World Water Forum 2012, Marseille-France
In partnership with the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Master of Environmental Studies program (US), oikos invites 10 students from the University of Pennsylvania to take part in the Student Reporter coaching programme and live blogging at the World Water Forum 2012 in France-Marseille, 11-17 of March. The team is lead by Reporter-in-Residence and editor Caroline D’Angelo from the University of Pennsylvania and managing editor Tim Lehmann from oikos.
Held for the sixth time in 2012, the World Water Forum (WWF) in Marseille will bring together 140 ministerial delegations, representatives from more than 180 countries, 800 speakers, 25.000 participants, 250 sessions and about 100 grassroots & citizenship events, and regional trialogues organised among Ministers, Parliamentarians and Local/Regional Authorities. The event this year stands under the title: “It’s time for solutions and commitments!”.
“Almost a full-time job”: Leading a team of student reporters – Interview with Caroline D’Angelo
Rio +20 is coming soon, and with it, a great team of student reporters from around the world. Behind all the student reporters, there are outstanding team leaders (like Caroline) who edit their posts and interviews while guiding them through the hectic journey of live conference-blogging. Leading a team of student reporters is certainly not an » read on
An Interview with Ms. Abby Onencan of the Nile Basin Discourse
The Nile Basin Discourse (NBD) is a civil society network with a membership of more than 750 organizations from 11 countries within the Nile Basin Region. It provides knowledge and builds capacity to strengthen the voice of civil society organizations within the Nile Basin Region. The NBD has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the » read on
University of Pennsylvania Delegates Present “Youth Solutions” at World Water Forum
The delegation from the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) had 27 students from the Master of Environmental Studies (M.E.S.) and Master of Science in Applied Geoscience programs in attendance at the World Water Forum. At the end of the week, some of us from Penn were invited to present solutions emerging from our institution. On Friday morning, three » read on
Roll On, Nile, Roll On!
The Nile is the world’s longest river. It is shared between Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (See map below). Except for South Sudan, all of the above countries are members of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) – a cooperative partnership formed in 1999. Six » read on
David Zetland is Brash, Outspoken and Unapologetic… and He’s Usually Right.
When I meet up with David Zetland, he’s chatting up two Forum attendees over complimentary drinks and light hors d’ouvres from the Brazilian Pavilion at Parc Chanot’s Palais Phoceen. Usually the center of attention by virtue of a lightning quick wit and polymathic knowledge, Zetland is skewering a newly-formed NGO designed to help investment banks » read on
Thinking Beyond Technology to Ensure Food Security
Food production uses large amounts of water. To be more precise, agriculture accounts for 70 percent of global water use. As the world’s population grows, increasing amounts of food, and therefore increasing amounts of water, are needed. At the same time, there are growing concerns about global and regional water scarcity. The question arises then: » read on
Distinguishing different water qualities: Interview with Ger Bergkamp of IWA
Addressing the problem of water scarcity was the major concern during the World Water Forum 6. Many solutions were suggested, but it seems that the answer to this crucial problem can be found in the sustainable use of water resources. In the field of sustainability, innovation must be applied in every possible sense, in order » read on
Wars over Water: Do I Really Have to Share?
Student Reporters Iliana Sepulveda and Arjun Bhargava contributed equally to this post. Wars over water? Nowadays, this concept does not sound unfamiliar at all. Shared natural resources offer a challenge from the political standpoint, given that its management has implications for the autonomy and wealth of different countries and states. As the IUCN notes, of the two » read on
The Beauty of Reclaiming Water
Since the beginning of days humans have always tried to imitate nature, both in real life and in mythology (e.g. Daedalus and Icarus trying to imitate the flying of the birds). As technology advances, many advances return back to the concept of imitating nature in order to preserve a balance on earth. For example, the » read on
Sustainably Managing Water in India’s “Land of Death” Marwar Region
Student Reporters Iliana Sepulveda and Arjun Bhargava contributed equally to this post. Imagine living in Marwar, an area in the Thar Desert that translates to the “Land of Death” in the Sanskrit language. Imagine being part of a village which does not have a single source of safe drinking water within a radius of 1.6 » read on
The Grand Dame of Water: Maude Barlow is Controversial and Charming
By all accounts, Maude Barlow is one of the preeminent international firebrands championing the rights to water for both humanity and nature. She sat down with me on March 16 at the Alternative World Water Forum in Marseilles to enjoy some Mariachi and to talk some frank talk about water rights and why the market-based, » read on
An Interview with South Africa’s Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs: “Water Knows No Boundaries”
I interviewed Her Excellency Ms. Edna Molewa, the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs of the Republic of South Africa, at the 6th World Water Forum in Marseille. South Africa is unique — as a nation as it has a higher financial water budget than defense budget. This is a remarkable achievement for any nation irrespective of » read on
Overlooked at the Forum: Hydraulic Fracturing
Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Watch, thinks that World Water Forum organizers should have been ashamed that fracking, the colloquial term referring to unconventional natural gas drilling, was not at the top of the Forum’s agenda. I can understand her frustration. Over six days of panels, I could only find one dedicated » read on
