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Peace in the pipeline: “Water wars are coming!” the newspaper headlines scream, but are they?

Posted by: Maven on February 13, 2009 at 8:16 am

From BBC News, this commentary:

It seems obvious; rivalries over water have been the source of disputes since humans settled down to cultivate food. Even our language reflects these ancient roots: “rivalry” comes from the Latin rivalis, or “one using the same river as another”. As the number of international river basins and impact of water scarcity has grown, so do the warnings that countries will take up arms to ensure access to water.

In 1995, for example, World Bank Vice President Ismail Serageldin famously claimed that “the wars of the next century will be about water,” a sentiment echoed regularly ever since.

These apocalyptic warnings fly in the face of history.

No nations have gone to war specifically over water resources for thousands of years; the only documented case of war with such a specific cause was between the city states of Lagash and Umma on the Tigris River 4,500 years ago.

International water disputes – even among fierce enemies – are generally resolved peacefully, even as conflicts erupt over other issues.

Today, more than ever, it is time to stop propagating threats of ‘water wars’ and aggressively pursue a water peacemaking strategy. Why? Because water is so important that nations cannot afford to fight over it.

Instead, water fuels greater interdependence. By coming together to manage their shared water resources jointly, countries can build trust and help prevent conflict.

By crying “water wars,” doomsayers ignore a promising way to help prevent war: co-operative water resources management.

Read more of this commentary by clicking here.

February 13, 2009 · Filed Under International Water Issues

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