Euro-Mediterranean Information System on know-how in the Water sector

2007-04-02T00:00:00Z

EU faith in private water finance shows ignorance

2007-04-02T00:00:00Z

In response to recent criticism of EU water aid policy, commission officials said it is "essential" to get the private sector involved due to its "huge spending power." This shows an alarming ignorance of the reality, David Hall, a University of Greenwhich expert writes.

2007-04-02T00:00:00Z

Global Change and Ecosystems: how FP6 projects are tackling sustainable development

2007-04-02T00:00:00Z

The Sixth Framework Programme for Research (FP6) which commenced in 2002 contributes to our growing understanding of environmental change and sustainable development. Its thematic sub-priority, "Global Change and Ecosystems" (GCE), brings together international partners from around the world in some 280 projects. Research focuses on the mechanisms and impacts of global environmental change as well as practical strategies and tools for sustainable development.

New deadline for submission of abstracts for the 13th World Water Congress

2007-04-02T00:00:00Z

A new deadline for submission of abstracts is announced: 31 August 2007. This congress will be held in Montpellier (France) the days 01-04 September 2008.

The main theme of this congress will be ‘Global Changes and Water Resources: Confronting the Expanding and Diversifying Pressures.’ The congress aims to enhance knowledge and raise global consciousness of the impact of global changes on water resources. The main themes of the congress are:
·         water availability, use and management
·         towards the future: water resources and global changes
·         climate change and disasters
·         development of water resources and infrastructure
·         water governance and water security: 30 years after the UN Conference on water, Mar del Plata, Argentina of 1977
·         water conservation and demand management
·         financing water development and capacity building
·         capacity-building in developing countries.

Submit your views and experiences on the human right to water

2007-04-03T00:00:00Z

The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights has announced a request for information about specific cases, general views and best practices for the study on the human right to water. UN processes are meant to be participatory and it is not necessary to have a sophisticated, legal opinion to get involved. The communication should simply report on human right to water problems, violations, the facts of a specific case, or views.

Such information should be sent to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights , United Nations Office at Geneva , CH 1211 Geneva 10, by 15 April 2007 either by post or preferably through e-mail at the following address: water@ohchr.org

Guidance on how to prepare a communication.

2007-04-03T00:00:00Z

Berghahn Books Newsletter

2007-04-04T00:00:00Z

Berghahn Books have, in association with UNESCO, published two titles that are of particular relevance to World Water Day. The first Water Development Report – Water for People – Water for Life (2003) was created from the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. This was followed by Water – A Shared Responsibility (2006) which continued to build and develop on the conclusions of the first Report. We also have a number of titles of related interest.

EU Water Conference presentations are now available

2007-04-04T00:00:00Z

All conference presentations are now available electronically through the WFD CIRCA library. Moreover, the review option of the webstreaming facility is now available.
- Direct access to the documents of the 1st day
- Direct access to the documents of the 2nd day

These links will stay available until World Water Day 2008 (22 March 2008).

Finally, the implementation report and other related documents can be downloaded online.

INBO: Invitation to its 7th General World Assembly 2007

2007-04-04T00:00:00Z

The International Network of Basin organizations (INBO) invite you to the next 7th World General Assembly of INBO, which will take place in DEBRECEN in HUNGARY from 7 to 9 JUNE 2007, at the invitation of the Hungarian Ministry and Regional Directorates of the Environment and Water.

The meeting is open to all INBO Member Organizations and Permanent Observers, and also to all the water Administrations and organizations, interested in Integrated Water Resources Management at the level of river basins over the world.

Registration to the World General Assembly of INBO is free of charge. Four round tables will be organized during this World General Assembly in DEBRECEN to deal with the following large topics, which are strategic for the good implementation of river, lake and aquifer basin management:

- Prevention and management of extreme climate phenomena of floods and droughts,
- Transboundary basin management,
- Monitoring, monitoring networks, reporting, inter-calibration,
- Preparation of action plans for basin organizations and their financing, etc.
- A special session will also deal with public and water users’ participation.

The meeting will be held under the auspices of His Excellency the President of the Hungarian Republic and honored with the presence of Dr. Miklós Persányi, Hungarian Minister for the Environment and Water.

Registration deadline: 5th May 2007.

A technical visit is planned on Saturday 9 June 2007 in the Transboundary TISZA River Basin, at the heart of the HORTOBAGY National Park, classified World Heritage by UNESCO, and near the famous Tokay vineyard.

