Disaster by Design : Disappearance of the Aral Sea, Dry Run for the Emerging Climate Crisis

FRONT COVER
DISASTER BY DESIGN: THE ARAL SEA AND ITS LESSONS FOR SUSTAINABILITY
COPYRIGHT PAGE
CONTENTS
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
DEDICATIONS
MAPS OF UZBEKISTAN AND THE GREATER ARAL SEA REGION
LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES
LIST OF MAPS
ACKNOWLEGMENTS
REFERENCES
PREFACE
SECTION ONE – THE MULTIPLE DISASTERS OF THE ARAL SEA
CHAPTER 1 AN OVERVIEW OF THE ARAL SEA DISASTER
INTRODUCTION
A BROAD GEOGRAPHY OF THE REGION
SCOPE OF THE DISASTER
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 2 GOING WITH THE FLOW: ECONOMIC IMPACTS FROM THE OVERUSE OF IRRIGATION
INTRODUCTION
WATER DEMAND EXCEEDS SUPPLY
DOMINATION BY IRRIGATION
FAILING TO LEARN FROM A LONG HISTORY OF IRRIGATION
CUTTING OFF THE ARAL’S LIFEBLOOD
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACTS FROM WATER MISMANAGEMENT
WASTING THE ARAL CAUSED NEW PROBLEMS
THE DAMAGE IS DONE, NOW WHAT?
CENTRAL ASIAN WATERS AND THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE
CONCLUSIONS
A PERSONAL COMMENT ON ACHIEVING THESE GOALS
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 3 POLLUTION AND SALINIZATION: COMPOUNDING THE ARAL SEA DISASTER
INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES PROLIFERATE IN UZBEKISTAN
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 4 DEATH AND REBIRTH ISLAND: SECRETS IN THE U.S.S.R.’S CULTURE OF CONTAMINATION
INTRODUCTION
THE SECLUDED ARAL SEA ISLANDS
THE FIELD TESTS
ROLE OF SECRECY
MATTERS OF RISK AND HAZARD
CEASING TO BE AN ISLAND
CONCLUSION
NOTES
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 5 POTENTIAL CLIMATE AND HYDROLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE ARAL SEA REGION
INTRODUCTION
PRESENT CLIMATE
FUTURE CLIMATE
SUMMARY
NOTE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 6 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BEING DOWNSTREAM: UZBEK CONCERNS OVER THE ROGUN DAM
NOTE
REFERENCES
SECTION TWO – THE ARAL DISASTER IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
CHAPTER 7 A LAST MOVEMENT FOR A LOST SEA
INTRODUCTION
A DELIBERATE ACT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST NATURE
PERESTROIKA AS A TIME OF POSSIBILITIES
LOST HOPE AND UNREALISTIC DREAMS
THE CONTINUING OBSESSION WITH LARGE PROJECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE
TRYING TO BUILD ON HARD LESSONS LEARNED THE HARD WAY
CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 8 ARAL SEA ANALOGS IN THE AMERICAN WEST
INTRODUCTION
GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT
CASE ONE: THE SALTON SEA
CASE TWO: OWENS LAKE
CASE THREE: MONO LAKE
CONCLUSION: POLICY ERROR AND INCREMENTAL DISASTER
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 9 DISASTER BY DESIGN: THE MULTIPLE CAUSED CATASTROPHES OF THE ARAL SEA
INTRODUCTION
ANCIENT DESIGNS, LIFTING THE VEIL OF MYSTERY ON THE GREAT DISAPPEARING SEA
ANCIENT ECHOES IN MODERN DESIGN: NATURE AS MAN’S SERVANT
ENTER THE SOVIETS: DESIGN OF THE ARAL ECOCIDE
KHRUSHCHEV AND THE ASSAULT ON VIRGIN LANDS
THE INGREDIENTS OF DELIBERATE DESIGN
CREATING THE DISASTER: DELIBERATE AND PLANNED POLICY
IGNORING (OR MAYBE WELCOMING) WARNINGS OF THE ARAL’S DEMISE
SCIENTIFIC RATIONALIZATIONS IN FAVOR OF ARAL’S DEMISE
CORRUPTION
COMPLICITY AT THE SYSTEM’S PERIPHERY
THE DISASTER OCCURS
THE DISASTER COMES TO LIGHT
THE EROSION OF CIVIL SOCIETY AND FAILURE OF THE SOVIET UNION
THE END OF THE USSR
MITIGATION
THE PROJECT OF THE CENTURY
FALLACIES OF THE PROJECT OF THE CENTURY
ENVIRONMENTAL STIGMA AND ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE
AUTHORITARIAN SYSTEMS
