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Will the Red-dead ever get the go-ahead?

By: Qwaider

On:Wednesday, February 24, 2010 10:13:32 PM
In:Thoughts
Viewed: (6050) times

Currently 4.6/5 Stars.
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Rated 4.6/5 stars (122 votes cast) Thanks for your vote!

If you haven't heard of the Red-Dead project, here it is in a nutshell. It's a project to connect the Red Sea with the Dead Sea. Of course, the very first reaction is usually, ah-huh, why?

Well, there are many reasons to actually do such a project, (and many more NOT to do it). In a recent article in JO magazine. There seems to be a lot of official reluctance from the government, and dodging any official responses to the whole matter!

Of course, it's really not news, nor is the government reluctance to go ahead or shelf the project. But it's interesting to see that that government isn't making any statements about it. Is it going to happen or not!!?

My personal opinion on it is that this project isn't really worth doing, and here's why...

The concept of a canal means that it will connect two points of interest to achieve some goals. The benefit has to outweigh the harm (and the cost of course). In the case of this canal, the benefits hardly cover the cost of such a mega project!

Take the environmental impact of such a project. Hundreds of thousands of cubic tons of SALT water to snake their way across the treturous terrain, getting dangerously close to farm land, grazing meadows and historical locations. If that doesn't scare the heck out of you, imagine the cost of such a project!

Second consideration should be for the result. The dead Sea isn't really known for aviation nor is it can ever become a "hop" on water ways. So the trip is really going to be one way to the dead sea. Possibly to generate hydroelectric power (which is an advantage) But replenishing the dead sea with salty water serves absolutely no other purpose!

Actually, other than hydroelectric power generation, I see no other benefits! The canal can't realistically be used for transferring goods due to the elevation (from Sea level to -400m or more).

Saving the dead sea appears to a by product of the whole process! But a positive one I'm sure

At a staggering $37 Billion dollars, it might be cheaper to create and transfer FRESH water from Aqaba using desalination or getting it from Desi aquifer (although, the project will be host a desalination project, surprisingly away from the gulf of Aqaba!!!)

Anyway, I'm sure there are many good reasons why this project should be implemented. But I -personally- don't think the benefits outweigh the harm/cost. I hope I'm wrong.

But I most certainly would like to KNOW if this is going to happen or not! The government needs to make up its mind and either go ahead, or not! In all cases, the government should be transparent and allow everyone, especially private financing, to know what is going on!

Hopefully we'll hear some good news about this soon.

Memories....

#1
melicieuse
Said
On: 2/24/2010 11:22:28 PM
SpamScore=[-0.11]

as far as I remember Jordan is still an Arab country right? and it's still ruled by an Arab government right? so I don't think you should wait for answers any time soon, you will hear or know nothing

#2
Qwaider
Said
On: 2/24/2010 11:33:56 PM
SpamScore=[-41.85]

You're so right! Perhaps someone will have an answer by the time my daughter takes over this blog!

#3
melicieuse
Said
On: 2/25/2010 12:05:52 AM
SpamScore=[4.87]

yes it might, by 2030 the Arab world will mysteriously metamorphose and stop resembling Disneyland, why 2030 you say, easy by that time we would have tried all the rides and would need new games to play with (ah yeah it will take this long to queue and try them all). I really do hope you have better wishes for little Mira ;-)

#4
melicieuse
Said
On: 2/25/2010 12:09:44 AM
SpamScore=[-0.12]

ahh I just wrote an answer and i think dufous me deleted it by mistake. I repeat yes I think we shall all be fine by 2030, by that time the Arab world would magically metamorphose and would stop resembling Disneyland. Why 2030 you ask, easy because by then we would have tried all the rides and would need new games to play with (yes it will take this long to queue for them)

#5
kittyKat
Said
On: 2/25/2010 5:03:45 AM
SpamScore=[-0.05]

Melicieuse I have no problems with picturing myself, like Estelle Getty used to say in Golden Girls, in Cleveland in 2030 RIDING full blast all them wooden roller coasters.Like Jackie Gleason used to say:"How sweet it is and away we go".Yaaaay.Tinkerbella said that,I don't like to steal her thunder.