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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Saudis ’fear sand shortage’ |
| 2003-11-05 |
| Really. Saudi Arabia has reportedly imposed strict border checks to enforce a ban on the export of sand. There are fears that the growing demands of the construction industry could lead to a shortage in the desert kingdom. The Arab News newspaper reports that neighbouring Bahrain needs to import large quantities of sand for reclaiming land from the sea. Demand is also expected to grow as the process of reconstruction in Iraq gathers pace. Although sand remains plentiful in Saudi Arabia, construction experts say the high costs of bagging and transporting make exploiting it difficult. Experts have told the newspaper that if a mechanism could be devised to move sand from the vast desert region known as the Empty Quarter, it could be a very profitable proposition. As the paper points out, there is more sand in the kingdom than oil. |
| Posted by:Bulldog |
| #14 SH - I worked as a greenskeeper for a couple of years in HS - ain't nothing harder than digging all the sand out of a sandtrap (when it becomes compacted cuz of mixing with clay) and replacing it with fresh stuff. Working the freight docks was easier. Not recommended - except mebbe as "therapy" for guys like Taleban Lindh... |
| Posted by: .com 2003-11-5 10:02:50 PM |
| #13 It's a damn shame.......what will the annual Saud family picnic be without the traditional mud pie throwing contest? |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2003-11-5 9:58:37 PM |
| #12 .com, Maybe Nigeria can break into the sand market. I would feel better about them using 4 year old child laborers to humpo sand as opposed to having them pulverize granite. My kids liked the sand box when they were four. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-11-5 8:27:15 PM |
| #11 LOL Marek. But the sand will be cheap... if you can find it. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-11-5 7:31:36 PM |
| #10 Geez, there was this old joke that when North Africa will become socialist there will be a shortage of sand in Sahara. |
| Posted by: marek 2003-11-5 6:34:09 PM |
| #9 "Well, there's this infidel device called a truck." That would make perfect sense - to an infidel! There is a certain way of thinking that you must master if you are to succeed in the Magic Kingdom, home of the Two Holy Moskkks, King Fahd, janitor, er, custodian. I predict that this will be close to what they decide to do: 1) hire a coupla thousand Pakistanis 2) dress them in special garb 3) have 'em trek out into the wasteland (across the street) 4) then carefully walk to the collection point 5) and turn out their Saturday Night Fever 2" leisure suit cuffs Voila! Just think of all the Saudis who could be hired to Supervise! Now that's a Saoodi Solution™ friends. Thank you, thank you - I will be here all week. ;-) |
| Posted by: .com 2003-11-5 6:12:27 PM |
| #8 I thought this stuff was holy land. WTF are they doing exporting it? I'd like to buy a pound of this stuff for my cat's litter box. |
| Posted by: BH 2003-11-5 6:05:02 PM |
| #7 According to P.J. O'Rourke the sand in Saudi Arabia is unsuitable for making sandbags because its too fine. Amazing that it would be useful of anything else. |
| Posted by: Yank 2003-11-5 4:47:42 PM |
| #6 It is obvious that most all of the smart foreigners left, or I am sure that imaginative ways of moving big-time tons of sand could be devised. Now all the locals can do is pound it. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-11-5 4:32:23 PM |
| #5 "a mechanism could be devised to move sand" Well, there's this infidel device called a truck. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-11-5 4:31:30 PM |
| #4 Close enough... |
| Posted by: Raj 2003-11-5 4:30:52 PM |
| #3 No; it's the BBS. |
| Posted by: Atrus 2003-11-5 4:19:07 PM |
| #2 Is this real, or ScrappleFace? |
| Posted by: Mike 2003-11-5 4:16:38 PM |
| #1 I see the Organization of Sand Exporting Countries (OSEC) forming soon. They'll try to bring us to our knees! |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-11-5 4:14:53 PM |