Water Ways

Thinking Allowed

BBC

Science, Society & Culture

4.4 • 973 Ratings

🗓️ 13 September 2023

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Water Ways: Laurie Taylor wades into the deep end with an exploration of human relationships with water. He talks to Veronica Strang, Professor of Anthropology, affiliated to Oxford University, whose latest study takes us from nature worship to the environmental crisis. Early human societies worshipped ‘nature beings’, including water serpent deities who manifested the elemental and generative powers of water. Such beliefs supported collaborative co-existence with the non-human world. How might an understanding of the role and symbolism of water serpents help us turn back the tide of ecological disaster?

They’re joined by Anna Mdee, Professor in the Politics of Global Development at the University of Leeds, who argues that water poverty isn't confined to the Global South, but takes a different form in the western societies, impacting around 20% of households in England and Wales.

Producer: Jayne Egerton

Transcript

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0:00.0	Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of
0:07.0	Happiness Podcast.
0:08.0	For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want
0:14.4	to share that science with you.
0:16.1	And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley.
0:19.4	I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that
0:25.4	calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds.
0:30.3	BBC Sounds, music, radio podcasts.
0:36.6	This is a Thinking Loud Podcasts from the BBC and for more details and much, much more about
0:42.4	thinking aloud, go to our website at BBC.co. UK.
0:47.6	Hello even though the poetry lessons at my secondary school were quite pedantic enough to rob even the noblest verse of its majesty
0:56.6	and meaning. Some things I learned parrot-fasher at that time have stayed lodged in my head,
1:02.1	and like oyster grit have grown in significance, in beauty even over time.
1:08.0	And this is particularly true of some lines in the words worth sonnet the world is too much with us a lament for the way in which our
1:16.4	obsession with getting and spending has robbed us about deep links with the natural world.
1:22.1	I'd rather be a pagan the about deep links with the natural world.
1:22.7	I'd rather be a pagan than lose those links to nature,
1:27.0	Worsworth declares.
1:28.4	Well, a rather wonderful new book seeks to restore our links
1:32.3	to a singular natural substance by looking at how those
1:36.5	outworn creeds such words with phrase once expressed their relationship
1:41.7	with water and the consequences for all of us of losing
	...

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