An eight-hour overnight train journey leaves me waking up just before arrival to Dindigul Junction as the engine rumbles to a stop. For my final field visit in South India, I have come to Gandhigram Trust to see how their recent water and sanitation interventions, funded by Arghyam, have affected women and men in rural […]
Dude, where’s my lake?
May 31, 2008 By Leave a Comment
An estimated three hundred and four million of them across the globe, and yet researchers are noticing many inland lakes are beginning to dry. In Siberia, Central Asia, East Africa, and North America – the results are the same – lakes simply cannot compete with man-made alterations to the environment. These are not just small lakes, […]
‘Water is Water’ – Newar Poet on Cultural Earth
April 6, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Purna Bahadur Vaidya is a Newar Poet from Nepal with a collection of “84 poems refracted through water” in the language of Nepal Bhasa called LA LA KHA (WATER IS WATER). Wayne Amtzis (photographer and writer himself) sat down with the author to translate the poems into English. He has so graciously given permission for […]
Will water supply concerns overshadow the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing?
February 27, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Over two million people are expected to visit Beijing this year for the Summer Olympic Games. In August, the population of the metropolis will crest 19 million souls. The arrival of so many visitors to China’s capital will result in exaggerated water use of 2.75 million cubic meters (2,229 acre-feet) a day or, in layman’s terms, enough […]
Inner Mongolia Desertification (report by Circle of Blue)
February 18, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Three million acres of sensitive grassland becomes desert each year in northern China and Inner Mongolia. This process of desertification causes water-tables to drop, groundwater sources to become salty, and dust storms to become more frequent. People from all walks of life are challenged by deterioration of these grasslands (often referred to as Steppe). Nomadic […]
Singapore’s International Water Week 2008
February 10, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Singapore is hosting International Water Week from June 23rd to June 27th of 2008. This first-annual event is to be held as a forum for “government officials, industry leaders and water specialists” to discuss policy, business, and water technology. Festivities of the week encompass a Water Trade Show, a Water Summit, and presentation of the […]
World Economic Forum 2008 Wraps Up with Water
January 26, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Water was a major topic of conversation at the World Economic Forum 2008 (WEF) now coming to a close in Davos, Switzerland. At the forum, according to the Environmental News Service, Bill Gates announced a grant of $306 million dollars for development projects to help boost yields of crops for farmers in developing countries. It […]
Drought and the Yangtze
January 21, 2008 By Leave a Comment
A short video clip from the BBC on the current drought occurring around the Yangtze River in China. River levels are at record lows, and Chinese officials are discharging extra water from the Three Gorges Dam. Scientists indicate climate change will increase the frequency of such droughts. Will the Three Gorges Dam still be relevant […]
Flood Drinking Water Contamination: Risk Factors
January 5, 2008 By 1 Comment
Many in the United States are acquainted with the effects of flooding. Especially after Hurricane Katrina, numerous other flooding events, and the recent past deluge on the Chehalis River of Southwest Washington. Rampant in the media during these times of floods are deaths, displacements, economic losses, and causes associated with the flooding. Less common immediately […]
Drought Continues in Kashmir
December 26, 2007 By Leave a Comment
The Kashmir region (India, China, and Pakistan) is hoping for additional precipitation in form of snow. The region, while traditionally arid, has received little snow or rain over the past several months to replenish waterways. December 22nd commenced an annual season of 40-days known as “Chillai Kalan”, characterized with heavy snowfall and blustery temperatures. However, as of yet, this “Chillai Kalan” […]
China Faces a Range of Water Problems
December 22, 2007 By 2 Comments
The Peoples Republic of China is a country of over 1.3 billion people with 20% of the world’s total population. Extensive environmental pollution in the region is often blamed on increased industrialization, with little or no environmental regulatory oversight. Water problems are many and include: The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River South-to-North Water […]
Nepal Discontent Over Climate Change Talks in Bali
December 14, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Nepal, land on the edge of the mighty Himalayas. Although rather small (only the size of Arkansas), Nepal is known the world over for Mount Everest, highest mountain in the world (elevation 29,029 feet). As the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change wraps-up in Bali, Nepali officials are worried water supplies may become even more […]
Singapore: Water Technology Clearinghouse
December 6, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Previously, on this water web-log, we have heard of Israel’s attempts to become the next “Silicon Valley” of water technology. Right on schedule, other investment minded countries are jumping on-board. Singapore has stepped-up with hopes of being a major water-technology provider for Asian countries, as reviewed on Earthtimes. The island of Singapore, south of Malaysia, […]
Water Guzzlin’ Biofuels
December 5, 2007 By 1 Comment
Initially, biofuels (such as biodiesel and ethanol) were thought the holy-grail of the environmental and energy movement. After further review, several problems arise that may negate any positive environmental outcome of the use of biofuels. Negative aspects of biofuel production include increased water shortages, food shortages, and energy shortages. Such issues are evaluated in this article […]
