The Stream, May 20: Fighting For Land And Water

Tensions over illegal farmland seizures are turning into violent clashes in China’s Hebei Province, where villagers are driven off land to open up space for new factories and residential housing, the Guardian reports. Are land requisitions, industrialization and desertification signaling a threat for China’s food security, and who’s going to win the competition for land and water?

Meanwhile, the water crisis is stoking a political controversy in Israel, Global Water Intelligence reports.

More From China
China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection has ordered a halt to the construction of a high-speed rail line in the northern part of the country due to violations of environmental protection laws, Reuters reports.

A new report by Chinadialogue, Caixin Media and International Media Support analyzes the state of climate change journalism in China.

Natural Gas Industry
Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry is steadily turning into a plight for local tourism, according to this story for SolveClimate News.

Meanwhile, a new Energy Department panel appointed to review natural gas drilling methods will issue its conclusions and recommendations by mid-August, U.S Energy Secretary Steven Chu told Congress on Wednesday.

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