Tag Archives : rapid urbanization

Looming ‘water wars’ in India

Looming ‘water wars’ in India

In India, water tables are being depleted, threatening the water resources of the country. An article published this month in the scientific journal Nature states that in six years, from 2002 to 2008, reserves of groundwater in three regions of northern India, Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan, have decreased by 109 billion cubic meters, or one tenth [...]
2009 State of the Future report: grim vision of shortages, violence, and collapse of civilization due to climate change

2009 State of the Future report: grim vision of shortages, violence, and collapse of civilization due to climate change

Prior to its publication next month, The Independent on Sunday was able to access the 6,700-paged report entitled 2009 State of the Future which is ‘backed by a diverse range of leading organizations such as UNESCO, the World Bank, the US army, and the Rockefeller Foundation.’ The report, composed of contributions from 2,700 experts around the [...]
World Bank Urban Strategy: amended to include climate change issues

World Bank Urban Strategy: amended to include climate change issues

Since the adoption in October 2008 of its strategic plan on climate change and development, the World Bank has worked exceptionally hard to become a major player in climate issues. After being convinced that the climate change battle will be won in the cities, the World Bank is amending its preparedness strategy and position. The new World Bank strategy [...]
The Phenomenon of Agricultural Relocation: Countries Buying Farmlands Abroad

The Phenomenon of Agricultural Relocation: Countries Buying Farmlands Abroad

In 2006, Beijing signed agreements on agricultural cooperation with several African countries that led to the installation of 14 farms in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Tanzania. By 2010, there will be one million Chinese peasants in Africa. The official goal: to help host countries increase production through Chinese technologies. The hybrid varieties [...]