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- New United: War on Water

New United: War on Water
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 English

 War on Water
By Arthur Kenna
Staff Writer
Archibald, Yar, Centauri

Blue sparks arc between the grounding plates attached to the outside of most buildings in Archibald, the extreme low humidity making static buildup and discharge a real hazard to those who walk the dusty streets here. Even though the atmosphere on Yar is technically breathable, you see few inhabitants these day who go outside without protection. The air is so dry that even a short walk can result in cracked lips, nose bleeds, itchy eyes and irritated throats. Sweat evaporates as quickly as it can form. It seems almost like an act of defiance that Captain Jemma Viernes of the Archibald Protection Force talks to the reporters assembled outside the main headquarters without a mask. She is here to tout the results of a sting operation that culminated in the arrest of three suspected smugglers. The latest in an ongoing effort to curtail a growing and problematic black market on Yar, the sting resulted in the single largest seizure of contraband to date, ninety-six thousand kiloliters of clean, potable water.

Now in its seventh year, the current drought on Yar is by far the longest on record for the planet. Already an arid world covered in deserts, the effects of the drought have been devastating for the small towns and settlements that dot the surface. The planet’s infamous Red Desert is estimated to have expanded by 23% since 2940. What was already considered a hard life has become all the more difficult as available water supplies dwindle. One local resident, Frosino ‘Sunny’ Vogan, who runs a ‘Carry-All’ shop near Hester Flats, summed up the situation by saying, “No one who chooses to live here’s expecting an easy life, but this? This is no kind of life at all.” Like many though, even with these harsh conditions, Vogan has no plans on leaving the planet. “You pour as much blood and sweat into the land as I have, you start to feel a part of it.”

In response to the ongoing problem, the leadership council declared a State of Emergency in 2941 and enacted several strict regulations for water use and reclamation. These regulations not only affected the population, but the mining industry as well, which depends on water for many common extraction practices. Despite these measures and humanitarian aid provided by the Empire, the water reserves on Yar continue to fall well below the standards set by the UEE for per-person water consumption with regards to drinking and sanitation. The moisture collectors and grey water processors just have not been able to keep up with even the reduced demand owing to the severity of the drought.

To make up the difference in supply, the government began to significantly increase its procurement of off-world water resources. However, as the private sector began to compete for those same shipments in the water markets, prices soon skyrocketed. With its budget already stretched, the government could not compete and soon the majority of the water making its way to the world was sold directly to wealthier individuals or corporations. A majority of the inhabitants found themselves unable to afford the high market prices and unable to depend on the government to provide for them. Though there were rules which limited how much water people could consume, the booming private market made exact usage statistics extremely difficult to track. As the drought continued and conditions worsened, prices and demand only increased. Even though the number of water haulers making deliveries to the planet quadrupled by 2944, it was not enough to tame the runaway market.

Desperate to restore balance and curtail the growing drought-related death toll, the council passed a new ordinance outlawing the private sale of water on Yar. Announcing the new measures, council member Keisha Redd said, “the good of all people must come before any one individual. If we are to survive this, we must do so together.” Despite protests, at 00:00 SET on May 25th, 2946, Executive Council Order B-14-26 went into effect. Selling water had now become illegal on Yar.

Unfortunately, the new regulations have not had the desired effect. As the council locked in a new lower price at which it was willing to purchase water, many of the haulers and traders left the marketplace, unsatisfied with slimmer profit margins. With less water coming to the planet, the authorities enacted tighter consumption restrictions at the start of 2947 and use was capped at the bare minimum. Companies who rely on water for their operations are forced to compete for limited water-use licenses with only sparse amounts available every quarter. Many struggle to subsist on the resources the council can provide, while those with the means to do so have turned to a new fount — the water black market.

An anonymous source who operates a mine near the southern Prosolo border says, “about eight months ago I was contacted by a broker who said she could get my tanks back up to the levels they were before Order 26 went into effect. Costs twice as much as it did before they passed the damn law, but what else can you do? To get one of those official licenses you have to be extremely lucky or know the right people. Or better yet, both.” Recent estimates from the Archibald Protection Force state that nearly a third of the total current water on Yar has been transported there illegally. In an attempt to curtail the growing black market, the last few months have seen heightened scans at all orbital weigh stations, multiple raids, and dozens of arrests. The council has even been looking to add a tracer to its water supplies to help identify illegal sources. Despite the time and effort spent shutting down the trade, it seems like there is no end in sight. Illegal water is still pouring into Yar as smugglers seek to take advantage of the situation. If the current trends continue, the council could be on the verge of waging open war against its population as the need for water continues to make outlaws out of everyday people.

