Hidden Depths Water as a Weapon and Victim of Conflict
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Mar 10, 2025 Peter Schwartzstein, an environmental journalist and author of "The Heat and the Fury," joins the discussion to unveil the dire realities of water as both a weapon and victim in conflict. He highlights how water infrastructure is deliberately targeted to exert power over populations, exacerbating humanitarian crises. The conversation dives into historical and contemporary conflicts, with a focus on the Tigris-Euphrates River disputes, and stresses the urgent need for governance to mitigate these escalating water-driven tensions amid climate change.
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Ancient Water War
- Uma and Lagash, ancient Sumerian city-states, clashed over water resources 4,500 years ago.
- Lagash diverted water to damage Uma's fields, leading to a deadly conflict, possibly the first recorded water war.
Water as a Weapon
- Militant groups use water as a weapon in various ways, including strategically to destroy key areas.
- They also use it tactically against military targets and coercively to fund operations.
Tigris-Euphrates River Basin Conflict
- Turkey's dam project on the Tigris-Euphrates River impacted water flow to Syria, causing tensions.
- Syria and Iraq objected, leading to water becoming a bargaining chip in regional conflicts, particularly regarding Kurdish separatists.
