Here are some of the latest headlines regarding water in the world today.

Countries Blame China, Not Nature, for Water Shortage: In light of a severe drought along the Mekong River basin, which is a water source for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, residents of these countries are lashing out at China, the owner of dozens of dams that might be causing the shortage. While scientific evidence shows that the drought is caused by low rainfall, China is still the target for its neighbors’ complaints.

Critics Seek to Halt Ethiopian Hydro Project: Activists are petitioning to stop the construction of what could be the biggest dam in Africa. This $1.7 billion project promises economic development, but others say that the Gibe 3 Dam in Ethiopia will severely affect local tribes who depend on the natural order of the river’s ecosystem.

2010 Stockholm Water Prize Awarded to American Water and Public Health Expert: Rita Colwell, winner of the Stockholm Water Prize, “discovered that cholera-causing bacteria can go dormant, then later revert to an infectious state. Therefore, bodies of water frequently store the bacteria, even absent an outbreak of the disease.These findings counteracted the conventional wisdom held that cholera could only enter the environment due to release of sewage.”

More Than $5 Billion Promised to Rebuild Haiti: Over 50 countries and organizations will donate a total of $5 billion to Haiti in an effort to meet water, food, and shelter needs of citizens.

Turkish Mayor Acquitted on Misconduct Charges… For Giving Citizens Free Water: A progressive Turkish mayor has been providing free water to citizens, rewarding those who conserve the resource, providing affordable health care, and making public transportation free. However, this got him into big trouble with the government and corporations who are trying to privatize water, thus profiting economically by limiting people’s right to this natural resource.

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