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Water Politics, The Afghan War, and Climate Change
September 5th, 2009
Via Greenfryer, a report that among the many causes for conflict in southern Afghanistan, the lack of water may be to blame. As the article notes, Pakistan receives some of the waters of the Kabul River, and Iran from the Helmand, both of which are suffering from drought & climate change: “…Those who follow the […]
Read more »River Wars? Increasing Tension Between Iraq, Turkey, and Syria
August 29th, 2009
Via The Guardian, an ominous update on the ever increasing tension & crisis between Iraq, Turkey, and Syria over water levels in the Euphrates. As the article notes: “…A water shortage described as the most critical since the earliest days of Iraq’s civilisation is threatening to leave up to 2 million people in the south […]
Read more »Water Pressure On Pakistan
August 27th, 2009
Via Reuters, a pessimistic report that Pakistan is running out of water so fast that the shortage will strangulate all water-based economic activity in the country by 2015. This looming water pressure – in a politically dynamic state such as Pakistan with a neighbor (India) drawing from the same water source – is ominous. As […]
Read more »Good To The Last Drop: An Imminent Last Straw For Water Policy?
August 23rd, 2009
Via The Washington Post, an interesting commentary on water shortages, water politics, and the use of market mechanisms to help address the growing problem of freshwater scarcity. As the article notes: “…In the United States, we constantly fret about running out of oil. But we should be paying more attention to another limited natural resource: […]
Read more »Central Asia: Upstream & Downstream Conflict Between Energy & Water
August 18th, 2009
Via Columbia University’s Earth Institute, a detailed examination of the challenges facing the Central Asian region over water resource management. As the article notes: “…Water resources management in the Central Asia region faces formidable challenges. The hydrological regimes of the two major rivers in the region, the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya, are complex […]
Read more »Lake Victoria: Falling Water Levels Give Rise To Increased Politics
August 17th, 2009
Courtesy of The New York Times, an interesting look at the complex issues surrounding Lake Victoria (border confusion, climate change, and waning water & marine resources. As the report notes: “…Migingo, Lake Victoria — This little island doesn’t look like much. It’s a slab of rock, not even an acre big, packed with rusty metal […]
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