BLOG
Serious Regional Water Crisis Looming: Central Asia
August 1st, 2008
A highly informative piece recently published by Brookings examines the current and coming water ‘crisis’ facing Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as Afghanistan, Mongolia and the Western most province of China, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The article details the complicated dance between the region’s countries, with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan upstream […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon’s Water Crisis – So Critical That Beijing Faces Economic Collapse
June 30th, 2008
Via AFP, a rather startling report on the possible impact of China’s water woes. As the article notes: “…Beijing’s water crisis is so critical that the city is facing economic collapse and the need to resettle part of its population in coming decades, a leading development policy group said Friday. Experts predict the Chinese capital […]
Read more »Chinese-Funded Hydro Dams Bring Hope and Fear to Cambodia
June 30th, 2008
As adroitly summed up by The China Digital Times, Chinese companies are investing in six river dam projects in Cambodia, but some analysts warn of the environmental and social consequences that could arise. As the article notes: “…Hydropower is held up as the beacon of hope for millions of electricity-starved Cambodians, with ten planned hydro-dams […]
Read more »North China’s Largest Freshwater Lake Shrinking
June 29th, 2008
As reported by the China Internet Information Center, the water level of the Dalai Lake – the largest fresh water lake in northern China – has fallen about 3 meters since 2002, while its area has contracted by more than 500 square kilometers, said local authorities. As the article notes: This picture taken on May […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon’s Big Drain
June 26th, 2008
From Portfolio Magazine, another article detailing the growing threat that drought has upon China’s economic growth and rural populations. As the pieces notes: “… authorities in Beijing, bent on fueling the capital’s epic growth, have commandeered nearly every drop of water they can pump from the surrounding countryside. Deprived of government help to drill wells […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon’s Thirsty Games
June 21st, 2008
Via Forbes, another article detailing how residents of China’s barren northern villages, still gasping from the effects of a severe drought, have been told it is their national duty to “safeguard the Olympics” by sacrificing their own meager water supplies. As the article notes: “…The Olympic rowing park was created last year by diverting a […]
Read more »