Ecosystems: One Key to the Water, Food, and Energy Nexus
Water, food, and energy are fundamentally inter-connected. Before I began learning more about this water, food, and energy nexus leading up to the World Water Forum, I didn’t understand the full implications of this. Water is necessary for providing food and energy to populations in modern societies. Water is used to grow vegetables and grains » read on
Green Growth, Water and Gender: An Interview with Marcia Brewster
The World Water Forum provided a unique opportunity for some of the authors and directors of wH2O: The Journal for Gender, Water and Sanitation at the University of Pennsylvania to meet face-to-face for the first time. StudentReporter.org Editor Caroline D’Angelo, co-chair and Editor-in-Chief of wH2O, sat down with Marcia Brewster, an wH2O author, to discuss green growth, water » read on
Sharing West African Water: An Interview with the Executive Director of the Volta Basin Authority
Student Reporters Heidi Travis and Arjun Bhargava contributed equally to this post. The Volta River is spread over parts of six West African countries. The percentage of basin area in each of the six countries is as follows: 2.48% in Cote d’Ivoire, 42.9% in Burkina Faso, 3.41% in Benin, 41.6% in Ghana, 3.12% in Mali, » read on
Sustainable Development and Water: Desalination in the Arab World
It is common knowledge that we are unsustainable consumers of water resources. Agricultural, household and industrial use deplete the Earth’s freshwater and experts state that water shortages will cause the next wars. One of the most water sensitive regions of the world is the Middle East. Rich in fossil fuels, but water-poor, the Arab world » read on
The Hopes of an NGO Coordinator from Niger for the WWF
Abdoulkader Issoufou is working with Reseau Projection, with a group of 26 other young water professionals, to edit and translate the daily newsletter of the World Water Forum. Abdoulkader is from Niger, is otherwise employed by Save the Children, and runs the NGO (non-governmental organization) Ong Tassa. His story is different from many of his » read on
Finland and Water Quality: Talking with State Secretary Katariina Poskiparta
With a cup of a native Finnish drink made from the flower of the fir tree, I sat down at Finland’s booth at the World Water Forum’s Exhibition Hall to learn about how the country has solved issues relating to the sustainable use of their waters. Finland has a unique position at the Forum in » read on
A Tour of the WWF6: Bringing People Together, Developing Solutions, and Increasing Awareness
The World Water Forum 6 took place from March 12-17th, 2012 in Marseille, France. The Forum aimed at bring people together, allowing for conversation, presenting solutions, spreading awareness, solving challenges, and making commitments. The Forum, according to the event’s website, “…mobilises creativity, innovation, competence and know-how in favour of water. It gathers all stakeholders around » read on
Using Low Quality Water to Increase Food Security in the Americas
Low quality water is essentially wastewater that has been treated using high-level technology so that it can be used (or more aptly reused) to irrigate agricultural and industrial crops and recharge aquifers. Why would we switch to using low quality water when we currently use fresh water for agricultural irrigation? Sources of freshwater are steadily » read on
Basic Sanitation & Hygiene for All: Reaching the MDG for Women & the Disabled
The United Nations Millennium Development Goal (MDG) for sanitation is “to halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.” There are an estimated 2.5 billion people who currently lack access to basic sanitation, with more urban people lacking basic sanitation than rural people. These statistics » read on
Eco-Services: The Holistic Valuation of Water
One of the hotly debated topics among environmental wonks, public sector representatives and companies is the value of water. Water is a resource considered to be ‘free’ and a public right by many. Why is it that our most necessary life-sustaining resource carries so inadequate a monetary value in relation to other resources such as oil? » read on
From Planet of Slums to Planet of Solutions
At the 6th World Water Forum, a Village of Solutions was built in an attempt to raise participants’ awareness of global water and sanitation issues through exhibits and special events in an enjoyable and educational manner. The Village of Solutions had several exhibits that included a library, a school, a factory, and a town hall. » read on
Alternatives Exist: Comparing FAME to the 6th World Water Forum
Inside the Alternative World Water Forum On March 16, I attended the Alternative World Water Forum. The Forum Alternatif Modial de L’Eau (‘FAME’ for short) is situated at the Dock des Suds, and my first impression upon arriving was how buzzing the place was. This was no ‘occupy’ movement of the kind you tend to see lately in » read on
Veolia’s Social Connection Program in Morocco
Have you ever engaged in political debate or taught an informational session IN A SLUM? That’s what some were doing at the World Water Forum last week in the Village of Solutions‘ make-shift demonstration slum. Veolia, the largest private water service company in the world, presented the stand pictured above as a ‘solution’ to the water » read on
How can cash-strapped municipalities find funding for water projects?
As discussed in my previous post, there are a number of ways to finance water projects. However the topic of what options cash-strapped municipalities with low or non-existent credit ratings have for financing their water projects requires a more intensive look. This is a big concern for municipalities around the world because they need to » read on
Switched: The Interviewers Become the Interviewees
At the World Water Forum 6, Student Reporter Eva Papadimas and I were interviewed by Suez Environment’s Water Blog. It was a rare case of reversing roles: the previous day Student Reporter Maria-Tzina Leria had interviewed Jean Marc Jahn, CEO for a Suez-affiliated company in Algeria. For the reverse interview, Suez staffers asked us about the Student » read on
International Water Law: Can We Regulate Water on an International Level?
