13 Water Conflict

"On Sunday, I revealed in the Observer that the most persistent and frequent polluters of England's rivers and beaches are the nation's biggest 10 biggest water companies. I wrote:"

"Project promises abundant energy for Ethiopia, but potential crop failures, power cuts and political tumult for Egypt"

"Authorities push forward plans for 314 metre-high dam on Dadu river which would affect rare plants and fish"

"Authorities push forward plans for 314 metre-high dam on Dadu river which would affect rare plants and fish"

"The UK's first self-closing flood barriers have been installed to protect a Lake District town hit by devastating flooding. The £4.4m scheme has been put in place in the Cumbrian town of Cockermouth, where the automatic barriers aim to prevent a repeat of the floods in 2009, when a month's rain fell in 24 hours, destroying 900 homes and forcing hundreds of people to evacuate."

"Five hundred scientists meeting in Bonn last month warned that 9 billion people would face the consequences of severe water shortages within a generation or two, but did not point the finger at industries devastating fresh water supplies. Meanwhile, a battle against a metal mining industry that has ravaged freshwater supplies in El Salvador shows just how difficult it is for a developing country to build economic alternatives for a water-secure future."

"Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory have become the first two administrations to sign up to the Murray Darling Basin plan, committing both governments to replenish water to the key river system."

"A £25billion rival to the Panama Canal could be built across Nicaragua - funded entirely by the Chinese. The hugely ambitious engineering project would give China control of a vital waterway to challenge the one completed by the US in Panama nearly 100 years ago. Legislation paving the way for a new canal was given the go-ahead by Nicaraguan politicians on Monday night and is expected to be approved by the National Assembly tomorrow."

"Construction of Grand Renaissance dam to continue despite Eygptian concerns over impact on water supply and farming"

"South-north diversion project aimed at preventing water shortages has had no shortage of problems and criticism"

"Despite the recent rain in southern California, the area is still suffering from a historic drought. Homeowners who can't abide municipal water restrictions are trying lawn painting and synthetic grass - and lawn entrepreneurs are finding plenty of work: 'We all do it because we want to live in a beautiful neighborhood'"

"Nearly a year in the making and shot in a continuous take, Revolution follows the cyclical journey of a single water droplet."

"Getting good data on the many issues related to freshwater has long been a challenge. Here you will find data tables from the World's Water series, along with select content from the newest release, Volume 7 (October 2011). For the entire book, order directly from Island Press."

"Water security is defined as the capacity of a population to safeguard sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water for sustaining livelihoods, human well-being, and socio-economic development, for ensuring protection against water-borne pollution and water-related disasters, and for preserving ecosystems in a climate of peace and political stability. (UN-Water, 2013)"

Water crises in the Middle East are helping "radicalize" the region, according to VICE. The inaccessibility of clean drinking water, water scarcity, drought, and food insecurity all combine to "make communities vulnerable-especially to extremist groups.

BAGHDAD: Iraqi officials voiced fears Wednesday that jihadis will use their seizure of a dam in Ramadi to mount fresh attacks on pro-government forces preparing to try to retake the city. A string of advances last month by ISIS cast doubt on the strategy of the U.S.-led coalition battling the jihadis, but Washington has insisted it is on the right track.

California's drought has produced a plot twist too singular even for Chinatown: farmers volunteering to give up a quarter of their water. Scores of farmers in the delta of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers made the unprecedented offer on Friday in a deal to stave off even steeper mandatory cuts.

"As water levels plummet to 45% in America's second-largest reservoir, new islands appear - and fears grow for a waterway that serves 40 million people"

"Critics of California's current water policy advocate more infrastructure spending on things like dams, canals, and desalination plants.  Many would also curtail water releases for the benefit of fish and other wildlife. Certainly, infrastructure spending would be better than wasting money on the governor's high-speed-train fantasy.  However, California cannot spend enough money on water infrastructure to prevent water shortages."