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An ancient system that could supply water to arid areas

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Some arid areas of Africa face severe water shortages due to minimal rainfall. An ancient system of drawing water from aquifers, the “qanat system”, could be helpful. Gaathier Mahed, an environmental scientist and groundwater management expert, said examined feasibility these systems. Tells us more._

How does the qanat system work?

There are reservoirs of water called aquifers underground, and a few of them may be found on the tops of valleys or near mountains. The qanat system draws water from these aquifers and uses underground tunnels to move the water using gravity for a lot of kilometers. The tunnel then exits right into a lower area.


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Once the water leaves the tunnel, farmers can use it to irrigate their crops. Water within the tunnel section will also be accessed via a well.

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It is a system managed by everyone and its advantages are shared. Everyone has their very own interest and role to play. Social bonds may be strengthened – unlike the tensions we currently see over water resources.

Governance is a really complex municipal system. The laws governing the system have existed since ninth century. These regulations concern construction and proximity Tunnels in Kanata to one another. They also regulate exits from the qanats. For example, landowners at exits often is the first to use the water and must help manage it.

Where did it come from and where is it used?

Kanata were used through ages in arid and semi-arid parts of North Africa, the Middle East and Asia where water resources are limited. It is thought by various names: “foggara” in North Africa, “falaj” in Oman, and “qarez” in parts of Asia.

This is believed to have been the case developed in Persia in the primary millennium BC because the Islamic Empire proliferation within the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Europe from 661 to 750 AD, as did the knowledge of qanat.

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Currently, some qanat systems within the region, like those in Iran, are protected under cultural heritage status. Some of those qanats, although decreasing in number, are still used. They are largely protected for historical and cultural reasons.

Why is not it more widely used?

There are several the explanation why the tunnel system is just not more widely utilized in Africa.

Kanatas have to be built somewhere where there are suitable geological formations. Overall, they seem to be fractured sandstones. The groundwater level can also be necessary for the water flow within the qanat. The volume of water within the aquifer results from precipitation in mountainous regions.

Qanats can only be built where there may be a slope, resembling a mountain or valley. And it has to have a slope specific angle. If it is just too steep, the qanat will erode and it can collapse. If it is just not steep enough, the water won’t flow fast enough and will undergo chemical changes consequently of interactions with minerals within the soil.

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Digging a tunnel and expanding the system over large areas is labor-intensive and might take a few years. Kanatas travel many kilometers and have to be maintained annually by removing accrued silt.

Knowledge concerning the construction of qanats and their maintenance is disappearing. People migrated from rural areas to cities and as an alternative adopted drilling in some areas.

Some qanats are drying up due to overexploitation of water resources.

Why should the system be used more widely?

In most cases, people in dry areas drill wells to access groundwater. These wells have a service life and eventually recent wells will need to be drilled. Pumps and materials don’t last ceaselessly, and wells can turn out to be clogged by microbes and fantastic material beneath the surface.

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First of all, qanat is eco-friendly because it really works by gravity and doesn’t require electricity. It may even be used to generate clean energy. For example, in Iran, the cold air coming out of the tunnels in Kanata is cold used for cooling interiors of huge buildings.

Secondly, water losses due to evaporation are minimal compared to water surface supply.

Third, it might probably have a wide-scale impact. Kanatas are many kilometers long and once water reaches the flood plain it might probably achieve this water repeatedly hectares of land.

Fourth, it promotes social cohesion. Many individuals with different skills are involved in maintaining the system.

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Fifth, system life goes beyond deep well, i.e. only about 20 years. Tunnels don’t clog as easily as wells.

Finally, the standard of water coming from the mountains is significantly better than water within the plains. It will probably be less salty and higher for crops and folks.

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International

The call of the PKK leader to disarm fuels the hope of ending the Kurdish conflict – but the peace is not close

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Abdullah Öcalan, imprisoned leader of the forbidden Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has He called a bunch disarm and dissolve. In a letter read by his political allies in Istanbul in Turkey, on February 27, he wrote: “I am taking historical responsibility for this call … All groups must lie down on weapons, and PKK must dissolve.”