Palestine: Beit Lahia Waste Water Treatment Plant – Floods: Humanitarian Situation Report #1

2007-04-04T00:00:00Z

Last 27th March 2007, a large wave of effluence from an emergency filtration basin at the waste water treatment plant in Beit Lahia in north western Gaza flooded into the nearby Bedouin village of Um Al Nasser. Four people are reported dead and a further 18 injured while dozens of homes have been destroyed and damaged from the flood waters. The cause of the over flow has still to be determined however there has been concern for a number of years at the lack of capacity at the treatment plant to absorb the ever expanding volume of effluence.

Humanitarian impact and immediate needs:
- Relocation of between 250 and 300 families to a temporary camp situated on higher ground between
the bedouin village and the former Israeli Nissanit settlement.
- The western side of the main effluent lake at the waste water treatment plant is believed to be weak
and could be close to collapse if not reinforced immediately. A further 800 houses could be affected
in the event of additional flooding.

The flash flooding has led to the discovery of four unexploded Israeli artillery shells. More
unexploded ordnance can be expected to be found:
- Immediate provision of tents, blankets, mattresses, food and water is required to those who have
moved to the camp.
- Concerns exist over the spread of communicable diseases in the absence of basic sanitary provision
and the prevalence of sewage displaced into households

Call for papers for the conference: "Can Water Resources Be Sustained in Drylands? Challenges: Present and Future"

2007-04-04T00:00:00Z

This conference to be held in Amman (Jordan) the days: 10-12 December 2007, seeks to highlight the efforts of research in developing integrated regional water resources management and tools to quantify transborder impacts of water use and disposal, economic-ecologic models, regional perspective of water governance, opportunities for cooperation, challenges, and priorities, and the role of stakeholders.

Abstract submission deadline: April 27, 2007. Abstracts should be no more than 250 words in length and written in English and they should be directed to the session
head via email: bdour@hu.edu.jo

Flood hazard for developing world's urban dwellers

2007-04-04T00:00:00Z

One in five people living in urban areas in developing countries are within ten metres above sea level, putting them at risk from flooding and cyclone-induced storm surges that are likely to increase due to climate change.

A study to be published in the journal Environment and Urbanization next month found that populations are most vulnerable to flooding in Asia, where many people live on the flood plains of major rivers and in cyclone-prone coastal regions.

Scientists used geographical data about population density combined with maps of areas' elevation above sea level to calculate the populations within the low elevation coastal band.

Although this band accounts for only 2 per cent of the world's land area, about ten per cent of the world's population and 13 per cent of the world's urban population live in these vulnerable zones — rising to 21 per cent for developing countries.

The study calls for action to limit the effects of climate change, to help people migrate away from risk areas and to modify urban settlements to reduce their vulnerability.

Arab states sign ten-year science development plan

2007-04-04T00:00:00Z

In a bid to narrow the science and technology divide between Arab states and industrialised nations, Arab leaders have approved a ten-year plan for scientific research and development. This plan was signed off at a two-day summit of the 22 member nations of the Arab League in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this week (28-29 March). It calls on Arab countries to spend 2.5 per cent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on research and development over the next ten years. At present, Arab nations only spend 0.15 per cent of their collective GDP on research and development — well below the global average of 1.4 per cent. Arab states have also agreed that they should spend at least seven per cent of their GDP on education, including science and technology teaching programmes.

They plan to increase the peaceful use of nuclear energy by establishing national authorities to monitor the use of nuclear energy more transparently. To make sure that the plan is implemented, and to take stock of progress made, the secretary general of the League of Arab States will present a progress report at the 2008 Arab summit, due to be held in Syria.

The Tunisia-based Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization and other regional scientific organisations will also monitor and assess the plan's implementation.

Arab leaders agreed to make education and scientific research a permanent item at all future Arab summits.

Scoping study: Water ecosystems, poverty & climate change

2007-04-04T00:00:00Z

The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) is undertaking a scoping study for the UK Department for International Development (DFID) on Water Ecosystem Services and Poverty Reduction in the context of Climate Change.

The work aims to identify key research areas and delivery mechanisms. It will do this by seeking views from stakeholders internationally. This provides an opportunity to usefully shape a programme of research and delivery to achieve optimum impact.

More details of the study can be found at the website, along with a short web survey for you to share your opinions and knowledge.

Closing date: 30 April 2007.