do – my pleasure
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Had no idea these stones existed. Feels like ghosts warning you of the suffering they once knew. There’s an awful realness to them, to see them having been literally carved at a time when these stones were exposed and famine was likely on their doorstep. Eerie and haunting. Thanks for sharing
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I so agree with your comment. It’s as if they reached through time to warn us
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