Two days later, the PKK Executive Committee declared the suspension of the weapon to the armed fight with the Turkish state. Conflict that began in 1984 In order to establish an independent Kurdish state in response to the state of the state, he demanded the lives of over 40,000 people and displaced tons of of hundreds of others.

Öcalan was imprisoned on the island south of Istanbul since 1999, when He was captured by Turkish security forces in Kenya. But he remained the leader of the PKK and maintained his strong cult of personality amongst the Kurdish Freedom Movement.

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He was a force behind the passage of PKK from its separatist goals in 2000. He argued that the dissolution of Kurdish issue in the Middle East concerned greater autonomy and Kurdish laws through the idea “Democratic confederalism”Built on pillars of direct democracy, not a nation -state model.

In your list Öcalan repeated this argument. The last 200 years of capitalist modernity for breaking the alliance between Kurds and Turks. And he emphasized the importance of a very democratic society and political space for an enduring solution to the Kurdish fight.

The letter of Öcalan turned mainly to the Turkish public and international community and was probably “approved” by the Turkish state. As such, it was somewhat short, sometimes unclear and did not propose an in depth framework with a peaceful process between Turkey and PKK.

But after reading the letter Öcalana, Sırrı Süreya Önder, a member of the Pro-Kurd party of the Comparative Party and Democracy (DEM), shared with journalists with additional attention Öcalan.

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Öcalan he apparently said: “Undoubtedly, in practice, the location of weapons and PKK solution require the recognition of democratic policy and legal framework.” This point suggests that Öcalan’s call for disarmament is only the starting of a protracted trial to end the conflict.

PKK announced that so as to break down and the solution, Öcalan must personally lead this congress. This indicates the expectation that Öcalan will gain some freedom to communicate and manage the process.

Members of the Delegation of the Equality and Democracy of the Pro Kurds at a press conference, at which a letter from Öcalan was read, wherein he called the group to position weapons and solution.
Erd Sahin / EPA

Support for the solution

Leading characters from several pro-heal groups have He accepted the order with satisfaction To disarm PKK. This included Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Salih Muslim, a former co -chairman of the Democratic Union (PYD) party in Syria.

Öcalan’s call also received support from the international community. This applies to the USA and Great Britain, which, other than many other nations, recognizes PKK as a terrorist organization. On February 27, USD National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said CNN that the commercial was “significant development”, which “in our opinion will help bring peace in this restless region.”

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Perhaps, most significantly, the announcement was Öcalana welcomed almost unanimously by political parties in Turkey. Only the ultra-nationalist parties Dobro and victory oppose the call to solve PKK, perceiving all negotiations with the group as exposing national integrity.

But despite this vital step towards the room, it is difficult to see the inevitable ending of the Kurdish fight in Turkey. The party of justice and development (AKP) and the nationalist movement, which ruled Turkey since 2023. Continuation democratic sphere.

Have replaced by chosen Kurdish mayors with state officials, while imprisoning democratically elected Kurdish politicians. And people in the media, civil society and other democratic movements, similar to the Democratic Congress of the People, criminalized and detained.

At the same time, Türkiye considers SDF and other Kurdish organizations, similar to people protection people (YPG) and PYD for branches of PKK. He supported his militia forces in Syria, the Syrian National Army, to stop the Kurdish autonomous region on its border before reaching political status, recognizing him as a direct threat to national security.

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The President of Turkey, Rep Tayyip Erdoğan, warned PKK about further actions if the disarmament process was stopped. In the post on October 1, Erdoğan wrote: “If the promises are not preserved … such as delay, fraud, change of names … We will continue our operations, if necessary until we eliminate the last terrorist.”

This signals the Turkish expectation that they need all groups which might be related to PKK, armed and not armed, also crumble. However, ABDI stated that Öcalan’s call to dissolve PKK does not apply leads to the group. “If there is peace in Turkey, it means that there is no excuse to attack us here in Syria,” said Abdi.

The Syrian National Army has I began the attacks In northern Syria, so as to capture the territory with the SDF, and the fight is particularly intense around the Tishreen dam.

