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Water Diplomacy
January 31st, 2011
Courtesy of The Consensus Building Approach blog, an interesting theoretical construct for water diplomacy: “Managing the flow of water, as a river moves through several countries or across sub-state boundaries, can be extremely difficult. If the upstream riparians divert too much, the downstream countries are left empty-handed. If the upstream users don’t maintain water quality, […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Millions Face Water Shortages In China
January 31st, 2011
Via China Daily, an updated report on the severe drought currently affecting China: “Some wheat-growing regions, including Shandong, Henan, Hebei, Anhui, Shanxi and Jiangsu provinces, have received little rainfall since October. More than 4 million hectares of crops across the nation have been plagued by the drought, according to the latest statistics from the Office […]
Read more »The Drying Of The West
January 29th, 2011
Courtesy of The Economist, an interesting report on the dwindling Colorado River and the water scarcity’s effect on the southwestern U.S. STANDING on the Hoover Dam and looking upstream at Lake Mead, America’s largest reservoir, the visitor notices a wide, white band ringing the cliffs. Nicknamed “the bathtub ringâ€, this discolouration comes from minerals that […]
Read more »Tibetan Plateau: Needing An International Treaty For Its Protection
January 29th, 2011
Via India’s Economic Times, a detailed article on the need for an international treaty to protect the Tibetan Plateau: “Like Antarctica and the Arctic, the Tibetan Plateau, known as the “Third Pole,†is drawing global attention in the international and regional policy communities. The Tibetan Plateau covers an area of 2.5 million square kilometers, with […]
Read more »Blue Peace? Water Scarcity As A Catalyst For Reducing Conflict In The Middle East
January 24th, 2011
Via Terra Daily, an interesting article on a new report suggesting that water scarcity in the Middle East can be the catalyst for reducing, rather than causing, conflict in the volatile region. As the article notes: “…The report entitled “The Blue Peace: Rethinking Middle East Water,” issued by the Carnegie Middle East Center, suggests that […]
Read more »An Impending Hydro Flashpoint Between Pakistan and India?
January 20th, 2011
Via Journal of Energy Security, a detailed look at the potential flashpoint in Pakistan – India relations over water: “Judging by recent political statements from Pakistan, water issues are being pitched politically and couched increasingly in the language of security vis-à -vis India. . .and for Pakistan hydropower is its second source of electricity.†Uttam Kumar […]
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