Welcome to California: land of plunder and hypocrisy | Mark Arax
Summary
The article discusses California's long history of resource extraction, starting with the 1848 Gold Rush that brought many people seeking fortune. It explains how this history of taking natural resources has continued over time with the mining of water for agriculture and the use of large amounts of water and energy by technology companies, linking these activities to environmental damage and social impacts.Key Facts
- The California Gold Rush began in January 1848 when James Marshall found gold near the American River.
- About 80,000 people from many backgrounds came to California seeking wealth from gold.
- Most of the gold profits went to wealthy San Francisco industrialists, while discoverer James Marshall died poor.
- Hydraulic mining damaged the Sierra Nevada environment and was banned by a judge in 1884; its damage site is now a historic park.
- California continues to heavily extract natural resources, notably water for farming nuts, fruits, and vegetables in the San Joaquin Valley.
- Farming has caused land to sink due to overuse of underground water (aquifers).
- Technology companies in Silicon Valley use large amounts of water and electricity to power data centers, including those operating artificial intelligence systems.
- The article connects ongoing extraction practices in California to broader environmental and social concerns.
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