Water is a unique resource because it is both local and global. Water flows over international and state borders, between conflict areas and through cities and industrial areas. Upstream withdrawals and inputs greatly affect downstream users, who may or may not have legal recourse to challenge inappropriate water activity of upstream users. This phenomenon is » read on
Brazil’s Rio+20 Mantra: Be More Ambitious!
The objective of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, also called Rio+20 to mark the 20 year anniversary from the first conference in this series, is to secure a renewed political commitment for sustainable development. The landmark Conference also aims to assess the progress and failures in global » read on
A Standard to Verify and Certify Water Stewardship: Interview with Alexis Morgan
A company or a water service provider may claim to be good stewards of water resources, but how can we know that they are doing what they claim? There is no international standard to verify those claims, although The Alliance for Water Stewardship is working on an international standard (the International Water Stewardship Standard), as discussed in my » read on
Supporting Small Farmers: Working Toward the Goal of Food Security for All
Why do small farmers need our support and how do they fit into the global conversation about water and food security? Smallholder farms are small plots of land typically supported by a single family growing a mix of cash and subsistence crops. These farmers make up 40% of the word’s population, and in sub-Saharan Africa » read on
Show Me the Money!!! (For Water)
How can municipalities finance their water projects? The short answer: taxes, tariffs, transfers, bonds, loans, and grants. The long answer was divulged yesterday by a panel of finance experts who discussed strategic financial planning for water at the World Water Forum in Marseille, France. The crux of the issue was best outlined through a post-panel interview » read on
Water for All in Algeria: Interview with Jean Marc Jahn
(post co-written with Caroline D’Angel0) Student Reporter Maria-Tzina Leria interviewed Jean Marc Jahn, Chief Executive Officer of Société des Eaux et de l’Assainissement d’Alger (SEAAL) at the World Water Forum (you can listen to the podcast below). SEAAL is a private-public partnership between Algeria’s government and Suez Environment, the second largest private water company in the » read on
Green Growth is Inspiring but Not Watertight
Each conference comes with its own set of catchphrases and the World Water Forum is no exception. A popular one that’s been buzzing around is “the new industrial revolution” or as it’s colloquially known, “green growth“. Coined in 2008, the definition of green growth differs depending on who’s using it. In general, green growth refers » read on
A Global Water Connection: My Experience Modeling on the Catwalk
Ladies from all corners of the world dressed in a rainbow of colors of their national dress to create the most diverse modeling catwalk you’ve ever seen. On Wednesday morning, I walked with these women (and two gentlemen) down the “catwalk” at the Women for Water Partnership (WfWP) “Presenting New Thinking New Challenges” session of » read on
Does the World Water Forum Need More Conflict?
The Sixth World Water Forum has largely been an exercise in polite agreement. As a fly on the wall of any auditorium on the grounds of Parc Chanot, you would see a new combination of grey-faced experts shuffle in every two hours to expound upon the virtues of “good governance” or the importance of a stable » read on
Whiskey is for Drinking and Water is for Fighting – Water in the American West
We are now in the Sixth round of the World Water Forums. This was the first time, however, that the United States took a substantial part in the Forum: yesterday marked the first time that a panel was devoted purely to American water practices. The session was titled “Water in the American West: 150 Years » read on
Businesses and Water Stewardship: The Formation of an International Standard
Businesses must be actively involved in the management of water resources. Businesses depend on quality and reliable supplies of water for direct and indirect uses including drinking, agricultural production, energy production, transportation, cleaning, resource extraction, processing, and so on. Many businesses use a significant amount of water in comparison to other users, so it is vital » read on
Water in India and the “Curse of Democracy”: a Conversation with Asit Biswas
I was lucky enough to sit down over lunch with renowned environmental scientist, professor and political commentator, Asit Biswas. We discussed the state of water management in India, his home country. India is facing a huge water and sanitation shortfall, which will become more severe in the near future as pressures from population growth and climate change surmount. » read on
Village of Solutions: Highlights from the WWC Press Tour
Yesterday the World Water Council (WWC), parent organization of the World Water Forum, led members of the press on a tour of the Forum’s “Village of Solutions.” The Village represents an innovative new platform that highlights the central theme of the sixth Forum – solutions. After the tour, WWC President Loic Fauchon was kind enough » read on
Water and the Future of Humankind
According to Dr. William Cosgrove, the keynote speaker from the special focus session, Water and the Future of Humankind, we have entered a new time era — the Anthropocene, . The Anthropocene is a term that reflects the extent to which humans have altered the planet and environment. The discussion addressed the importance of imagining the future that we would » read on
The Problems with Water Governance
There was one issue that arose repeatedly in many of the different sessions I attended and with many of the different professionals I interviewed. This issue is that water governance is often segmented to small working groups that may or may not communicate with all stakeholders and groups, so the big-picture is often lost. There » read on
Project WET Vice President John Etgen Discusses the Importance of Water Education
Oikos Student Reporter Lindsay Shafer had the opportunity to interview John Etgen, Senior Vice President of the Project WET Foundation, about the role of education in water sustainability. This education is vitally important because today’s kids are tomorrow’s leaders. In the interview, Etgen discusses Project WET’s initiatives, which include giving kids the opportunity to discuss » read on
High Level Session on Water & Food Security: What are the Challenges and Proposed Solutions?
