The Stream, May 12: Agriculture vs. Industry

Though a recent study points to Europe’s abundant shale gas reserves, the government of France is increasingly likely to ban shale gas exploration in the wake of growing domestic opposition to the technique, the Financial Times reports.

The Danube River, one of Europe’s major waterways, has dropped to a 100-year low in Austria, forcing shippers to reduce cargo loadings by as much as 20 percent, according to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur. The Rhine River is also steadily losing moisture.

In China, authorities have closed the middle reaches of the Yangtze River to shipping because of a lingering drought.

Who will win in the competition for water between farmers and oil companies, and can water trading solve the world’s water shortages? Here is the perspective of Nestle’s chairman.

South Australians will be hit with big water price rises over the next two years as part of funding for a new desalination plant in Adelaide, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

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