Blue Gold World Water Wars

In 1906, Pablo Valencia dared the journey from Mexico to California, in search of gold. He survived without water for a week. He was rescued and then documented the experience of thirst. Saliva becomes thick. A lump seems to form in the throat. The tongue swells so large that it squeezes past the jaws; the throat so swollen that breathing becomes difficult...Is this a parable for the desertification of Earth?