When else can you find yourself in the same room as the French Minister of Agriculture, the Director of the International Seed Foundation, the President of the Food Security Council, the Assistant Director General for Natural Resources Management and Environment at the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, and a host of other » read on
Pakistan Water Partnership: IWRM in Action
Pakistan Water Partnership is a corporate body registered with a large number of key stakeholders from government organizations, public and private sector, NGOs, women and youth groups, and civil society who impact water or are being impacted by water and its uses in the country as its members/partners. This interview includes a discussion of the Indus » read on
Introduction to Green Growth Challenges and Goals
The title of this session was “Green Growth: No Nature, No Water, No Growth.” When one contemplates the topic of green growth as it relates to both human innovation and ‘nature’, a compassionate thinker might also imagine what a rabbit or dolphin might say about its plight if it could speak about the associated ‘nature’ descriptor » read on
A Subtle Whiff of What is to Come: Geolide Wastewater
Written by Martha Powers and Heidi Travis The large glass geodesic dome pictured on the left graces the entrance to the Marseille Geolide Wastewater Treatment Facility. The interior of the public area of the facility is clean and modern with little hint of what is just underground. The facility is located in downtown Marseille, commissioned in » read on
What Could The World Look Like In 2050
“The only way water reform will be successful,” warned OECD Secretary General Angel Gurría; “is if policy combines sustainable financing, effective governance and coherence. Without major policy changes, we risk high costs to economic growth, human health, and the environment.” This is the takeaway message from the latest OECD synthesis report, Meeting the Water Reform Challenge, that » read on
Food, Energy and Water: The Nexus Determining Our Future
By the second day of the World Water Forum 6, in Marseilles, France, talks were already starting to heat up! Taking advantage of my Press badge, I decided to attend a closed-for-the-public session on “Transboundary Waters“. Never had I imagined before that representatives of countries, international organizations, and private and public sectors would agree on unifyng » read on
“Science Speak” to “Policy Speak:” Bridging the Gap to Solve Water-Related Issues
It is valuable to be multi-lingual, not just in formal languages but in the “languages” of different categories of people. In the field of water, which by nature requires the collaboration of scientists (whose language is Science Speak), policy-makers (whose language is Policy Speak), the public, and other stakeholders, it is necessary to translate information » read on
Made in Marseille: Deputy Mayor Martine Vassal on the Forum Footprint
As Lindsey discussed in her earlier post, there are a number of online calculators which you can use to calculate your water footprint. A water footprint is the amount of water needed to produce the goods and services you use, and it is important to be aware of this number because it helps us reduce » read on
“The Mediterranean Diet is Not Simply a Diet” and Wastewater is Not Simply Wastewater
Southern Europe is not known for its endless rain nor its snowy winters. Instead, the land constantly experiences a long, dry summer, followed by intermittent rain during its winter season. This is the weather that creates the rolling fields of olive and fruit trees, green vegetables, and legumes which are hailed for their anti-oxidant properties » read on
Increasing Water Efficiency & Management in the Face of Global Scarcity
If we continue to use water at the today’s rate, 2/3 of the global population will live in water stressed areas by 2025. The regional, national, and international implications of this could be devastating because water is a trans-boundary resource; upstream activities affect downstream populations and watersheds span counties, regions and country lines. Increasing water scarcity from » read on
Financing Water: Can We Find Capital to Invest?
One of the first sessions on the opening day of the sixth World Water Forum was an introductory panel discussion about the financial needs for water management entitled Mobilizing Finance for Water: Needs and Challenges. It was no surprise that finance was the first topic on the table. According to an OECD report, water is the » read on
OECD Secretary General, Angel Gurría, Talks about the Future of Water Financing
Oikos Student Reporters Eva Papadimas and Aishwarya Nair got a chance to interview the Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Angel Gurría, on the opening day of the 6th World Water Forum in Marseille. They discussed some of the challenges facing the financing of water projects. Mr. Gurría identified sustainable and equitable » read on
Too Much Water: Taiwan’s Water Burden
Dr. Yuei-An Liou is the Distinguished Professor and Director at the Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research at National Central University in Taiwan. He specializes in satellite remote sensing and atmospheric science and has published over 100 referral papers, and 200 conference papers. In this interview, Dr. Liou discusses one of Taiwan’s most serious water » read on
Managing Water Holistically: Possible or Unachievable?
The panel Using Our Water Resources Smartly; Getting Water Resource Management Right, opened this week’s nine-panel discussion about Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). The panels will explore IWRM — what works and what doesn’t. IWRM is a principle that takes a look at the whole picture of freshwater use by acknowledging a river basin as an integrated » read on
The New Industrial Revolution Is Coming? No, It’s Already Here!
