RJA #5c: Reference Ariticles

www.debatepedia.com
Debate: The Gorges Dam: Is it a good idea?
Last Revised: Nov 22, 2009

www.pbs.org/buildingbig dams

These were the only two online references I could find that were relevant and helpful.

RJA #5b: Periodical Aricles

1.)
Title: Development and Large Dams: A Global Perspective
Author: Asit K Biswas & Cecilia Tortajada
Pages: 9-21
Volume: 17
Issue: 1
International Journal of Water Resources Development, March 2001.

Resource: academic search premier, EBSCO, Auraria Library
Keywords: negative economic impacts of dams
Hits: 198,639
Relevance: 4
Date: Mar 2001

2.)
Title: Conservation and Improvement of the Environment in Dam Reservoirs
Author: Joji Harada, Nario Yasuda
Pages: 77-96, p 20 has 2 charts, 4 diagrams, 3 graphs
Volume: 20
Issue: 1
Resource: EBSCO, Auraria Library, Academic Search Premier
Keywords: environment + dams
Hits: 100,987

Relevance: 4
Date: Mar 2004

3.)
Title: Development and Change
Author: Ranjit Dwivedi
Pages: 36-43
Volume: 30
Issue: 1
Resource: Academic Search Premier
Keywords: displacement of people + dams
Hits: 138,738
Relevance: 5
Date: Jan 1999

RJA #5a: Books

1.)
Title: The Future of Large Dams: dealing with social, environmental, institutional, and political costs.
Author: Thayer Scudder
Copyright: 2005
Publisher: Earthscan in UK & USA, 2005.

2.)
Title: Indirect Economic Impacts of Dams: Case studies from India, Egypt and Brazil
Editors: Ramesh Bhatia, Rita Cestti, Monica Scatasta, R.P.S. Malik
Published: 2008 by Academic Foundation
Copyright: 2008 by The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, The World Bank

3.)
Title: Involuntary Resettlement Sourcebook: Planning and Implementation in Development Projects
Author: The World Bank
Copyright: 2004, The World Bank.

4.)
Title: Internal displacement in South Asia
Editors: Paula Banerjee, Sabyasachi Basu Ray Chaudhury, Samir Kumar Das
Copyright: 2005 by Mahanirban Calcutta Research Group
Published: 2005 by Sage Publications India Pvt Ltd.

5.)
Title: Water:The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power, and Civilization
Author: Steven Soloman
Copyright: 2010
Publisher: Harper Collins, New York, NY
Edition: 1st ed.
Research used: Barnes and Nobel Bookstore
6.)
Title: When The Rivers Run Dry
Author: Fred Pearce
Copyright: 2006
Publisher: Beacon Press Books, Boston MA
Research used: Barnes and Noble Bookstore

For Books #1-4
Research Used: Google Books
Date of Search: 2/19/2010, 2/22/2010
Keywords:
- Displacement by dams (hits 2,300) --Relevance 5
- Negative social impact of dams (hits 24,400) -- Relevance 4
- Social impact of dams (hits 4,420) -- Relevance 5
- Resettlement because of dams (hits 1,895) -- Relevance 5
- Economic impact of dams (hits 1,740) -- Relevance 3
- World bank + dams (hits 6,300) -- Relevance 4
- Damage caused by dams (hits 15,200) -- Relevance 5

RJA #4c: Research Question Check

http://tempestmitchell.blogspot.com/2010/02/rja-3c-research-question.html#comment-form

http://smcp1907.blogspot.com/2010/02/rja-3c.html#comment-form

RJA #4b: Search Strings

http://scholar.google.com
- dams + environment: environmental effects of dams and impoundments, global scale of environmental effects of hydrological alterations
- dams + environment + economics: sustainable development: lessons from success, economics of reservoir sedimentation and sustainable management of dams, environmental economics and sustainable development, environmental levies and distortinary taxation
- community + dams + impact: social impact assessment, temperature on fish and macroinvertebrate communities below small dams, communities of the Shoalhaven River 20 years after construction of Tallowa Dam, Undaming Rivers: a review of the ecological impacts of dam removal, children living near dams in northern Ethiopia: community based incidence survey
- economic AND environment AND dam: environmental preservation, uncertainty, and irreversibility,
- economic AND environment NEAR/20 dams: World Bank and India's Economic Development, Conversion of a flood control system to a sustainable system

RJA #4a: Keywords

adwords.google.com
- impact of dams: environmental impact of dams
- dams: earth dams, river dams, dam construction, teton dam failure, history of dams, dam safety
- economics and dams: dam breach analysis, economics department

word.su
- dam: leve, decameter, dyke
- environment: surroundings
- community: community of interests, biotic community, residential districts
- water: body of water, water supply, water system

visualthesaurus.com
- dam: dyke

metaglossary.com
- dam: impound, reservoir, divert, barrier, appurtenant

RJA #3c: Research Question

Should we continue to build dams to stimulate economies at the expense of the environment?

