Water to the World’s agenda |

WEB REVIEW | WORLD WATER DAY……………………………………… > Français

World Water Forum, alternative Forum in Istanbul, World Water day : all protagonists (public, private, political, associative, civil) are mobilized this week, in an already worrying economical context. Yet both crisis might well combine.

Manifestants outside World Water Forum in Mexico, 2006 © REDES

In thematic report, “Transboundary Waters: Sharing Benefits, Sharing Responsibilities”, UN Water raises the alarm on underinvestment, weak governance and lack of political will. > read more on UNWater

80% of diseases in developing countries are linked to water

More than 120 000 people die from water-related diseases each year. «Too much water is synonym of death, destruction, hygiene problems (…) Not enough water causes food insecurity, mass migration and conflicts». French NGO Action contre la Faim – Action against hunger – warns: «climate change already has serious humanitarian consequences».

«a wild land, a blazing sun… DROUGHT». French NGO Action against Hunger’s campain raises awareness on climate changes for World Water Day.

«When demand exceeds what nature can offer, countries action capacities and economy are impeded, dependance related to international exchanges strengthens, aso do conflict risks» explains Peter Gleick (Pacific Institute), expert on water issues, who just published “The World’s Water 2008-2009“.

VIDEO | Peter Gleick’s “Peak Water”
«we are overusing a non-renewable resource, causing more ecological damage than its economic benefit». The New Security Beat – 4:07

Loïc Fauchon himself, president of the World Water Council and organizer of the World Water Forum in Istanbul (also president of Marseille’s water supply company – S.E.M., subsidiary of Veolia and Suez), plays measure this year: «For 50 years, world water management meant bringing more and more water. Today we must get into demand regulation».

“No to the Water Davos”

Titles Danièle Mitterand’s foundation France Libertés, who decided not to participate his year. Last water forum’s excluded associations and NGOs (Mexico 2006) accuse: «The World Water Forum is driven by private interests, (…) aiming to influence water policies worldwide » > joint Declaration of the Movements in Defense of Water

This year the Alternative Water Forum has a 3-day-program and the Istanbul Water Court, organized by the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Foundation and the Latin American Water Tribunal will be examine the numerous turkish dam projects, but also some mexican and brazilian. Turkey planned some 600 hydroelectrical dams, underflowing villages as the millenary city of Hasankeyf, in the kurdish region.

VIDEO | «Hasankeyf waiting life»

The kurdish inhabitants of this multi-millenary city listed UNESCO World Heritage site have not been consulted, nor advised. They will be forcedly relocated when Ilisu dam will overflow their homes. Trailer – 4 min

Water as a fundamental law

The issue of International Water Law has been back on the agenda these last years : France just announced she would ratify the UN Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses, left aside since 1997. > International Water Law Project
The Académie de l’Eau- Water Academy’s work recently drove to establish Water as a fundamental law to different commissions, including the Human Rights Commission.
In South Africa, water has been included in the Constitution as a human right and put in practice, with a free minimum volume guaranteed per person.

Biggest ones to pay bigger fees

Jean-Luc Touly, from the Association for a World Water Contract – ACME, proposes : «1% of the world’s military budget ($ 1 000 billion) would resolve infrastructures and maintenance once for all».
Peter Gleick suggests to adapt fees : «in industrial and agriculture uses, if the fees were higher, water would be better conserved».

The Conference «Peace with Water» organized in Brussels last february by the World Political Forum and European Parliament Political Groups aimed at producing a World Water Protocol, to put the Water issue to the next Climate Changes Convention’s agenda in Copenhagen next december. > more on ierpe’s site
Sources : AFP, Hurriyet, LeMonde.fr, GoodPlanet.info
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