It’s a gorgeous day in Provence for the start of the sixth World Water Forum! The excitement is high at Parc Chanot in Marseille as ministers, delegations, media and students arrive in droves. The Marseille Rêve Choir, along with the Bamboo Orchestra and 250 children from schools around the city, kicked off the Opening Ceremony » read on
Meet the World Water Forum 2012 Student Reporter Team!
Today is the beginning day of the World Water Forum 2012 in Marseille, France. The WWF is the world’s largest meeting about water – previous forums in Istanbul and Mexico were attended by 25,000 people. Participants and presenters include members of international bodies like the United Nations, global NGOs like The Nature Conservancy and local NGOs such » read on
Application Form: oikos Student Reporter and University of Pennsylvania @World Water Forum, 2012
Welcome to the application form to the Student Reporter at the World Water Forum 2012! In partnership with the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Master of Environmental Studies program (US), oikos invites 10 students from the University of Pennsylvania to take part in the Student Reporter coaching programme and live blogging at the » read on
“Almost a full-time job”: Leading a team of student reporters – Interview with Caroline D’Angelo
Rio +20 is coming soon, and with it, a great team of student reporters from around the world. Behind all the student reporters, there are outstanding team leaders (like Caroline) who edit their posts and interviews while guiding them through the hectic journey of live conference-blogging. Leading a team of student reporters is certainly not an » read on
An Interview with Ms. Abby Onencan of the Nile Basin Discourse
The Nile Basin Discourse (NBD) is a civil society network with a membership of more than 750 organizations from 11 countries within the Nile Basin Region. It provides knowledge and builds capacity to strengthen the voice of civil society organizations within the Nile Basin Region. The NBD has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the » read on
University of Pennsylvania Delegates Present “Youth Solutions” at World Water Forum
The delegation from the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) had 27 students from the Master of Environmental Studies (M.E.S.) and Master of Science in Applied Geoscience programs in attendance at the World Water Forum. At the end of the week, some of us from Penn were invited to present solutions emerging from our institution. On Friday morning, three » read on
Roll On, Nile, Roll On!
The Nile is the world’s longest river. It is shared between Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (See map below). Except for South Sudan, all of the above countries are members of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) – a cooperative partnership formed in 1999. Six » read on
David Zetland is Brash, Outspoken and Unapologetic… and He’s Usually Right.
When I meet up with David Zetland, he’s chatting up two Forum attendees over complimentary drinks and light hors d’ouvres from the Brazilian Pavilion at Parc Chanot’s Palais Phoceen. Usually the center of attention by virtue of a lightning quick wit and polymathic knowledge, Zetland is skewering a newly-formed NGO designed to help investment banks » read on
Thinking Beyond Technology to Ensure Food Security
Food production uses large amounts of water. To be more precise, agriculture accounts for 70 percent of global water use. As the world’s population grows, increasing amounts of food, and therefore increasing amounts of water, are needed. At the same time, there are growing concerns about global and regional water scarcity. The question arises then: » read on
Distinguishing different water qualities: Interview with Ger Bergkamp of IWA
Addressing the problem of water scarcity was the major concern during the World Water Forum 6. Many solutions were suggested, but it seems that the answer to this crucial problem can be found in the sustainable use of water resources. In the field of sustainability, innovation must be applied in every possible sense, in order » read on
Wars over Water: Do I Really Have to Share?
Student Reporters Iliana Sepulveda and Arjun Bhargava contributed equally to this post. Wars over water? Nowadays, this concept does not sound unfamiliar at all. Shared natural resources offer a challenge from the political standpoint, given that its management has implications for the autonomy and wealth of different countries and states. As the IUCN notes, of the two » read on
The Beauty of Reclaiming Water
Since the beginning of days humans have always tried to imitate nature, both in real life and in mythology (e.g. Daedalus and Icarus trying to imitate the flying of the birds). As technology advances, many advances return back to the concept of imitating nature in order to preserve a balance on earth. For example, the » read on
Sustainably Managing Water in India’s “Land of Death” Marwar Region
Student Reporters Iliana Sepulveda and Arjun Bhargava contributed equally to this post. Imagine living in Marwar, an area in the Thar Desert that translates to the “Land of Death” in the Sanskrit language. Imagine being part of a village which does not have a single source of safe drinking water within a radius of 1.6 » read on
The Grand Dame of Water: Maude Barlow is Controversial and Charming
By all accounts, Maude Barlow is one of the preeminent international firebrands championing the rights to water for both humanity and nature. She sat down with me on March 16 at the Alternative World Water Forum in Marseilles to enjoy some Mariachi and to talk some frank talk about water rights and why the market-based, » read on
An Interview with South Africa’s Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs: “Water Knows No Boundaries”
I interviewed Her Excellency Ms. Edna Molewa, the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs of the Republic of South Africa, at the 6th World Water Forum in Marseille. South Africa is unique — as a nation as it has a higher financial water budget than defense budget. This is a remarkable achievement for any nation irrespective of » read on
