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Conference on Himalayan rivers and climate change
Dharamshala, 14 February, TibetNet: Some noted scientists, educationalists, grassroots environmental activists from all over India and abroad, examined the ways to preserve Himalayan rivers and tackle climate change at India International Centre, New Delhi, on 11 February. The conference was organised by the Navdanya, the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology, based in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. Mrs Vandana Shiva, Director of Navdanya trust, underlined that diversion of Himalayan rivers, which is the biggest concern, poses a serious environmental threat to Asia." While responding to a question on how India could stop China from diverting the Brahmaputra river, Mr Arpi said: "In the absence of trans-boundary river treaties, such actions are negligible. Besides, China is non-signatory to the UN Convention on the law of non-navigational uses of international water courses." Referring Himalayan rivers as the rivers of Tibet, the noted Tibetologist, Mr Arpi, said: "Universal responsibility is the only solution to this humanity crisis." The issue of Himalayan rivers is the issue of Tibet and some of the prime issues concerning Himalayan rivers are pollution, diversion, integrity of river systems. In a March 2007 report released by the World Wildlife Fund for nature, it was mentioned that four of the world’s ten most endangered rivers originate in Tibet. Other topics, including scientific evidences for glacial retreat and erosion rates over the Ganges and Brahmaputra drainages, were also discussed. The speakers from Ladakh and Bundelkhand shared their own experiences of how their lives are being affected by the climate change. Ms Chokyi and Ms Dolma Yangzom of Environment and Development Desk (EDD) of the Department of Information and International Relations, attended the conference. |
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Last updated: 14-Feb-2008