January 13, 2010 2:11PM 

# A Shortage of Sand? 

By [David Boaz](https://www.cato.org/people/david-boaz) 

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In Soviet times people used to say that if the Communists took over the Sahara desert, there’d soon be a shortage of sand.

Which I guess explains why there’s an [energy crisis in energy-rich Venezuela](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126291736012720909.html).

##### Related Tags 

[Energy and Environment](https://www.cato.org/research/energy-environment) 

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