Overlooked at the Forum: Hydraulic Fracturing
Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Watch, thinks that World Water Forum organizers should have been ashamed that fracking, the colloquial term referring to unconventional natural gas drilling, was not at the top of the Forum’s agenda. I can understand her frustration. Over six days of panels, I could only find one dedicated » read on
Ecosystems: One Key to the Water, Food, and Energy Nexus
Water, food, and energy are fundamentally inter-connected. Before I began learning more about this water, food, and energy nexus leading up to the World Water Forum, I didn’t understand the full implications of this. Water is necessary for providing food and energy to populations in modern societies. Water is used to grow vegetables and grains » read on
Green Growth, Water and Gender: An Interview with Marcia Brewster
The World Water Forum provided a unique opportunity for some of the authors and directors of wH2O: The Journal for Gender, Water and Sanitation at the University of Pennsylvania to meet face-to-face for the first time. StudentReporter.org Editor Caroline D’Angelo, co-chair and Editor-in-Chief of wH2O, sat down with Marcia Brewster, an wH2O author, to discuss green growth, water » read on
Sharing West African Water: An Interview with the Executive Director of the Volta Basin Authority
Student Reporters Heidi Travis and Arjun Bhargava contributed equally to this post. The Volta River is spread over parts of six West African countries. The percentage of basin area in each of the six countries is as follows: 2.48% in Cote d’Ivoire, 42.9% in Burkina Faso, 3.41% in Benin, 41.6% in Ghana, 3.12% in Mali, » read on
Sustainable Development and Water: Desalination in the Arab World
It is common knowledge that we are unsustainable consumers of water resources. Agricultural, household and industrial use deplete the Earth’s freshwater and experts state that water shortages will cause the next wars. One of the most water sensitive regions of the world is the Middle East. Rich in fossil fuels, but water-poor, the Arab world » read on
The Hopes of an NGO Coordinator from Niger for the WWF
Abdoulkader Issoufou is working with Reseau Projection, with a group of 26 other young water professionals, to edit and translate the daily newsletter of the World Water Forum. Abdoulkader is from Niger, is otherwise employed by Save the Children, and runs the NGO (non-governmental organization) Ong Tassa. His story is different from many of his » read on
Finland and Water Quality: Talking with State Secretary Katariina Poskiparta
With a cup of a native Finnish drink made from the flower of the fir tree, I sat down at Finland’s booth at the World Water Forum’s Exhibition Hall to learn about how the country has solved issues relating to the sustainable use of their waters. Finland has a unique position at the Forum in » read on
A Tour of the WWF6: Bringing People Together, Developing Solutions, and Increasing Awareness
The World Water Forum 6 took place from March 12-17th, 2012 in Marseille, France. The Forum aimed at bring people together, allowing for conversation, presenting solutions, spreading awareness, solving challenges, and making commitments. The Forum, according to the event’s website, “…mobilises creativity, innovation, competence and know-how in favour of water. It gathers all stakeholders around » read on
Using Low Quality Water to Increase Food Security in the Americas
Low quality water is essentially wastewater that has been treated using high-level technology so that it can be used (or more aptly reused) to irrigate agricultural and industrial crops and recharge aquifers. Why would we switch to using low quality water when we currently use fresh water for agricultural irrigation? Sources of freshwater are steadily » read on
Basic Sanitation & Hygiene for All: Reaching the MDG for Women & the Disabled
The United Nations Millennium Development Goal (MDG) for sanitation is “to halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.” There are an estimated 2.5 billion people who currently lack access to basic sanitation, with more urban people lacking basic sanitation than rural people. These statistics » read on
Eco-Services: The Holistic Valuation of Water
One of the hotly debated topics among environmental wonks, public sector representatives and companies is the value of water. Water is a resource considered to be ‘free’ and a public right by many. Why is it that our most necessary life-sustaining resource carries so inadequate a monetary value in relation to other resources such as oil? » read on
From Planet of Slums to Planet of Solutions
At the 6th World Water Forum, a Village of Solutions was built in an attempt to raise participants’ awareness of global water and sanitation issues through exhibits and special events in an enjoyable and educational manner. The Village of Solutions had several exhibits that included a library, a school, a factory, and a town hall. » read on
Alternatives Exist: Comparing FAME to the 6th World Water Forum
Inside the Alternative World Water Forum On March 16, I attended the Alternative World Water Forum. The Forum Alternatif Modial de L’Eau (‘FAME’ for short) is situated at the Dock des Suds, and my first impression upon arriving was how buzzing the place was. This was no ‘occupy’ movement of the kind you tend to see lately in » read on
Veolia’s Social Connection Program in Morocco
Have you ever engaged in political debate or taught an informational session IN A SLUM? That’s what some were doing at the World Water Forum last week in the Village of Solutions‘ make-shift demonstration slum. Veolia, the largest private water service company in the world, presented the stand pictured above as a ‘solution’ to the water » read on
How can cash-strapped municipalities find funding for water projects?