A map showing the control of territory in northern Syria.
Saint Türkiye Sna attacks SDF positions in northern Syria.
Institute of War Studio

So far, the only positive approach of the Turkish government has been signaling a possible change In the constitutional definition of citizenship beyond ethnic criteria. It could be the first step towards a more pluralistic and integration description of citizenship in Turkey, where people from several ethnic groups have been living for hundreds of years.

There are various concerns about the ways of the dissolution process. But the possibility of peace is invaluable since it opens democratic fighting opportunities. The solution to the Kurdish query, one of the most smoking problems of Turkey, will pave the way for progress in other areas, similar to democratization and freedom of expression.

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The fall of Assad in Syria will additionally weaken Hezbollah and limit the “iranization” of the Tehran region

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The fall of President Bashar Assad will not only affect 24 million Syrians who lived – and suffered a big extent – under his brutal rule. An influence can be felt above the border in Lebanon.

The fall of Assad’s government is one other blow to his Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, who was already Encouraging with Israel’s conflict, which weakened its capabilities and decimated his leadership. But many others in Lebanon will be rejoicingespecially 1.5 million Refugees who escaped from Syria Escar Assad and a 13-year civil war.

As Expert in the field of Library history and cultureI believe that waves from Syria needs to be expected. Contemporary stories of each countries are related, and by a 54-year rule, the Assad family has repeatedly intervened in Lebanon-mainly to the detriment of their people, economy and stability.

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Hezbollah and assad: mutual relationship

Since its inception in the early Eighties, Hezbollah benefited from the strong support of the Syrian regime. There They were tension moments Certainly between them – especially in the middle of the civil war in Lebanon. But in general, Hezbollah was in a position to depend on Syria for a weaponTraining and easy land Access to Iran.

And this agreement was mutual. When Assad’s rule was questioned in 2011 and the country went to the civil war, Hezbollah fighters He moved to Syria strengthen government troops.

But by becoming the strongest paramilitary being in Lebanon, Hezbollah saw his fortune suffered. The last war with Israel seriously weakened the group and forced her to Acceptance of a weapon suspension agreement This covers the path towards disarmament.

In addition, Lebanese support for Hezbollah modified dramatically, with the group’s open calls to stop her paramilitary activity. The war of the group with Israel cost life 3,700 people in Lebanonand around 1.2 million Lebanese -around one fifth population-internally displaced from their homes. Meanwhile, economic loss Lebanon is estimated in billions of dollars.

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Iran, Assad and Hezbollah triangle

It isn’t any accident that the recent progress of the rebels led to the refutation of Assad On the same day, the suspension of Israel-Hezbollah weapons was signed. Hesbollah forces were exhausted, and many of their warriors withdrew from Syria strengthen the southern border of Lebanon.

Syrian rebels selected this moment to hit, knowing that Iran was also too thin with the war of Israel-Hezbollahu to return to help help.

The domino effect caused Iran to unravel “Iran”Resistance axis. “Certainly Tehran lost hard over Syria and Lebanon.

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The proven fact that the fall of Assad coincides with the potential end of the Syria civil war and the Iran-Syria-Hezbollah alliance; It is the starting of the Art Nouveau war that helped anchor this three -sided relationship.

In 2011 Arabian spring -Seria pro-democracy and protests of human rights that began in Tunisia-she made to Syria. Anti -ssad protests broke out in Daraa and soon spread to the foremost cities, reminiscent of Homs, Hama and The Capital, Damascus.

Syrian government He answered with brutalityordering soldiers to shoot protesters, while stopping and torturing hundreds of men and boys.

International Outrage appeared. But the Syrian government remained in power with the support of Iran and Hezbollah. In fact, in addition to Hezbollah fighters, the Corps of the Revolutionary Guard Iran also advised Assad and fought alongside his army against the Syrian nation.

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For Tehran and his proxy, Hezbollah, this helped in the further “andranization” of the region – that’s, the spread of the ideology of the Iranian revolution and Conversion of Syria and Lebanon to the Shiite states.

Syria is principally a Sunni Muslim. Under the family of Assad ruled it Alawite minority – A gaggle that practices a branch of Shiite Islam. Hezbollah, as a Shiite terrorist group, swore loyalty to the highest leader of Iran in his own 1985 manifesto.

