Recently, I was catching up on my reading. An article's title caught my attention---Redirect military budgets to climate and pandemics (Nature, V 584, 27 August 2020, 521-523)---I know, I know, this article was a year old---my catch-up pile is rather high! The author was Denise Garcia, associate professor of political science and international affairs at Northeastern University, Boston, MA. She is also a vice-chair of the International Committee for Robot Arms Control, and a member of the International Panel for the Regulation of Autonomous Weapons. Garcia's article is worth reading in its entirety. But, what spoke to me was her list of four priorities, one of which is relevant directly to the water-from-air industry. The four priorities are: stop new arms races, abide by the Arms Trade Treaty, implement the 2015 Paris climate agreement, and invest in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs, agreed to in 2015). SDG 6 is Ensure access to water and sanitation for all. Atmoswater Research, in its own low-key way---evidenced by the content of the Atmoswater website and list of projects done for clients over the years---is trying to contribute to SDG 6. In so doing, we can claim to be part of the four priorities------helping, as Garcia said, "...steer the world towards a safer course." I like to be inspired by this role, especially when the going gets tough, as it so often does.
