A second research project is studying the social and economic changes in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, and their connections with changes in the urban water supply and sewage systems. Specifically, the social-economic distribution within the city has been compiled from census data and will be super-imposed upon a map documenting the sanitary infrastructure for the city. This comparison can be used to determine whether or not there is a trend in San Pedro Sula with higher income neighborhoods experiencing less sewage contamination and a greater degree of water treatment. See the Municipio de San Pedro Sula site, their November 98' Plea for International Help and this IDRC site.

Panama Canal Expansion
A third research project focuses on a conflict involving water resources in Panama. On 31 August 1999, the Panamanian Legislative Assembly approved Law 44 that expanded the Panama Canal Watershed by 213,112 hectares creating the western Panama Canal watershed. The Panama Canal Authority may dam several rivers in this area, redirect their flow into the Canal, and, thereby, augment the Canal’s water supply. The Panama Canal, the nation’s premier resource, requires modernization and amplification to remain competitive in international maritime commerce.

The proposed project has generated a great amount of controversy in Panama. The alleged economic and developmental benefits of the project may clash with potential environmental and social impacts. The dams could flood over 40,000 hectares of productive lands, and the flooding could displace between 8,000 and 100,000 people. See the Panama Canal 's site and the Caritas Panama Site.

Our project examines the institutional and political framework for this environmental controversy; the interests of the various actors; the potential social, economic, and environmental implications of the project; and scenarios for conflict resolution. The goal of the project is to evaluate how activities in the western Panama Canal watershed fit into models for sustainable development.