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Archive for the ‘Natural Resources’ Category

Multiplying the Yield of an Oasis

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/03/business/energy-environment/03iht-rbogwater.html?ref=middleeast

The UAE uses 650 liters of water a day per person. This is more than the United States, at 300 liters per person, and almost all of Europe. Alot of this water is being used for watering golf courses, agriculture, and car washes. Right now, they are relying on desalination techniques in order to fulfill their daily water needs. Desalination is the process of removing salt from salt water. The water is being stored in above ground water tanks, but if a natural disaster were to happen, their water supplies would be exhausted within 48 hours.

Currently, Georg Koziorowski, a German hydrogeologist, is in the UAE to create a plan to extend the countries water reserves to 90 days. By 2013, this $500 million dollar plan is expected to be completed. If this plan is executed correctly, “in an emergency, 16 million cubic meters could be pumped up through hundreds of wells, providing each resident with about 150 liters of drinking water a day over a three-month period.”(NY Times Article referenced below)

Neighobring countries in the region have been carefully observing the UAE, and Abu Dhabi is quickly becoming a model for the rest of the region in terms of securing water.

Article link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/03/business/energy-environment/03iht-rbogwater.html?_r=1&ref=middleeast

Picture link: http://www.planetware.com/picture/abu-dhabi-uae-uae019.htm

Posted in Economic Issues, NMH-PA Media Reports, Water | 1 Comment »

Jordan Bidding to Go Nuclear

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

Jordan has accused Israel of trying to block its bid to become a regional nuclear power generating nation. The United States finds itself caught in the middle between two Middle Eastern allies.

Story at the BBC

Jordan is getting support from a prominent Israeli: Yossi Beilin — see his Op-Ed piece “Let Jordan Enrich its Own Uranium,” New York Times, June 29, 2010.

Posted in Arab-Israeli Conflict, Economic Issues, Israel, Jordan, Natural Resources | No Comments »

Fears of Water War Growing in East Africa

Monday, May 24th, 2010

An agreement between African countries at the upper reaches of the Nile has upset Egypt and the Sudan. Both nations have large populations and say they cannot tolerate reductions in their usage of the Nile. Some analysts fear it may all lead to a water war. Urfan Nizam al-Din writing in today’s edition of Al-Hayat worries that preparations are underway for conflict over the Nile (“Al-Arab wa-l-Ist’adaad li-Huroob al-Myaa” – “Arabs and Preparations for Water Wars,” Al-Hayat, May 24, 2010).

The current edition of The Economist (May 22-28, 2010) features a special report (“For Want of a Drink”) on water shortages throughout the world.

"The Next Weapon" - Al-Sharq al-Awsat, May 23, 2010

More on water shortages in the Middle East

Posted in Egypt, Foreign Policy, Middle East, Sudan, Water | No Comments »

“Water Wars” On the Nile

Saturday, May 15th, 2010

Egypt and Sudan are angry at four African countries upstream for making a new agreement on usage of water from the Nile River that leaves Egypt and Sudan with less.

Story at the BBC

Posted in Egypt, Natural Resources, Sudan, Water | No Comments »

Egypt Worried About Water Shortages in the Future

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Today’s issue of the Arabic language daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat (“The Middle East”), features an Op-Ed piece quoting an Egyptian official, Dr. Mufid Shehab, Minister of Legal and Parliamentary Affairs: “The security of Egypt with respect to water and Egypt’s historical rights to the waters of the Nile are questions of life and death which cannot be neglected.”

The piece goes on to cite studies indicating the possibility of “water wars” ( hurub al-miyya ) in Egypt’s future unless cooperation over agricultural and drinking usage improves between affected nations (i.e. between Egypt and Sudan).

The author of the piece cites U.N. reports predicting that upstream countries like Ethiopia will put more and more demands on the Nile’s resources as their populations grow. Ethiopia will put more and more demands on the Nile’s resources as its population grows. The population of Ethiopia is predicted to exceed that of Egypt by 2015.

By 2025, Egypt’s population will reach 99 million, but that of Ethiopia will rise to 113 million, making it the most populous nation in Africa after Nigeria.

Source: Uthman Mirghani, “Izma ‘aly-l-Nil,” (“Crisis On the Nile”- Op-Ed piece) Al-Sharq al-Awsat, April 21, 2010

Posted in Economic Issues, Egypt, Middle East, Natural Resources, Sudan, Water | No Comments »

Water in the Middle East: A Way to War or Peace?

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

A special issue of the National Geographic Magazine (April, 2010) is devoted to the problem of water shortages and contamination across the globe. Included is an article on issues around water in the Middle East (“Parting the Waters,” 154ff.).