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The Thirsty Dragon: Downstream Impacts
May 8th, 2009
Via The Circle of Blue, an interesting article on China’s water problems and its impact on downstream nations such as Laos, Vietnam, etc. As the report notes: “…But now, let’s talk about China in terms of their water problems. China is upstream of the Mekong, the Salween, these major rivers that flow into Southeast Asia. […]
Read more »Central Asian Leaders Clash Over Water At Aral Sea Summit
April 30th, 2009
Via Eurasia.net disappointing (but not unexpected) news that a summit on the future of the shrinking Aral Sea ended without making any tangible progress on resuscitating the endangered sea. In fact, if anything, the meeting succeeded only in stoking acrimony among participants on the water-use issue. As the article notes: “…The presidents of the five […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Will China Run Out Of Water?
April 30th, 2009
Via WaterWired, an interesting personal view from Dr. Chun Miao Zheng (founding director of the Center for Water Research at Peking University in Beijing) on the challenges facing an ever-drier China. As the article notes: “…China is like two countries: dry in the north (Yellow River is here), where some areas have annual precipitation amounts […]
Read more »Asia’s Water Insecurity
April 17th, 2009
The Asia Society recently released a new report on Asia’s water challenges and, as Circle of Blue analyzed, there are many imposing obtacles ahead: “…Asia faces “severe†water problems. According to a report released today by the Asia Society Leadership Group — Asia’s Next Challenge: Securing the Region’s Water Future — reduced access to fresh […]
Read more »Southwest U.S.: A Thirsty Las Vegas Looks Northward
April 12th, 2009
Via Time, an interesting article on the further developing water conflicts in the southwest U.S., namely between a thirsty Las Vegas and communities to the north. As the article notes: “The valley below Nevada’s Snake mountains should not have much to fear from Las Vegas. Its dun-colored terrain daubed with the green of shrubs, meadow […]
Read more »Central Asia: Creation of A Downstream Water-Energy Bloc
April 12th, 2009
Via Windows on Eurasia, an interesting report on the geopolitics behind the death of the Aral Sea and the emergence of “the youngest desert in the world, the Aralkum†which, as the article notes, are causing the countries around it to be increasingly drawn into serious conflicts over ever scarcer water resources. “…as a result […]
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