However, a new wrinkle has emerged. One of the alleged smugglers arrested this week, Kira Henderson, is contesting the charges placed against her by claiming that water is a basic Human right under the UEE’s Common Laws and that the officials on Yar did not have the legal standing to outlaw its sale to the public in the first place. Many across the world have embraced Henderson’s interpretation and organized formal protests in Archibald and beyond to support her. A hearing has been scheduled for later this month and its outcome could have major ramifications, not only for Yar, but the Empire as a whole.

 Krieg auf dem Wasser
Von Arthur Kenna
Personalverfasser
Archibald, Yar, Centauri.

Blaue Funken bleichen zwischen den Erdungsplatten, die an der Außenseite der meisten Gebäude in Archibald angebracht sind, aus. Die extrem niedrige Luftfeuchtigkeit macht statische Aufladung und Entladung zu einer echten Gefahr für diejenigen, die hier auf den staubigen Straßen gehen. Auch wenn die Atmosphäre auf Yar technisch atmungsaktiv ist, sieht man heute nur noch wenige Bewohner, die schutzlos nach draußen gehen. Die Luft ist so trocken, dass schon ein kurzer Spaziergang zu Lippenbrüchen, Nasenbluten, juckenden Augen und gereizten Kehlen führen kann. Schweiß verdunstet so schnell, wie er sich bilden kann. Es scheint fast wie ein Akt des Widerstands, dass Captain Jemma Viernes von der Archibald Protection Force ohne Maske mit den Reportern spricht, die sich vor dem Hauptquartier versammelt haben. Sie ist hier, um die Ergebnisse einer Stacheloperation zu verkünden, die in der Verhaftung von drei mutmaßlichen Schmugglern gipfelte. Als jüngstes in einer laufenden Anstrengung, einen wachsenden und problematischen Schwarzmarkt auf Yar einzudämmen, führte der Stachel zur bisher größten Beschlagnahmung von Schmuggelware, 96.000 Kiloliter sauberes, trinkbares Wasser.

Die aktuelle Dürre auf Yar ist nun, in ihrem siebten Jahr, die mit Abstand längste seit Bestehen der Welt. Die Auswirkungen der Dürre sind verheerend für die Kleinstädte und Siedlungen, die an der Oberfläche liegen. Es wird geschätzt, dass die berüchtigte Rote Wüste des Planeten seit 2940 um 23% gewachsen ist. Was bereits als hartes Leben galt, ist umso schwieriger geworden, als die verfügbaren Wasservorräte schwinden. Ein Anwohner, Frosino 'Sunny' Vogan, der einen 'Carry-All'-Laden in der Nähe von Hester Flats betreibt, fasste die Situation mit den Worten zusammen: "Niemand, der sich dafür entscheidet, hier zu leben, erwartet ein einfaches Leben, aber das ist es? Das ist überhaupt keine Art von Leben." Wie viele jedoch hat Vogan auch unter diesen harten Bedingungen keine Pläne, den Planeten zu verlassen. "Du gießt so viel Blut und Schweiß in das Land wie ich, du fängst an, dich als Teil davon zu fühlen."

Als Reaktion auf das anhaltende Problem erklärte der Leitungsrat 2941 den Ausnahmezustand und verabschiedete mehrere strenge Vorschriften für die Wassernutzung und -rückgewinnung. Diese Vorschriften betrafen nicht nur die Bevölkerung, sondern auch die Bergbauindustrie, die bei vielen gängigen Förderverfahren auf Wasser angewiesen ist. Trotz dieser Maßnahmen und der humanitären Hilfe des Imperiums liegen die Wasserreserven auf Yar weiterhin deutlich unter den Standards der UEE für den Pro-Personen-Wasserverbrauch in Bezug auf Trinkwasser und Hygiene. Die Feuchtigkeitssammler und Grauwasseraufbereiter konnten selbst mit dem reduzierten Bedarf aufgrund der Schwere der Dürre nicht mithalten.

Um den Unterschied in der Versorgung auszugleichen, begann die Regierung, ihre Beschaffung von Wasserressourcen außerhalb der Welt deutlich zu erhöhen. Als der Privatsektor jedoch begann, um die gleichen Lieferungen auf den Wassermärkten zu konkurrieren, stiegen die Preise bald in die Höhe. Da das Budget bereits gestreckt war, konnte die Regierung nicht konkurrieren, und bald wurde der größte Teil des Wassers, das auf dem Weg in die Welt war, direkt an wohlhabendere Einzelpersonen oder Unternehmen verkauft. Die Mehrheit der Einwohner konnte sich die hohen Marktpreise nicht leisten und sich nicht auf die Versorgung durch die Regierung verlassen. Obwohl es Regeln gab, die den Verbrauch von Wasser einschränkten, machte der boomende Privatmarkt genaue Nutzungsstatistiken extrem schwierig zu verfolgen. Da die Dürre anhält und sich die Bedingungen verschlechtern, steigen Preise und Nachfrage nur noch. Auch wenn sich die Zahl der Wasserschlepper, die den Planeten beliefern, um 2944 vervierfachte, reichte es nicht aus, um den entlaufenen Markt zu zähmen.

