cover of episode Going to the Source of L.A.'s Water

Going to the Source of L.A.'s Water

2024/12/16
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#investigative journalism#historical reflections#journalism and writing insights#personal growth through travel#literature and publishing#biotechnology and neuroscience#philosophy and existentialism People
A
Anya Steinberg
J
Julie Caine
Topics
@Julie Caine : 本期节目探讨了洛杉矶引水渠的建设及其带来的复杂影响,包括对欧文斯谷居民生活、环境和原住民权益的影响。引水渠的建设体现了功利主义思想,即为最大多数人谋求最大利益,但同时也引发了关于资源分配公平性的伦理问题。 从洛杉矶的角度来看,引水渠的建设促进了城市发展,使其成为今天的繁华都市。然而,从欧文斯谷的角度来看,引水渠的建设导致了当地水资源的枯竭,生态环境的破坏,以及原住民传统生活方式的改变。 节目中探讨了功利主义的局限性,以及在追求最大多数人利益的同时,如何兼顾少数群体和环境的利益。 @Anya Steinberg : 我前往欧文斯谷进行实地调查,采访了当地居民,包括原住民和长期居民,了解了洛杉矶引水渠对他们生活的影响。 我与欧文斯谷印第安人水务委员会取得联系,参加了他们组织的活动,并与大松树派尤特部落的水资源项目协调员@Noah Williams 进行了深入交流。Noah向我展示了他们祖先留下的古代灌溉沟渠,这些沟渠体现了他们对水资源的传统利用方式,与洛杉矶引水渠的设计理念存在相似之处。 我还采访了长期居住在欧文斯谷的@Richard Potashin ,他是一位对当地历史充满热情的居民。我们一起参观了洛杉矶引水渠的起点和阿拉巴马闸门等历史遗迹,他分享了他对引水渠建设历史和社会影响的深刻见解。 通过与这些人的交流,我更加深刻地理解了洛杉矶引水渠建设背后的复杂历史和社会伦理问题,以及它对欧文斯谷居民生活和环境带来的深远影响。 Noah Williams: 作为大松树派尤特部落的水资源项目协调员,我致力于保护部落的水权和环境权益。洛杉矶引水渠的建设严重影响了我们部落的传统生活方式和水资源的可持续利用。我们部落世世代代居住在欧文斯谷,与这片土地有着深厚的联系。引水渠的建设不仅夺走了我们的水资源,也破坏了我们的传统文化和生态环境。我们正在努力争取我们的合法权益,并与洛杉矶市水电局进行谈判,以期达成公平合理的解决方案,保护我们的水资源和环境。 Richard Potashin: 我是欧文斯谷的长期居民,见证了洛杉矶引水渠建设对当地环境和社会带来的巨大变化。引水渠的建设虽然促进了洛杉矶的发展,但也对欧文斯谷造成了不可逆转的损害。我致力于保护欧文斯谷的自然环境和文化遗产,并呼吁人们关注水资源的公平分配和可持续利用。洛杉矶引水渠的历史提醒我们,在追求经济发展的同时,必须重视环境保护和社会公平。

Deep Dive

洛杉矶引水渠:一段关于水、发展与公平的历史

我参与制作的播客节目探讨了洛杉矶引水渠的建设及其带来的复杂影响。这并非一个简单的工程故事,而是一段关于水资源分配、环境保护和社会公平的复杂历史,其影响至今仍在持续。

引水渠的建设,从功利主义角度看,无疑为洛杉矶带来了繁荣,使其从一个小镇发展成为一座大都市。然而,这种“最大多数人的最大利益”的实现,却以欧文斯谷的牺牲为代价。

为了更深入地理解这段历史,我前往欧文斯谷进行了实地调查。那里,群山环绕,景色壮丽,却也隐藏着深刻的伤痕。

欧文斯谷的视角:被遗忘的代价

在欧文斯谷,我采访了不同的人,他们的讲述共同构成了一个更完整、更令人深思的故事。

我与欧文斯谷印第安人水务委员会取得联系,并与大松树派尤特部落的水资源项目协调员Noah Williams进行了交流。他向我展示了祖先留下的古代灌溉沟渠,这些沟渠巧妙地利用地势,将融化的雪水引向田地,体现了他们与自然的和谐共处。这与洛杉矶引水渠的设计理念有着异曲同工之妙,却有着天壤之别——前者是可持续的,而后者则导致了水资源的枯竭。Noah直言,引水渠的建设严重影响了部落的传统生活方式和水资源的可持续利用,夺走了他们的水资源,也破坏了他们的传统文化和生态环境。他们正在努力争取合法权益,寻求公平合理的解决方案。