NOTES
REFERENCES
SECTION THREE – COTTON, COTTON EVERYWHERE, BUT NOT A DROP TO DRINK: AGRICULTURE AS THE VILLAIN
CHAPTER 10 WHAT WENT WRONG: THE CASE OF UN-ECOLOGICAL AGRICULTURE
INTRODUCTION
CONVENTIONAL AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION
WORKING TOWARD A SUSTAINABLE AGRO-SYSTEM
DISCUSSION
CLEANING WATER THROUGH HABITAT
A PLEA FOR CONSERVATION
NOTE
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 11 THE NONARABLE ARAL: LOSS OF PRODUCTIVITY IN UZBEK AGRICULTURE
INTRODUCTION
DATA SOURCE AND METHODOLOGY
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
CONCLUSIONS
NOTE
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 12 COTTON IN OUR EARS: WATER, AGRICULTURE, AND CLIMATIC CHANGE IN THE POST ARAL CONTEXT
INTRODUCTION
STUDY ONE: METHODOLOGY AND FINDINGS
STUDY TWO: METHODOLOGY AND FINDINGS
CONCLUSIONS AND OUTLOOK
NOTES
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 13 WATER FOOTPRINTS: INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TO THE RESCUE IN THE ARAL SEA BASIN
INTRODUCTION
THE TASK AHEAD
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSIONS
NOTES
REFERENCES
SECTION FOUR – ADAPTING TO CATASTROPHE: CASCADING SOCIAL IMPACTS OF THE ARAL SEA DISASTER
CHAPTER 14 THE TRAGEDY OF THE ARAL: COUNTING ON COTTON, A REGION LOSES ITS PEOPLE
INTRODUCTION
ADAPTATION HAS BEEN CONSTANT SINCE ANCIENT TIMES
ECOSYSTEMS BASED ON WATER, HUMAN LIFE BASED ON MOVEMENT
ETHNIC COMPOSITION OF THE REGION: HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY
KARAKALPAKSTAN’S MISFORTUNES
LIVING IN THE ARAL SEA REGION
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ARAL SEA TO REGIONAL LIVELIHOODS
KARAKALPAKSTAN TODAY
TWO REPUBLICS, UNEQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
UNFAVORABLE CONDITIONS PROMPT MIGRATION
MIGRATION OUT OF KARAKALPAKSTAN
CONCLUSIONS
NOTES
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 15 REFLECTIONS ON GROWING UP IN THE KARAKALPAKSTAN REGION
INTRODUCTION
WATER CONTAMINATION
WATER SUPPLY FOR AGRICULTURAL USE
CLIMATE CHANGE
TREES
PEOPLE’S AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEM
MEDIA COVERAGE AND REALITY
CHAPTER 16 AN UNHEALTHY PLACE TO LIVE: PRIORITIZING PUBLIC HEALTH AND ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION IN KARAKALPAKSTAN
INTRODUCTION
MUYNAK: PHYSICAL LOSS OF THE ARAL SEA, ITS IMPACT ON COMMUNITY AND LIVELIHOOD
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS IN KARAKALPAKSTAN
THE FUTURE OF MUYNAK AND KARAKALPAKSTAN
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 17 A PHYSICIAN’S OBSERVATIONS OF KARAKALPAK HEALTH
INTRODUCTION
HEALTH PROBLEMS ESCALATE
CONFIDENCE IN HEALTH STATISTICS
HEALTH AND AGE
CONCLUSIONS
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 18 ECOLOGICAL CHANGE IN THE ARAL REGION: ADAPTATIONS BY THE SPOONBILL AND BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON
SPOONBILL
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 19 ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE AS A THREAT TO THE KHOREZM HERITAGE
INTRODUCTION: ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY OF THE ARAL REGION
ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS
BUILDINGS DEFORMED BY SALT
ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY THREATENED
THREAT TO FOUNDATIONS
A DEADLY COMBINATION OF WATER AND SALT
CONCLUSION
NOTE
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 20 WHOSE DISASTER IS IT ANYWAY? ROMANCING THE WORLD HERITAGE STATUS IN UZBEKISTAN
INTRODUCTION
WORLD HERITAGE SITES AND THE DEFINITION OF UZBEK IDENTITY
WHY NOT THE ARAL SEA?
OTHER CULTURAL IMPACTS
SEEING THE SEA
ROMANCING UNESCO
SO, WHAT ABOUT THE ARAL SEA?