In der Verzweiflung, das Gleichgewicht wiederherzustellen und die wachsende Zahl der durch Dürre verursachten Todesopfer zu verringern, verabschiedete der Rat eine neue Verordnung, die den privaten Verkauf von Wasser auf Yar verbietet. Bei der Ankündigung der neuen Maßnahmen sagte Ratsmitglied Keisha Redd: "Das Wohl aller Menschen muss vor jedem Einzelnen stehen. Wenn wir das überleben wollen, müssen wir das gemeinsam tun." Trotz Protesten trat am 25. Mai 2946 um 00:00 Uhr SET die Verordnung des Exekutivrates B-14-26 in Kraft. Der Verkauf von Wasser war auf Yar nun illegal geworden.

Leider haben die neuen Vorschriften nicht die gewünschte Wirkung gezeigt. Als der Rat einen neuen niedrigeren Preis festsetzte, zu dem er bereit war, Wasser zu kaufen, verließen viele der Schlepper und Händler den Markt, unzufrieden mit den geringeren Gewinnmargen. Da weniger Wasser auf den Planeten gelangt, haben die Behörden Anfang 2947 strengere Verbrauchsbeschränkungen erlassen und die Nutzung auf das absolute Minimum begrenzt. Unternehmen, die für ihren Betrieb auf Wasser angewiesen sind, sind gezwungen, um begrenzte Lizenzen für die Wassernutzung zu konkurrieren, wobei jedes Quartal nur geringe Mengen verfügbar sind. Viele kämpfen damit, von den Ressourcen zu leben, die der Rat zur Verfügung stellen kann, während diejenigen, die die Mittel dazu haben, sich an eine neue Quelle gewandt haben - den Wasserschwarzmarkt.

Eine anonyme Quelle, die eine Mine in der Nähe der südlichen Prosolo-Grenze betreibt, sagt: "Vor etwa acht Monaten wurde ich von einem Makler kontaktiert, der sagte, sie könne meine Tanks wieder auf das Niveau bringen, das sie vor Inkrafttreten von Befehl 26 waren. Es kostet doppelt so viel wie vor der Verabschiedung des verdammten Gesetzes, aber was kann man sonst noch tun? Um eine dieser offiziellen Lizenzen zu erhalten, muss man extrem viel Glück haben oder die richtigen Leute kennen. Oder noch besser, beides." Jüngste Schätzungen der Archibald Protection Force besagen, dass fast ein Drittel des gesamten aktuellen Wassers auf Yar illegal dorthin transportiert wurde. Um den wachsenden Schwarzmarkt einzudämmen, wurden in den letzten Monaten erhöhte Scans an allen Orbitalwaagen, mehrere Überfälle und Dutzende von Verhaftungen durchgeführt. Der Rat hat sogar versucht, seinen Wasservorräten einen Indikator hinzuzufügen, um illegale Quellen zu identifizieren. Trotz der Zeit und Mühe, die damit verbracht wurde, den Handel zu schließen, scheint kein Ende in Sicht zu sein. Illegales Wasser strömt immer noch in Yar, während Schmuggler versuchen, die Situation zu nutzen. Wenn sich die aktuellen Trends fortsetzen, könnte der Rat kurz davor stehen, einen offenen Krieg gegen seine Bevölkerung zu führen, da der Wasserbedarf weiterhin die Alltagsmenschen zum Gesetzlosen macht.

Allerdings ist eine neue Falte entstanden. Einer der mutmaßlichen Schmuggler, der diese Woche verhaftet wurde, Kira Henderson, bestreitet die gegen sie erhobenen Anklagen, indem er behauptet, dass Wasser ein grundlegendes Menschenrecht nach den Common Laws der UEE ist und dass die Beamten auf Yar nicht den rechtlichen Status hatten, ihren Verkauf an die Öffentlichkeit überhaupt zu verbieten. Viele auf der ganzen Welt haben Henderson's Interpretation angenommen und formelle Proteste in Archibald und darüber hinaus organisiert, um sie zu unterstützen. Eine Anhörung ist für Ende dieses Monats geplant, und ihr Ergebnis könnte große Auswirkungen haben, nicht nur für Yar, sondern für das gesamte Imperium.

