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Water rights’ present conflict potential between Turkey, Europe, and Middle East
July 18th, 2008
Per a recent article in Turkey’s Today’s Zaman, a new dispute has surfaced between Europeans and Turkish officials over water rights. As the article notes: “…Sources from the Turkish environment and foreign ministries said that some members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) indicated at the assembly’s meeting last month that […]
Read more »The Great Drain on the Mediterranean
July 4th, 2008
In an excellent review of a growing regional problem, The Christian Science Monitor details how, across the Mediter-ranean, water is being pumped out of the earth at an unsustainable pace. “…In Italy’s Milan region, groundwater levels have fallen by more than 80 feet over the past 80 years. So much water has been pumped from […]
Read more »Drought and Negligence Threaten Turkey’s Lakes & Rivers
July 4th, 2008
Via Today’s Zaman, a report echoing our earlier post that Turkey – traditionally a country with strong water resources – has suffered a dramatic fall in the level of its potable water supply in recent months, with the water level in dams dropping alarmingly low and major rivers and lakes — particularly in central Anatolia […]
Read more »Turkey’s Looming Water Crisis
June 30th, 2008
As reported by European WaterNews, the current Turkish administration has heeded a warning by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Turkey) over Turkey’s shrinking water resources and a call on the government to take action before it faces a severe water crisis by 2050, by revealing an action plan to save water. As the article […]
Read more »A Middle East Water Grid?
June 7th, 2008
From The Jerusalem Report, a detailed look at a grandiose plan that would put an end to the acute water shortage plaguing Israel and its neighbors. As noted in the article, all three parties – Israel, Syria, and Turkey – are reportedly intrigued by the possibilities of the blueprint, based on an ambitious Turkish scheme […]
Read more »Another Middle East “Hot Spot:” Iraq in Water Talks with Turkey & Syria
May 28th, 2008
As noted by Terra Daily, Iraq – in the grip of a severe drought and needs more water for agriculture and drinking, opened talks with Turkey and Syria in a bid to increase the flow of Euphrates & Tigris rivers and end severe water shortages. Just another example of water stress in the Middle East.Â
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