The Palestinian cause was one other uniting factor between these three. The revolutionary Iran Credo after 1979 “Death for Israel” is a sentiment shared by the Assad regime and Hezbollah fighters. However, Assad might have been less loud about this – especially since he tried to barter with Israel over the occupied Golan Heights.

Syria, Iran and Hezbollah Assad weren’t only united by radicalism and their desire to control the region. They also divided economic interests and benefited from trade in illegal drugs, In particular, CaptagonAmphetamine stimulant, which is mass -produced in Syria under the patronage of Assad and Iran. The drug is another and significant source of income at a time when international sanctions were bitten.

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With the help of Hezbollah and his control over the airport and Lebanon’s seaport, the drug has turn into widely available in the Persian Gulf. Its highly addictive nature is an actual threat in the Arab world, and Assad used it to exert pressure on Saudi Arabia Restoration of membership in Syria in the Arab League In 2023, in return, the Syrian regime agreed to redirect drug trafficking elsewhere.

Assad’s heritage

Along with the defeat of Hezbollah in Lebanon and the fall of the Syrian regime, the region’s “ianization” is no less than detained.

Nevertheless, 54 years of family rule of Assad in Syria left a protracted trace of destruction in neighboring Lebanon.

IN June 1976 Syria sent over 25,000 soldiers Above the border to place an end to the Lebanese civil war. His presence was to be temporary, but was prolonged to over 4 many years.

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Before the Lebanese civil war ended in 1991, Syria took complete control over Lebanon territory, in addition to national and international matters. Serious violations of human rights, including disappearance, illegal detention, torture and torture, have been reported Murder of political characters and journalists.

In February 2005, Lebanese Prime Minister Rafot Hariri – which publicly opposed the Syrian hegemony in Lebanon – he was murdered in an attack in which Assad and Senior Syrian officers They were strongly involved.

Hundreds of hundreds of Lebanese people prove to mourn the murder of Hariri Rafi.
Ghaith Abdul-Ahad/Getty Images

The murder caused Cedar revolutionWhen tons of of hundreds of Lebanese inhabitants got here out into the streets, demanding the immediate departure of Syrian forces.

Although Syrian forces left Lebanon, the Syrian regime continued to interfere in the country’s policy through Hezbollah, which transformed right into a political and military organization and entered the government in 2008.

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From that moment, Hezbollah would block every decision that didn’t serve the interests of Syria and Iran. For example, Hezbollah and his allies vetoed every presidential candidate who didn’t support the Syrian regime – a politician who fell into Lebanon in the prolonged Presidential vacuum.

Uncertain future

While Hezbollah can proceed to operate in Lebanon and under the umbrella of Iran, the fall of Assad signifies that it’s devoid of deliveries.

Without Syria, Hezbollah doesn’t have quick access to Iranian fighters and weapons – and the newly signed suspension of weapons between Lebanon and Israel confirms the commitment of Lebanon in A UN resolution Calling for disarming Hezbollah.

And even though it isn’t clear what New Syria will appear to be, no less than at the moment the populations of Lebanon and Syria – they each suffered under brutal rule and abuse of Hezbollah – they can enjoy after the departure of a person answerable for so many pain.

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Local government democratic north-eastern Syria will be attacked in a actual country

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After greater than a decade of the brutal Civil War of Islamist fighters, it took only 11 days to survive Syria and overthrow the Bashar Al-Assad regime. The offensive, which was conducted by the Turkish Syrian (SNA) and Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) National Army, forced many residents of Western Syria to flee from homes in search of security.

Meanwhile, others have a good time the tip of the five -year rule of the Assad family. There They are long queues People and cars on the Library border border, when displaced people return to Syria, and on the border with Turkey there are also significant grubs.

According to Ali Yerlikay, the Minister of the Interior of Turkey, the monthly average of Syrians crossing the border he almost doubled In sooner or later after overthrowing Assad.

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While these events were developing, the situation of a de facto self-governing region in the northeastern a part of the country called the autonomous administration of northeastern Syria (also generally known as Rojava) didn’t pay much attention to international media. The SNA rebel offensive is successful in the region.

