Panel discussion on Water, Conflict and Cooperation
CRS and the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Environmental Change and Security Program organized a panel discussion in Washington, DC, on January 6, 2010, about water’s complex role in conflict and development. Titled “Water, Conflict and Cooperation: Practical Concerns for Water Development Projects,” the discussion was covered by C-Span (video and transcript) and Catholic News Service (article).
During the event, CRS launched its new publication, Water and Conflict, which describes how water scarcity, access to water supplies, pollution of water sources and transboundary water management increasingly play a role in disputes, political manipulation and, in worst cases, outright conflict. For more information on CRS’ activities in water and sanitation, please visit CRS’ Water and Sanitation web pages.
Speakers at the discussion included Ken Hackett, President, Catholic Relief Services, author Jason Gehrig (presentation), CRS Consultant and Engineer, Tjip Walker, Team Leader (Warning and Analysis unit, Office of Conflict Management and Mitigation, USAID), William E. Hall (presentation), Professor, Conflict Resolution Program, Georgetown University, and Geoff Dabelko, Director, Environmental Change and Security Program, Woodrow Wilson Center.
The discussion was moderated by Dennis Warner, CRS Senior Technical Advisor, Water Supply, Sanitation and Water Resources Development.