Upper Yangtze River in Tibetan Plateau-Qinghai Province-China
The people of the Tibetan
Plateau have a unique responsibility.
Tibetans live in a pristine
landscape, largely untouched by the development and industrialization, but
times are changing. The choices they make at this moment in time will have
major impact. As investors look to the natural resources of Tibet, we will
see rivers dammed, mountains mined, and factories take deeper root.
Tibetans would be wise to consider the benefits and the dangers involved in
these activities. As the story of utilization of natural resources has
already played out in so many countries and so many regions around the
world, Tibetans have only to look to their neighbors for the lessons they
need.
Water is among the Tibetan
Plateau’s greatest responsibilities. The river sources for seven of Asia’s
greatest rivers- the Yangstze, Yellow, Mekong, Salween, Indus, Nyang, and
Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo) Rivers- are located here. China, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia,
Vietnam, part of Pakistan and part of India, and Bangladesh, all receive
their fresh water from a river system based in the Tibetan Plateau.
Colorado River in Page, Arizona-United States
