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The Thirsty Dragon: Over-Exploitation of Hydropower May Threaten Parent Rivers in China
October 23rd, 2011
Via The Worldwatch Institute, a report on how the over-exploitation of hydropower may threaten parent rivers in China. As the article notes: “…Yongding River is the parent river, the main segment of a river system that is fed by smaller tributary rivers, of Beijing. For more than 3,000 years, the river provided drinking water to […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: The Water Hegemon?
October 17th, 2011
Courtesy of Project Syndicate, an article examining China’s efforts to control the headwaters and flows of a number of rivers in Asia: International discussion about China’s rise has focused on its increasing trade muscle, growing maritime ambitions, and expanding capacity to project military power. One critical issue, however, usually escapes attention: China’s rise as a […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Cleaning Up Its Water Act
October 8th, 2011
Via Circle of Blue, an interesting look at China’s key pollution events, protests, and policy reforms from the last eight years at both the national and regional levels as China tries to clean up its water act: While the Chinese government has made great strides in pushing investment and innovation in a cleaner economy, promoting […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Burma Dam Disruption Concerns China
October 8th, 2011
Courtesy of The New York Times, a report on Myanmar’s recent decision to halt construction was halted on the $3.6bn Myitsone dam being built by a Chinese company. As the article notes: “…Beijing has called on Burma to protect the rights of Chinese companies after construction was halted on the $3.6bn Myitsone dam, in a […]
Read more »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 »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 […]
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