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The Thirsty Dragon: Reviving the Yongding River
September 28th, 2011
Via China Dialogue, a photo essay detailing the controversial restoration of the Yongding River, Beijing’s “mother river”. Beijing is running out of water. Water levels in the city have plunged to 100 cubic metres per person, far below the international warning level, while Beijing’s two major reservoirs are now less than a tenth full. Once […]
Read more »Unresolved Conflicts In The Himalayan Region Dim Outlook For Hydropower
September 28th, 2011
Courtesy of ClimateWire (subscription required), an interesting report on the impact that unresolved conflicts in the Himalayan region are having upon the outlook for hydropower: “…The outlook on hydropower in the Himalayas looks gloomy as fast-developing countries scramble to meet their energy needs at the geographical heart of Asia’s 10 transboundary rivers. In a […]
Read more »Bangladesh PM Confident Of River Deal With India
September 21st, 2011
Via Terra Daily, an update on ongoing discussions between India and Bangladesh over a water-sharing agreement on the Teesta River: Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina voiced confidence Tuesday at reaching a water-sharing agreement with India after a summit failed to clinch a deal seen as vital to her nation’s farmers. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Divided Waters In China
September 20th, 2011
Via China Dialogue, an interesting article on how some Chinese scientists are troubled by radical proposals to divert Tibet’s water. As the report notes: “…One of the boldest engineering concepts to emerge in China in recent years is a plan to “save†the country by transferring water from Tibet to the parched north. Among the […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Shennongjia An Example of Unwise Development of China’s Water Resources?
September 19th, 2011
Via The Guardian, a report on how rapid and poorly regulated expansion in China’s Shennongjia region by small, hydroelectric power plants has choked rivers with dams, covered mountains in pipes and left locals without livelihoods. As the article notes: One of the hydroelectric power plants built within Shengnongjia natural reserve, Hubei province, China. Photograph: Jonathan […]
Read more »Water as a Weapon — Qaddafi’s Last Desperate Gamble
September 19th, 2011
Courtesy of Circle of Blue, Peter Gleick’s reflections on Libya where, with the regime crumbling, Qaddafi’s failing government apparently used water as a last, desperate weapon: “…There is a long history of conflicts over water. The first known water war was nearly 5,000 years ago: a conflict over irrigation ditches between the cities of Umma […]
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