 War on Water
By Arthur Kenna
Staff Writer
Archibald, Yar, Centauri

Blue sparks arc between the grounding plates attached to the outside of most buildings in Archibald, the extreme low humidity making static buildup and discharge a real hazard to those who walk the dusty streets here. Even though the atmosphere on Yar is technically breathable, you see few inhabitants these day who go outside without protection. The air is so dry that even a short walk can result in cracked lips, nose bleeds, itchy eyes and irritated throats. Sweat evaporates as quickly as it can form. It seems almost like an act of defiance that Captain Jemma Viernes of the Archibald Protection Force talks to the reporters assembled outside the main headquarters without a mask. She is here to tout the results of a sting operation that culminated in the arrest of three suspected smugglers. The latest in an ongoing effort to curtail a growing and problematic black market on Yar, the sting resulted in the single largest seizure of contraband to date, ninety-six thousand kiloliters of clean, potable water.

Now in its seventh year, the current drought on Yar is by far the longest on record for the planet. Already an arid world covered in deserts, the effects of the drought have been devastating for the small towns and settlements that dot the surface. The planet’s infamous Red Desert is estimated to have expanded by 23% since 2940. What was already considered a hard life has become all the more difficult as available water supplies dwindle. One local resident, Frosino ‘Sunny’ Vogan, who runs a ‘Carry-All’ shop near Hester Flats, summed up the situation by saying, “No one who chooses to live here’s expecting an easy life, but this? This is no kind of life at all.” Like many though, even with these harsh conditions, Vogan has no plans on leaving the planet. “You pour as much blood and sweat into the land as I have, you start to feel a part of it.”

In response to the ongoing problem, the leadership council declared a State of Emergency in 2941 and enacted several strict regulations for water use and reclamation. These regulations not only affected the population, but the mining industry as well, which depends on water for many common extraction practices. Despite these measures and humanitarian aid provided by the Empire, the water reserves on Yar continue to fall well below the standards set by the UEE for per-person water consumption with regards to drinking and sanitation. The moisture collectors and grey water processors just have not been able to keep up with even the reduced demand owing to the severity of the drought.

To make up the difference in supply, the government began to significantly increase its procurement of off-world water resources. However, as the private sector began to compete for those same shipments in the water markets, prices soon skyrocketed. With its budget already stretched, the government could not compete and soon the majority of the water making its way to the world was sold directly to wealthier individuals or corporations. A majority of the inhabitants found themselves unable to afford the high market prices and unable to depend on the government to provide for them. Though there were rules which limited how much water people could consume, the booming private market made exact usage statistics extremely difficult to track. As the drought continued and conditions worsened, prices and demand only increased. Even though the number of water haulers making deliveries to the planet quadrupled by 2944, it was not enough to tame the runaway market.

Desperate to restore balance and curtail the growing drought-related death toll, the council passed a new ordinance outlawing the private sale of water on Yar. Announcing the new measures, council member Keisha Redd said, “the good of all people must come before any one individual. If we are to survive this, we must do so together.” Despite protests, at 00:00 SET on May 25th, 2946, Executive Council Order B-14-26 went into effect. Selling water had now become illegal on Yar.

Unfortunately, the new regulations have not had the desired effect. As the council locked in a new lower price at which it was willing to purchase water, many of the haulers and traders left the marketplace, unsatisfied with slimmer profit margins. With less water coming to the planet, the authorities enacted tighter consumption restrictions at the start of 2947 and use was capped at the bare minimum. Companies who rely on water for their operations are forced to compete for limited water-use licenses with only sparse amounts available every quarter. Many struggle to subsist on the resources the council can provide, while those with the means to do so have turned to a new fount — the water black market.

An anonymous source who operates a mine near the southern Prosolo border says, “about eight months ago I was contacted by a broker who said she could get my tanks back up to the levels they were before Order 26 went into effect. Costs twice as much as it did before they passed the damn law, but what else can you do? To get one of those official licenses you have to be extremely lucky or know the right people. Or better yet, both.” Recent estimates from the Archibald Protection Force state that nearly a third of the total current water on Yar has been transported there illegally. In an attempt to curtail the growing black market, the last few months have seen heightened scans at all orbital weigh stations, multiple raids, and dozens of arrests. The council has even been looking to add a tracer to its water supplies to help identify illegal sources. Despite the time and effort spent shutting down the trade, it seems like there is no end in sight. Illegal water is still pouring into Yar as smugglers seek to take advantage of the situation. If the current trends continue, the council could be on the verge of waging open war against its population as the need for water continues to make outlaws out of everyday people.

However, a new wrinkle has emerged. One of the alleged smugglers arrested this week, Kira Henderson, is contesting the charges placed against her by claiming that water is a basic Human right under the UEE’s Common Laws and that the officials on Yar did not have the legal standing to outlaw its sale to the public in the first place. Many across the world have embraced Henderson’s interpretation and organized formal protests in Archibald and beyond to support her. A hearing has been scheduled for later this month and its outcome could have major ramifications, not only for Yar, but the Empire as a whole.

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  CIG ID  16238

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 Series  News Update

 Comments  102

 Published  8 years ago (2017-11-08T00:00:00+00:00)

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