The region management body has called the autumn Assada a significant moment and expressed hopes for a latest chapter in Syria. And the powerful armed groups of Rojaavy, the units of the People’s Protection (YPG) and the democratic forces supported by the USA (SDF), even have each Expressed optimism About the autumn of the Assad regime.

These statements reflect a common sense of hope and commitment to constructive dialogue and cooperation in shaping the longer term of Syria. But Rojava, which was a lighthouse Kurdish complacency And democratic management from the start of 2010, when several districts have announced autonomy, is threatened with each internal and external forces.

There are tensions between the SDF and Arabic tribes over the political influence and abundant natural resources of Rojava. In Manbija, a city west of the Euphrates River in northern Syria, there was Heavy clashes Between SDF and Sna from the start of the rebel offensive. SDF successfully informed rejecting many attacks, but eventually withdrew from the town.

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Apparently also offensive Began in Kobanewhich is perceived because the birthplace of the Rojav Revolution and a symbol of Kurdish resistance. The city is the place of the important thing battlefield, where Kurdish fighters defeated the Islamic State (IS) in 2014.

In other cities in the region, corresponding to Raqqa, Tabqa and the important thing desert city of Deir Ez-Zor, Arabs are demographically more quite a few than the Kurds. The way forward for cooperation between two groups in these areas dominated by Arabs stays uncertain.

Over the past week, SDF fighters captured Deir Ez-Zor and took control of the primary border crossing of Syria with Iraq. Recently, nevertheless, there There were reports suggesting that HTS warriors gain control over the town.

Externally, Turkish military operations geared toward weakening the region’s Kurdish control are a constant threat to Rojava. Türkiye perceives SDF and YPG as an extension of the forbidden party of Kurdistan staff and motion to stop the Kurdish autonomous region along its border to acquire political status that Türkiye perceives as a direct threat to its national security.

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So in cooperation with the Allied groups of jihadists, Türkiye has conducted several operations in northern Syria in recent years to ascertain “Safe Zone” push the Kurdish forces. Turkish forces He took control earlier Afrin cities in the northwestern a part of Syria in 2018, which was then under Rojava’s control.

These activities drew international criticism accusations violations of human rights and war crimes. Sweden with several other European countries, He stopped weapon trade with Turkey in 2019. However, Sweden later He raised the restrictions During the technique of submitting an application for attachment to NATO.

Türkiye plays a key role of an ally for the movements of the Syrian opposition, especially Sna. Served as a very important support system for rebel forces throughout the last offensive, like this He did it consistently in the past.

Rojaava’s future is predicated on his ability to maneuver in complex dynamics. Maintaining US support is crucial since the American military presence is deterrent to Turkish aggression. However, the region must also cope with internal divisions and work on greater Arab-Rurdic reconciliation to make sure long-term stability.

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Path forward

Opposition groups in Syria are very fragmented and we don’t yet understand how power struggles arise amongst them. We know that HTS and its leader Abu Muhammad Al-Jolani have historical connections with Al-Qaeda and IS. The group is now presented in a more moderate light, but there may be a lot of uncertainty.

On the opposite hand, Rojava fought against IS, Jazides were protected during a genocidal campaign against them and established humanitarian corridors to evacuate them and strives to implement a multi -ethnic society based on direct democracy, ecology and sex equality.

Rojava social contract card He protects these principles and provides the representation and rights of Kurds, Arabs, Jazydów, Syriaj-Casyrians, Turkmens, Armenians and others.

The Kurds in Brussels, Belgium protest against the Military Action of Turkey in north -eastern Syria in 2019.
Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock

It is troublesome that despite the apparent “confidence” in Jolani – a character who He was once marked “The most sought after terrorist in the world” – as a moderate revolutionary leader, since its establishment has not been recognized by the democratic Ryjaava model.

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Instead of receiving the merit of support, Rojava is concentrated on questions on the priorities of the international community and the prospect of sustainable peace in the region. The Syrian nation, in all its diversity and voices, must determine the ways of constructing a really integration and democratic Syria, in which all people can coexist in the room.

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