As discussed in my previous post, there are a number of ways to finance water projects. However the topic of what options cash-strapped municipalities with low or non-existent credit ratings have for financing their water projects requires a more intensive look. This is a big concern for municipalities around the world because they need to » read on
Switched: The Interviewers Become the Interviewees
At the World Water Forum 6, Student Reporter Eva Papadimas and I were interviewed by Suez Environment’s Water Blog. It was a rare case of reversing roles: the previous day Student Reporter Maria-Tzina Leria had interviewed Jean Marc Jahn, CEO for a Suez-affiliated company in Algeria. For the reverse interview, Suez staffers asked us about the Student » read on
International Water Law: Can We Regulate Water on an International Level?
Water is a unique resource because it is both local and global. Water flows over international and state borders, between conflict areas and through cities and industrial areas. Upstream withdrawals and inputs greatly affect downstream users, who may or may not have legal recourse to challenge inappropriate water activity of upstream users. This phenomenon is » read on
Brazil’s Rio+20 Mantra: Be More Ambitious!
The objective of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, also called Rio+20 to mark the 20 year anniversary from the first conference in this series, is to secure a renewed political commitment for sustainable development. The landmark Conference also aims to assess the progress and failures in global » read on
A Standard to Verify and Certify Water Stewardship: Interview with Alexis Morgan
A company or a water service provider may claim to be good stewards of water resources, but how can we know that they are doing what they claim? There is no international standard to verify those claims, although The Alliance for Water Stewardship is working on an international standard (the International Water Stewardship Standard), as discussed in my » read on
Supporting Small Farmers: Working Toward the Goal of Food Security for All
Why do small farmers need our support and how do they fit into the global conversation about water and food security? Smallholder farms are small plots of land typically supported by a single family growing a mix of cash and subsistence crops. These farmers make up 40% of the word’s population, and in sub-Saharan Africa » read on
Show Me the Money!!! (For Water)
How can municipalities finance their water projects? The short answer: taxes, tariffs, transfers, bonds, loans, and grants. The long answer was divulged yesterday by a panel of finance experts who discussed strategic financial planning for water at the World Water Forum in Marseille, France. The crux of the issue was best outlined through a post-panel interview » read on
Water for All in Algeria: Interview with Jean Marc Jahn
(post co-written with Caroline D’Angel0) Student Reporter Maria-Tzina Leria interviewed Jean Marc Jahn, Chief Executive Officer of Société des Eaux et de l’Assainissement d’Alger (SEAAL) at the World Water Forum (you can listen to the podcast below). SEAAL is a private-public partnership between Algeria’s government and Suez Environment, the second largest private water company in the » read on
Green Growth is Inspiring but Not Watertight
Each conference comes with its own set of catchphrases and the World Water Forum is no exception. A popular one that’s been buzzing around is “the new industrial revolution” or as it’s colloquially known, “green growth“. Coined in 2008, the definition of green growth differs depending on who’s using it. In general, green growth refers » read on
A Global Water Connection: My Experience Modeling on the Catwalk
Ladies from all corners of the world dressed in a rainbow of colors of their national dress to create the most diverse modeling catwalk you’ve ever seen. On Wednesday morning, I walked with these women (and two gentlemen) down the “catwalk” at the Women for Water Partnership (WfWP) “Presenting New Thinking New Challenges” session of » read on
Does the World Water Forum Need More Conflict?
The Sixth World Water Forum has largely been an exercise in polite agreement. As a fly on the wall of any auditorium on the grounds of Parc Chanot, you would see a new combination of grey-faced experts shuffle in every two hours to expound upon the virtues of “good governance” or the importance of a stable » read on
Whiskey is for Drinking and Water is for Fighting – Water in the American West
We are now in the Sixth round of the World Water Forums. This was the first time, however, that the United States took a substantial part in the Forum: yesterday marked the first time that a panel was devoted purely to American water practices. The session was titled “Water in the American West: 150 Years » read on
Businesses and Water Stewardship: The Formation of an International Standard
Businesses must be actively involved in the management of water resources. Businesses depend on quality and reliable supplies of water for direct and indirect uses including drinking, agricultural production, energy production, transportation, cleaning, resource extraction, processing, and so on. Many businesses use a significant amount of water in comparison to other users, so it is vital » read on
Water in India and the “Curse of Democracy”: a Conversation with Asit Biswas
I was lucky enough to sit down over lunch with renowned environmental scientist, professor and political commentator, Asit Biswas. We discussed the state of water management in India, his home country. India is facing a huge water and sanitation shortfall, which will become more severe in the near future as pressures from population growth and climate change surmount. » read on
Village of Solutions: Highlights from the WWC Press Tour
Yesterday the World Water Council (WWC), parent organization of the World Water Forum, led members of the press on a tour of the Forum’s “Village of Solutions.” The Village represents an innovative new platform that highlights the central theme of the sixth Forum – solutions. After the tour, WWC President Loic Fauchon was kind enough » read on
Water and the Future of Humankind
According to Dr. William Cosgrove, the keynote speaker from the special focus session, Water and the Future of Humankind, we have entered a new time era — the Anthropocene, . The Anthropocene is a term that reflects the extent to which humans have altered the planet and environment. The discussion addressed the importance of imagining the future that we would » read on
The Problems with Water Governance
There was one issue that arose repeatedly in many of the different sessions I attended and with many of the different professionals I interviewed. This issue is that water governance is often segmented to small working groups that may or may not communicate with all stakeholders and groups, so the big-picture is often lost. There » read on
Project WET Vice President John Etgen Discusses the Importance of Water Education
Oikos Student Reporter Lindsay Shafer had the opportunity to interview John Etgen, Senior Vice President of the Project WET Foundation, about the role of education in water sustainability. This education is vitally important because today’s kids are tomorrow’s leaders. In the interview, Etgen discusses Project WET’s initiatives, which include giving kids the opportunity to discuss » read on
High Level Session on Water & Food Security: What are the Challenges and Proposed Solutions?
