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Understanding Water Conflict In Central Asia
June 13th, 2010
Courtesy of Water Matters@Columbia, advance notification of a research project currently underway at the Columbia Water Center where a research team is analyzing Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan), and the environmental, political and economic crisis building there over water: A small nutshell description of a vastly complex situation: The five states are […]
Read more »Burdened by Soviet Legacy, Nations Spar Over Water Rights
February 26th, 2010
Courtesy of Science, an interesting look at the continued water tensions in Central Asia’s Pamir Mountains, long known as ‘The Roof of the World’. As the article notes: “…As scientists worry about the prospect of a catastrophic flood from Lake Sarez in the Pamir Mountains which would unleash a wall of water from the 56-kilometer […]
Read more »Tajikistan’s Shortages May Exacerbate Central Asian Water Tensions
February 19th, 2010
Courtesy of The Guardian, details of a recent Oxfam report on Tajikistan’s looming water shortages due to rising temperatures and retreating glaciers which could spark conflict between water-stressed countries in the region. As the article notes: “…It has been occupied by the Russians, the Mongols, the Turks, the Arabs and the Uzbeks, the Chinese, as […]
Read more »Water A Pawn In Central Asian Energy Dispute
December 5th, 2009
Courtesy of EurasiaNet, an interesting report on Uzbekistan’s decision to leave the Central Asia energy grid – which cuts off Tajikistan from importing and exporting electricity – has some Tajik officials suggesting that water supplies to Uzbekistan be restricted during the summer irrigation season. As background, the energy and irrigation infrastructure in Central Asia was […]
Read more »Melting Ice = Rising Tensions In Central Asia
November 27th, 2009
Via Registan, an interesting contemplation on the political, social, and economic impacts that glacial retreat in Kyrgyzstan will have upon the neighboring countries of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in the next 20 years. As the article notes: “…Geologists have recently brought to attention the significant melting of Kyrgyz glaciers Adigene and Petrova. This story is […]
Read more »Climate Change + Melting Glaciers = Increased Water Tension In Central Asia
October 28th, 2009
Courtesy of the BBC, a report on global warming’s impact /exacerbation of regional water tensions in Central Asia. As the article notes: “That one – called Adigene – has decreased in size by about 20% over the last 50 years,” he says. He adds that a neighbouring glacier, Aksai, has disappeared completely. Mr Ermenbaev, who […]
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