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The Thirsty Dragon: Is Three Gorges Responsible For Dwindling Yangtze?
June 2nd, 2011
Via Foreign Policy, a report on debate that has emerged in China over the role of the Three Gorges Dam in exacerbating this summer’s devastating drought in China. As the article notes: SHANGHAI — In glittering Shanghai, known for its hopping night life and influx of Western luxury stores, a VIP cocktail reception last Thursday […]
Read more »Ethiopia Freezes Nile Water Treaty in Sign of Thaw With Egypt
May 4th, 2011
Via Voice of America, an update on the Nile River treaty process: Ethiopia has agreed to postpone ratification of a treaty on sharing Nile River water until a new Egyptian government takes office to join the negotiations. The delay eases a long-running dispute between upstream countries at the source of the Nile and downstream countries […]
Read more »The Aral Sea
April 27th, 2011
Courtesy of Foreign Policy, an updated look at the tragedy of the Aral Sea: Aral Sea Satellite Outline in 2009, Showing the Original Shoreline of 1960. Courtesy of NASA “…The Aral Sea, shared by Kazakhstan to the north and Uzbekistan to the south, is a sad story of one of the most devastating ecological disasters […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Dam Tensions On The Mekong
April 20th, 2011
Two additional articles looking at the recent tensions over planned dams on the Mekong. First, via the Washington Post, a report that China defended its ambitious network of dams, saying that it is developing its rivers in a responsible way and would never do anything to harm the interests of neighbors who live downstream of […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Laos’ Dam Project and the China-Vietnam Balance
April 20th, 2011
Courtesy of STRATFOR (subscription required), an interesting look at Laos’ reported deferral of its decision on whether to pursue a controversial dam on the Mekong River that has sparked strong opposition from its downstream neighbors, particularly Vietnam. Though Vietnam retains strong influence over Laos, and could use its investment and aid as a bargaining chip […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: China Plans To Build Seven Dams in Laos
April 15th, 2011
Via The Vientiane Times, a report that a Chinese company plans to build seven hydropower plants along the Nam Ou River, one of the largest tributaries of the Mekong. As the article notes: “…Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Thongmy Phomvixay and Sinohydro Ltd Deputy Managing Director Sen De Cai signed a master plan for […]
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