Would communities be better off (economically and environmentally) without the construction of a dam?

Who is most affected by the building of a dam?

What are the harmful long term effects of dams on ecosystems?

Where are the most suitable places for dams to be built?

When did people begin to notice the adverse affects of dams?

RJA #3b: Research Topic Focus

There are many controversial debates about dams in general. Political, economic, environmental, ethical, etc kinds of debates. I think it generally boils down to whether or not it is positive or negative for the environment and economy. In regards to that, by building dams it generates hydro-electric power, creates jobs, and in turn has the ability to stimulate the economy. However, depending on where the dam is built, it can have an adverse affect on the local environment and community. By building these dams, it can cause massive flooding, and significantly change ecosystems. These significant changes in ecosystems affect the food chain, and the ebb and flow of rivers, which are connected to an even larger system than their locality. Also, the machines used to construct a dam, and the harsh conditions suffered by the environment are a huge reason why environmentalists oppose dams. So you see, its a hard debate, do we take continue to build dams as it promotes a good economy (especially in poorer countries/areas where jobs and power are needed), but do we continue all the while compromising our environment, which is obviously vital to our survival. The debates continue!

RJA #3a: Research Topic Exploration

I found Chapter 3 to be very helpful, as well as the websites provided by Prof. Clark. By doing some surface research I feel like I was able to narrow down my topic a bit more, and focus on one or two main aspects for my research.

Based on the very "superficial" (superficial in the sense that I have not read into great depth on my subject) knowledge that I have read over thus far, I would like to base my research on the environmental and economic affects of dam building (and maintaining.)

I feel as though I could narrow my research enough to really explain the effects a dam has environmentally, i.e. flooding, changing upstream and downstream ecosystems, altering the food chain, the consequences (losing species of animals etc) as a result.

Also, I would like to focus on the economic aspect of dams as well, I feel as though I could effectively tie it in with the environmental effects in a positive manner. Maybe give some examples how it can help out us (human kind) in the means of creating jobs etc, but in the long run, because of how altered the ecosystems become, and the damages caused (flooding etc) then it adversely affects us in the long run.

This approach would hopefully keep the research interesting, and give a big picture view of my topic.

RJA #2b: Research Topic

I chose my research topic to be about dams and the effect they have on ecosystems, but also the effects they have on the people in the communities they are being built in. I would like to primarily focus on the dams being built or ones that have been built in India, Japan and various Asian countries where it is densely populated. I chose this topic because one usually do not associate dams with being harmful directly to the population, and sadly enough most people do not even know that dams significantly alter ecosystems. I chose this topic to explore it more in depth for myself, but also to help educate others who might know little to nothing on this subject as well.

I have limited knowledge on dams and their effects thus far, which is why I was so interested in exploring this topic further. I was exposed to this information first hand in my Concepts and Connects of Geography class, which was a class that focused more on the socioeconomic problems of regions, rather than physical geography itself. My professor was especially interested in water problems, as a problem with water can and does directly affect everything. We read a very long article written by an academic scholar in India, who was trying to raise awareness about a billion dollar dam being funded by the World Bank, even after they found out that it would displace millions of people. The facts were astonishing, so much so that I was fascinated to learn more. There are several arguments to be raised, one being that a dam will create jobs, stimulate the economy, generate power etc. On the other hand, big businesses that are eager to fund a massive project such as this and make a profit, are more often than not okay with overlooking safety regulations to get the project moving along, while compromising the lives of thousands if not millions of people in return for profit. There is so many factors and arguments that play into funding and building a dam, but these couple of arguments are what I would like to focus on.

What I am unsure of or do not know about this topic is hard facts and statistics. I am not aware of major violations that occur, or what secret deals are being made by local governments and big business to get a dam built for the right price. Also, I would like to know more about the citizens resistance, movements that occur to stop the building of dams, but also more in depth of what people are willing to compromise (morals, ethics etc) for big paychecks from building dams. I would love to find more in depth information regarding the toll a dam takes on not only its local ecosystems, but how overtime that sends a ripple effect into the rest of the environment. I would like to read more about each individual take on both arguments, that being for and against the building of dams, individual accounts of people affected by this personally. After all is said and done, it is then that I believe I can formulate a good argument, and have a better understanding how all of it is interrelated.

RJA#2a: Possible Topics

1.) The real effects of Dams. Are they helpful or harmful? Considering not only the re-routing of water and it's effect on ecosystems, but the lack of concern and displacement of people

2.) Should children/adolescents who commit serious crimes (i.e. murder etc) be held accountable and tried as adults?

3.) The role that mega-corporations play in Government, how this persuades decisions made "for the people."

4.) Water Privatization. When big business try to com-modify and make a profit on a natural resource that should be free for everyone, and how this affects (mainly) third world countries.

5.) Government subsidies. How removing the trade tariffs between the USA and Mexico has adversly affected their farming economy.