我还采访了长期居住在欧文斯谷的Richard Potashin。他是一位热情洋溢的当地居民,对这段历史有着深入的研究。我们一起走访了引水渠的起点和阿拉巴马闸门——1920年代,当地居民曾在此抗议,试图阻止水资源的流失。Richard的讲述充满了情感,他谈到了人们在历史中的选择、隐藏的恐惧和希望,以及这些因素如何交织在一起,塑造了欧文斯谷的命运。他眼中的欧文斯谷,并非仅仅是洛杉矶水源的提供者,而是一个拥有自身历史、文化和情感的独特地方。

功利主义的局限性:公平与可持续的挑战

在与这些人的交流中,我深刻体会到功利主义的局限性。追求“最大多数人的最大利益”并非没有代价,它可能忽视少数群体的利益,也可能对环境造成不可逆转的破坏。洛杉矶引水渠的故事,正是对这种局限性的有力警示。

结语:历史的回响与未来的思考

洛杉矶引水渠的故事,不仅仅是过去的历史,更是对我们当下和未来的警示。在追求经济发展的同时,我们必须重视环境保护和社会公平,在资源分配中寻求平衡,避免重蹈覆辙。 这不仅仅关乎水资源,也关乎我们如何与自然和谐共处,如何构建一个更加公平、可持续的社会。

Key Insights

Why did Los Angeles build the aqueduct from Owens Valley?

Los Angeles needed water to transform from a dusty frontier town into a metropolis. The aqueduct was built to transport water from Owens Valley, a place with abundant water, to L.A., which lacked sufficient water resources.

What were the consequences of building the L.A. aqueduct?

The aqueduct had significant consequences, including angering residents of Owens Valley, environmental impacts, and long-term changes to the valley's landscape. It also created a sense of resentment among locals who felt like they were being exploited for their water resources.

How long is the Los Angeles aqueduct?

The Los Angeles aqueduct is 233 miles long, transporting water from Owens Valley to Los Angeles.

What is the significance of the Owens Valley Indian Water Commission?

The Owens Valley Indian Water Commission works to raise awareness about the impact of the Los Angeles aqueduct on indigenous communities, particularly the Paiute and Shoshone people. They advocate for the recognition of water rights and environmental justice in the valley.

What are the ancient irrigation ditches in Owens Valley?

The ancient irrigation ditches were created by the Paiute and Shoshone people to manage water resources in the valley. These ditches used gravity to move water, irrigating the land and supporting flora and fauna, which was crucial for their survival and way of life.

How does the current landscape of Owens Valley compare to its past?

The current landscape of Owens Valley is much drier and more desert-like due to the removal of water by the Los Angeles aqueduct. In the past, the valley was irrigated by indigenous systems, which supported a more lush and vibrant ecosystem.

What is the significance of the Alabama Gates in the Owens Valley history?

The Alabama Gates were a site where residents of Owens Valley occupied and diverted the water supply of the Los Angeles aqueduct in the 1920s, protesting the removal of their water. This act highlighted the ongoing conflict between the needs of Los Angeles and the rights of the valley's residents.

What is the moral dilemma at the heart of the L.A. aqueduct story?

The moral dilemma revolves around the concept of utilitarianism—whether it is right to take resources from one place to benefit a larger population. This question is central to the conflict between Los Angeles and Owens Valley, and it reflects broader issues of resource allocation in a changing world.

Chapters
This chapter explores the dramatic transformation of Los Angeles, fueled by the construction of the L.A. aqueduct. It discusses the aqueduct's role in turning L.A. from a small town into a major metropolis and the common knowledge surrounding this event, often told from the perspective of Los Angeles.
  • The L.A. aqueduct's construction was crucial to Los Angeles's growth from a small town to a large city.
  • Common narratives focus on the benefits for Los Angeles, overlooking the impact on the Owens Valley.
  • The aqueduct's impact is still felt today, showing how historic events continue to shape the present.

Shownotes Transcript

Throughline associate producer Anya Steinberg talks to supervising senior editor Julie Caine about her reporting trip to Owens Valley in northeastern California for the episode, "Water in the West," about the creation of—and controversy over—the Los Angeles aqueduct.

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