Water Security in Asia

Happy Earth Day to the GSI Community! Today also marked the DC launch of the Asia Society's major report, entitled "Asia's Next Challenge: Securing the Region's Water Future." The report is a product of the Asia Society's Leadership Group on Water Security in Asia, which includes notable figures such as Jeffrey Sachs, the Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, and Surin Pitsuwan, the Secretary-General of ASEAN.

The Wilson Center's China Environment Forum hosted the launch event, which featured remarks from Suzanne DiMiaggio of the Asia Society, Saleem Ali of the Brookings Institution, and Jennifer Turner of the Wilson Center. Panelists discussed the major findings of the report as well as broader resource challenges across Asia. Saleem Ali closed his presentation with this poem by economist Kenneth Boulding, which we think is perfect to share with you in honor of Earth Day:

Water is far from a simple commodity,
Water's a sociological oddity,
Water's a pasture for science to forage in,
Water's a mark of our dubious origin,
Water's a link with a distant futurity,
Water's a symbol of ritual purity.

Water is politics, Water's religion,
Water is just about anyone's pigeon.
Water is frightening, water's endearing,
Water's a lot more than mere engineering.
Water is tragical, water is comical,
Water is far from Pure Economical,
So studies of water, though free from aridity
Are apt to produce a good deal of turbidity.

For further information about the launch event, click here. For the Asia Society’s water portal, click here.