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The Thirsty Dragon: Addressing Water Insecurity in Central Asia – A Steppe on the One Belt, One Road Initiative?
May 25th, 2017
Courtesy of Future Directions International, an interesting look at Key Points Central Asia is integral to Chinese efforts to increase its global connectivity. Natural resource constraints, including access to water, could undermine its influence in the region. Given the legacy of failed foreign water infrastructure in the region, any Chinese efforts to address water insecurity […]
Read more »Environmental Concerns Unlikely To Threaten Chinese Plans To Dredge Thai Mekong
May 25th, 2017
Via Future Directions International, an article on China’s plan to dredge the Mekong River: China’s plan to dredge the Mekong River to open the trade route to larger cargo ships has been met with protests in Thailand. As agreed by China, Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, the project aims to improve cargo access to 630 kilometres […]
Read more »A Global Water Grab
May 23rd, 2017
Courtesy of Al Jazeera, a detailed look at issues related to the theft of water resources in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia: Historically the source of many conflicts, water grabbing is the control and theft of water resources by the powerful, often at the expense of local populations and ecosystems. It can result in […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Planned China-Pakistan Indus Cascade A Himalayan Blunder
May 22nd, 2017
Via Third Pole.net, an interesting report on a China-Pakistan plan to build five dams in a row on the Indus which will stop the flow of silt to rejuvenate farms downstream, and will reduce water flow in the nine dry months of the year: The Indus at the site of the proposed Diamer-Basha dam The […]
Read more »Reckoning Ahead for Arizona as Water Imbalance Grows on Colorado River
May 18th, 2017
Via Water Deeply, a report on the impact of reduced Colorado River water in the U.S. Southwest where Arizona could suffer the most pain if Lake Mead’s shrinkage triggers a shortage declaration: The Central Arizona Project aqueduct system is shown west out of the Phoenix metro area. The aqueduct meanders more than 300 miles to […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon Vs. The Parched Tiger: China-Pakistan Water Pincer Against India
May 16th, 2017
Via the Times of India, a look at how China has stepped up its challenge to India by signing an accord with Pakistan to fund and build two mega-dams in Gilgit-Baltistan, which the United Nations recognizes as a disputed region and part of Jammu and Kashmir: China, which is working to re-engineer the trans-boundary flows […]
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