Muldays Mondays: China's Waterplomacy "The OMFG, The Ugly and the Bad.......

Waterplomacy: China's Water Woes

“To understand the politricks behind water security and related topics, simply pay attention to these terms: Economic Activities and Development, Peace and Political Stability, Financing (Remember W.A.S.H?), Ecosystems, Drinking Water, Water Pollution, Climate Change, Good Governance and Transboundary Cooperation”

— Water & Cassava

.... OMFG- The Case of The Gambia  

On May 22 2017, The Bolong Fenyo Wild Life Reserve in Gambia was poisoned by the Chinese owned company Golden Lead Factory. The color of water ranges from pink to red, because of the dead animals discovered in the reserve and surrounding areas. After an investigation, it was discovered the pipelines were dumping toxins to the reserve. The company blamed the local fishermen for killing every single fish in the reserve.
I am sure you can imagine, the local people and government had some difficulty believing this formal response. The Gambia National Environment Agency sued The Golden Lead Factory for violating environmental regulations and for the pollution of the sea. 

Bolong Fenyo Wild Life Reserve after poison

Please click below to learn more:

Now after this, you will think Gambia will be singing this to China:

But in the words of the young boyz from Philadelphia:

As of August of this year, Gambia decided to work with China on supporting and building on infrastructure, agriculture, and tourism. China in return will have unrestricted access to the Gambian market and about the  T word....

“China: Gambia you understand there is only one China
Gambia: We understand that Taiwan is not a country, Please don’t go away”

— Imagined by Water & Cassava

To read more on Gambia not wanting China to go away:

 

...The UGLY-The Case of Cameroon 

Meanwhile down south from Gambia, we have the country of Cameroon. A country that has had the same president for the last 30 years, home to 5 separate groups that wish to take their independence from the country and ninth country to benefit from Chinese loans and aid. 

“The Cameroonian Ministry of Economy signed multiple technical and economic agreements with China worth FCFA 49.4 billion (594 million yuan) for a drinking water supply project”

To get the brief gist of this project:

SPEAKING OF HELL AROUND THE CORNER..

Cameroon is the walking definition of the song above.  

“...Cameroon owes China $1 billion dollars in loans”

— Water & Cassava

....The Bad: The Case of China's Water Security Issues

China has a host of water security issues internally and with neighboring countries. Home to 1.3 billion people, that is roughly 20% of our planet's population. China struggles with access to fresh water but in order to understand the role of agriculture in China's water woes, read this article: 

“Birth Control OR Control of Birth ”

— Water & Cassava

The answer from the China government to water security concerns, is the South-North Water Transfer Project that will cost the government $62 billion dollars. There are some serious concerns on the role of pollution in the building of such a massive project including serious risk to the population. Read below to understand why such concerns are alarming:

CHINA AND INDIA WATER WARS: BUDDAH BE A FENCE

China's attempt to deal with water scarcity has been to build more dams to divert water in regions of the country that lack water. This diversion has cost India lives and over $30 million in damages. Read this article to understand the growing tensions between India and China that stem from water manipulation

Until next Mulday!

Muldays -Water Scarcity

“Can all of us get enough water to keep the plants growing, maintain proper sanitation and health?”

— Water Security (Policy cap on)

“We have no clean available water for daily needs, none for animals or the enviroment. We also don’t have any water infrastructures.”

— Water Scarcity ( Poor Folk View)

Picture Credit: Inhabitat.com

Water for Thought? I am aware of the year on the inforgraphic but like most tales of African Affairs, this will be a good beginning to understand Water Politics in Africa. 

Water makes up 70% of the planet but the stuff we drink, well there is just 3% available. 

“With the existing climate change scenario, by 2030, water scarcity in some arid and semi-arid places will displace between 24 million and 700 million people”

— UN-Water

I remember days carrying water on my head with other children and women in the community. We would trek and get water from streams, ponds that were often infected with water-borne diseases.  Water borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, diarrhea make up close to 50% of the health issues faced by Africans. My primary school years were nothing short from a horror movie written by Stephen King. I lost classmates, neighbors and friends from water borne diseases and at least 80% of my childhood was filled with those listed illnesses. 

 

                     What role does Water play in African International Relations?

Do you know, there are engineers that believe the hydro power capability of the Victoria Falls can offer power to Zambia and her neighbors? Some claim the entire continent!! What about nuclear power?

The lack of clean water contributes to more than just the poverty of African States. It is more than the poor brown faces you see on this blog. 

African States do not focus on niche diplomatic practices outside the continent or inside the continent.  Unfortunately because of this lack of practice, they underestimate the role which they play in promoting the niche diplomatic practices of middle, super and super power states.  
The practice of "water diplomacy" by governments and foreign non profit organizations, simply shapes and reinforces niche diplomatic practices of middle, super and  super power states in Africa. 

Middle Power states from Asia, like South Korea are also using this “water diplomacy” to offer help and soften their image, their brand, and their contribution to underdeveloped African Countries and Southeast Asian Countries. African Countries unknowingly or knowingly feed their narrative of needing to be saved, if you will "Diplomacy of Dependency" .

                      WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF WATER SCARCITY IN AFRICA?

The cause of water scarcity and the issues within water security in Africa can be blamed on the three major pollution culprits: Climatic, Industrial and Environmental.

Deforestation(Industrial pollution) in Sub-Saharan Africa has caused a process of desertification(Climatic & Environmental pollution).

 

“The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture”

— Desertification

Water Scarcity in Africa can be blamed on the exploitation of natural resources, dumping of industrial wastes and the selling of land to foreign interests. 

The link between selling land and water scarcity is the massive deforestation that takes place in a short amount of time. It also includes the disruption of water cycles that also play in the role of climate issues in the region.

“Have you picked up a bottle of water or noticed bottles of water with a brown face on it? Usually with a sticker “With every purchase spent, $1 goes to poor children or (****cough, cough) impoverished children in poor (***Cough, Cough***)developing African countries....”

— Niche Diplomacy Working

I hope you have seen the rather crafty ways countries maintain their image through niche diplomacy. 

****Before I go, I mentioned the possibility of nuclear power. Nuclear Power from Victoria Falls in Zambia with the assistance of a friend that is known in the West for Hard Power. Everyone has an appreciation for attraction and persuasiveness. 

Next week, we will take at our Water Mythology & Folklore Stories.