The Ghosts of Iraq's Marshes : A History of Conflict, Tragedy, and Restoration / Steve Lonergan, Jassim Al-Asadi, and Keith Holmes.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lonergan, Stephen C. (Stephen Colnon), 1950- author.

Al-Asadi, Jassim, 1957- author.

Holmes, Keith (Geospatial scientist), author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Marshes--Iraq--History.

Marshes.

Marsh conservation--Iraq--History.

Marsh conservation.

Iraq--Environmental conditions.

Iraq.

Al-Asadi, Jassim, 1957-.

Al-Asadi, Jassim.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (218 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Cairo, Egypt : The American University in Cairo Press, [2024]

Summary:

"The Mesopotamian Marshes in southern Iraq, once the largest wetland system on the planet, have been inhabited for thousands of years by the Ma'dan, or Marsh Arabs, but they remain remote, isolated, and virtually unknown. In the early 1990s, the Saddam Hussein regime drained the Marshes and set out to destroy not only a critical ecosystem but a unique way of life as well. It stands as one of the greatest environmental and humanitarian disasters of the twentieth century. In the wake of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, local residents destroyed the earthen dams built to divert water from the wetlands and the Marshes were reflooded. Their future, however, is in peril. The Ghosts of Iraq's Marshes tells the history of the creation, destruction, and revitalization of the Marshes and their inhabitants against the backdrop of the dramatic events that have convulsed Iraq in the past fifty years. It follows the life of Jassim al-Asadi, an irrigation engineer who was jailed and tortured under Saddam Hussein and who subsequently dedicated his life to the reflooding and restoration of the Marshes. He eventually contributed to the Marshes being declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Jassim is eminently relatable, and the stories of his life and other marsh dwellers are infused with pathos, tragedy, humor, and passion"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Organizing the Netherworld

The Coming Storm : Water and Politics

War in the Marshes

Revolution and the Assault on the Marshes

Gods, Ghosts, and the Descent into Chaos

A Cautionary Tale of Resiliency

Disturbing an Old Sumerian God

A Plague of Doubt, a Pattern of Drought, and a Reason for Hope.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781649033277

1649033273

9781649033260

1649033265

OCLC:

1417047886