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News and updates from the Tony Allan Society, including research and publications, awards, Society announcements, and critical commentary shaping global debate on water, food, and policy.
On Feb 9
Invited Opinion Interview with Professor Tony Allan – Part 2
In Part 2 of the interview, Tony Allan expands on the implications of the virtual water concept for global food security, international trade, and water governance.
On Feb 9
The Middle East Water Question – Hydropolitics and the Global Economy
Is there enough water on this planet for a global population that will shortly double its present size? The answer is of huge importance for people everywhere, but particularly to the peoples and political leaders of the Middle East and North Africa. As well as explaining the particular issues of conflict in the region, Allan argues that the answer to these problems lies at the global rather than local level. The Middle East Water Question is a major book by one of the world’s leading authorities on water issues.
On Feb 8
Camels Don’t Fly, Deserts Don’t Bloom: an Assessment of Saudi Arabia’s Experiment in Desert Agriculture
Severe arid conditions constrained agricultural production and population size in the Arabian Peninsula over the millennia (except around oases and in parts of Yemen). An abrupt change in Saudi Arabia started in the 1980s to make the desert bloom.
This study examines whether or not the Saudi experiment in desert irrigation has been worthwhile in terms of cost and benefit. It concludes that the project was a waste of money and water on a grand scale.
On Feb 8
The Household Water Crisis in Syria’s Greater Damascus Region
Damascus has experienced prolonged daily water shut-offs, particularly between June and January, with rationing reaching up to 20 hours per day in 2001.
This study addresses the ongoing domestic water crisis in the Greater Damascus Region within the context of Syria’s long-standing policy of prioritizing agricultural water use. Rather than pursuing costly inter-basin water transfer schemes from the Euphrates or Mediterranean, this research advocates a local solution: reallocating water from irrigation to household use, supported by efficient modern irrigation technologies.
On Feb 3
Tony Allan Obituary
This obituary commemorates the life and work of Tony Allan (1937–2021), a British geographer whose concept of “virtual water” transformed global understanding of water resource management, agriculture, and international trade.