WHEN THE RIVER RUNS CLEAR: Water in Contemporary China

Friday, October 9, 2015 - 5:00pm to 6:00pm
UA Poetry Center, Rubel Room 1508 E. Helen Street Tucson, AZ 85721

Presented by: David Pietz, Associate Professor, East Asian Studies

Droughts are common in Arizona but water problems affect unexpected regions around the world, including North China. Nature and culture have conspired to critically shape the waterscape of the North China Plain. This region is unique because local communities and the state in China have tried addressing this ecological challenge for centuries, often in remarkably creative and effective ways. The water problem has been compounded by the breakneck pace of economic and social change during the last several decades and has added a new layer to this problem.  Explore the contemporary challenges of water scarcity in China through the lens of history, seeking a translation of sorts of historical experience into a more nuanced view of China’s water challenges and the potential national and international consequences of resource constraints.