NOTES
REFERENCES
SECTION FIVE – DESIGNING SOLUTIONS: SOCIAL, ECOLOGICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL APPROACHES
CHAPTER 21 NEW THINKING AND NEW APPROACHES: A BIOREGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE LOST ARAL SEA
PHILOSOPHY
NATURE AS A LIFE-PROVIDING SYSTEM FOR HUMANS
ROOTS OF ECOLOGICAL CATASTROPHE
THE CONCEPT: NATURE AS AN EQUAL PARTNER
APPLYING THIS TOOL IN THE ARAL SEA BASIN
CHAPTER 22 RENEWABLE SOCIAL ENERGY: MAHALLA AS A TRADITIONAL INSTITUTION FOR SUSTAINABILITY
INTRODUCTION
BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE POPULATION GEOGRAPHY OF UZBEKISTAN
URBANIZATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF RURAL AND URBAN POPULATIONS
CITIES BUILT ON OASES
CHALLENGES FOR URBANIZATION: IS SMART GROWTH POSSIBLE IN UZBEKISTAN?
MAHALLA: A SOCIO-CULTURAL ORGANIZATION FOR URBAN POPULATIONS
TRIBES AND SETTLEMENTS
OCCUPATION AND MAHALLA IN CITIES
MAHALLA ADAPT TO MODERN LIFE
STATUS IN THE MAHALLA
CULTURE AND VALUES OF THE ENTIRE NATION
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 23 CLEARING THE PIPES: PROVIDING POTABLE WATER THROUGH WELL RESTORATION
INTRODUCTION
THE PROBLEM
THE SOLUTION
CONCLUSION
ADDITIONAL SOURCES
CHAPTER 24 RENEWING WITH RENEWABLES: DIRECT SOLAR ENERGY USE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
INTRODUCTION
SOLAR ELECTRICITY
PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING AND DAYLIGHTING
SOLAR HOT WATER
CONCLUSIONS
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 25 GETTING THE SALT OUT: INNOVATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES FOR RURAL CLEAN WATER
INTRODUCTION
ENERGY CAPACITY AND POTENTIAL IN UZBEKISTAN
SOLAR POWER FOR PEOPLE
TWO POINT-BASED SOLAR SOLUTIONS
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES AT THE INSTITUTE
CONCLUSIONS
NOTES
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 26 RENEWABLE ENERGY AS A KEY FACTOR FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN UZBEKISTAN
INTRODUCTION
EXISTING CAPACITY
ENCOURAGING RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 27 PERMACULTURE RESTORATION OF THE ARAL SEA WATERSHED
INTRODUCTION
PERMACULTURE ETHICS AND PRINCIPLES
OVERALL DESIGN PROCESS FOR AN ARAL SEA RESTORATION
CONCEPTUAL AND DETAILED DESIGN
APPLYING PERMACULTURE CONCEPTS IN THE ARAL SEA BASIN
OF WATER, FORESTS AND SOIL
PEOPLE DRIVE THE DESIGN AND THE FUTURE THEY SEE
CONCLUSION
NOTES
REFERENCES
SECTION SIX – LESSONS OF THE ARAL SEA DISASTER: IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIAL LEARNING
CHAPTER 28 ARAL SEA DEMISE AS A DRY RUN FOR CLIMATE CHANGE: FROM CUMULATIVE TO CASCADING IMPACTS
INTRODUCTION
SLOW DEVELOPING DISASTERS
THE DISJUNCTURE BETWEEN RAPID ENVIRONMENTAL DECLINE AND SLOW HUMAN RESPONSE
WHAT ARE THE MEANINGFUL BOUNDARIES AROUND THE ARAL SEA DISASTER?
CUMULATIVE AND CASCADING DISASTER
SUSTAINABLE OPTIONS
CONCLUSION: LOST MEMORY OF A LOST SEA
NOTES
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 29 HIGHLANDS-TO-SEA COOPERATION IN THE ARAL SEA BASIN: LINKING OR SINKING?
INTRODUCTION
THE MOUNTAINS AS GLOBAL COMMONS
ECOSYSTEM GOODS AND SERVICES FOR HUMAN WELL-BEING
H2O: AN INITIATIVE WHOSE TIME HAS COME
INSIDE THE ‘‘MOUNTAIN BOX’’; OUTSIDE THE ‘‘MOUNTAIN COALITION’’
LOOKING BACK TO LOOK AHEAD
REFERENCES
ABOUT THE AUTHORS