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Asian International Waters: From Ganges-Brahmaputra to Mekong
Pub.: Keiso-shobo (January, 1999)
The future of many Asian developing countries depends
on the development of Ganges-Brahmaputra, Salween and Mekong basins.
How can it be done to develop in the way that is fair and
beneficial to all the countries and local residents concerned, meanwhile
protecting the environment? Water resource specialists, among the
world's most prominent, offer alternative participatory development plans,
unlike those government-imposed typical in the past. Water resource
development of international rivers may spark regional as well as ethnic
disputes. Shortage, pollution and management of water determines the
life or death of a nation. The book squarely discusses river
development, warning not to repeat the same mistakes again.
From the epilogue . . . . |
They
say the 21st century may turn into an era of water crisis. There are
many problems facing humanity, e.g., poverty, population explosion, food
shortage, energy crisis, and environmental degradation, which we fear will become more serious over the 21st century.
Of these, water
shortage, though familiar to most people, is not readily recognized as a problem on which the survival of
the human race depends. On the
other hand, it is widely known among people interested in water problems
that many inter-local and ethnic disputes in the past derive from fights
over water. Needless to say, the food problem is deeply associated
with water resources. If the water shortage affects the human
survival, the energy crisis "unfortunately" cannot be a more
serious problem. An important dimension of
environmental degradation is about problems related to water quality and
circulation. It is no exaggeration that the development and
management of water resources is an issue that the humankind must address
most vigorously as heading for the 21stf century.
Asia is generally recognized as an area relatively
abundant with water resources. On the other hand, Asia holds
countries with large populations, China 900 million and India 500 million
for instance, and has seen most rapid economic development recently in its
region. It also embraces several world largest rivers and, except for
the Yangzi and the Yellow River in China, they are all international
rivers. Therefore, not to mention cooperation among all the
concerned countries, consideration for each country's social and
environmental problems, as well as their active participation in
international society are essential for proper utilization of these
rivers. |
With
this understanding, in 1995, world prominent scholars and
policy makers of water resources development and management gathered, each
as a concerned individual, at Asia Institute of Technology in Bangkok and
the first Asia Water Forum was held. The forum focused on three
largest international rivers in Asia, namely Ganges-Brahmaputra, Salween and
Mekong. A wide range of topics concerning the development and
management of each river was discussed and views and opinions were
exchanged. That itself was unprecedented. Each paper presented
at the forum and contained in this book not only serves as a basis for
further discussions on the water resources development and management for
the 21st century but also offers various suggestions regarding regional
development through international cooperation. Further, the tie
formed among all concerned through discussions at the forum is considered
to serve as an important base for development cooperation in the 21st
century. [. . . ] 
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