When else can you find yourself in the same room as the French Minister of Agriculture, the Director of the International Seed Foundation, the President of the Food Security Council, the Assistant Director General for Natural Resources Management and Environment at the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, and a host of other » read on
Pakistan Water Partnership: IWRM in Action
Pakistan Water Partnership is a corporate body registered with a large number of key stakeholders from government organizations, public and private sector, NGOs, women and youth groups, and civil society who impact water or are being impacted by water and its uses in the country as its members/partners. This interview includes a discussion of the Indus » read on
Introduction to Green Growth Challenges and Goals
The title of this session was “Green Growth: No Nature, No Water, No Growth.” When one contemplates the topic of green growth as it relates to both human innovation and ‘nature’, a compassionate thinker might also imagine what a rabbit or dolphin might say about its plight if it could speak about the associated ‘nature’ descriptor » read on
A Subtle Whiff of What is to Come: Geolide Wastewater
Written by Martha Powers and Heidi Travis The large glass geodesic dome pictured on the left graces the entrance to the Marseille Geolide Wastewater Treatment Facility. The interior of the public area of the facility is clean and modern with little hint of what is just underground. The facility is located in downtown Marseille, commissioned in » read on
What Could The World Look Like In 2050
“The only way water reform will be successful,” warned OECD Secretary General Angel Gurría; “is if policy combines sustainable financing, effective governance and coherence. Without major policy changes, we risk high costs to economic growth, human health, and the environment.” This is the takeaway message from the latest OECD synthesis report, Meeting the Water Reform Challenge, that » read on
Food, Energy and Water: The Nexus Determining Our Future
By the second day of the World Water Forum 6, in Marseilles, France, talks were already starting to heat up! Taking advantage of my Press badge, I decided to attend a closed-for-the-public session on “Transboundary Waters“. Never had I imagined before that representatives of countries, international organizations, and private and public sectors would agree on unifyng » read on
“Science Speak” to “Policy Speak:” Bridging the Gap to Solve Water-Related Issues
It is valuable to be multi-lingual, not just in formal languages but in the “languages” of different categories of people. In the field of water, which by nature requires the collaboration of scientists (whose language is Science Speak), policy-makers (whose language is Policy Speak), the public, and other stakeholders, it is necessary to translate information » read on
Made in Marseille: Deputy Mayor Martine Vassal on the Forum Footprint
As Lindsey discussed in her earlier post, there are a number of online calculators which you can use to calculate your water footprint. A water footprint is the amount of water needed to produce the goods and services you use, and it is important to be aware of this number because it helps us reduce » read on
“The Mediterranean Diet is Not Simply a Diet” and Wastewater is Not Simply Wastewater
Southern Europe is not known for its endless rain nor its snowy winters. Instead, the land constantly experiences a long, dry summer, followed by intermittent rain during its winter season. This is the weather that creates the rolling fields of olive and fruit trees, green vegetables, and legumes which are hailed for their anti-oxidant properties » read on
Increasing Water Efficiency & Management in the Face of Global Scarcity
If we continue to use water at the today’s rate, 2/3 of the global population will live in water stressed areas by 2025. The regional, national, and international implications of this could be devastating because water is a trans-boundary resource; upstream activities affect downstream populations and watersheds span counties, regions and country lines. Increasing water scarcity from » read on
Financing Water: Can We Find Capital to Invest?
One of the first sessions on the opening day of the sixth World Water Forum was an introductory panel discussion about the financial needs for water management entitled Mobilizing Finance for Water: Needs and Challenges. It was no surprise that finance was the first topic on the table. According to an OECD report, water is the » read on
OECD Secretary General, Angel Gurría, Talks about the Future of Water Financing
Oikos Student Reporters Eva Papadimas and Aishwarya Nair got a chance to interview the Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Angel Gurría, on the opening day of the 6th World Water Forum in Marseille. They discussed some of the challenges facing the financing of water projects. Mr. Gurría identified sustainable and equitable » read on
Too Much Water: Taiwan’s Water Burden
Dr. Yuei-An Liou is the Distinguished Professor and Director at the Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research at National Central University in Taiwan. He specializes in satellite remote sensing and atmospheric science and has published over 100 referral papers, and 200 conference papers. In this interview, Dr. Liou discusses one of Taiwan’s most serious water » read on
Managing Water Holistically: Possible or Unachievable?
The panel Using Our Water Resources Smartly; Getting Water Resource Management Right, opened this week’s nine-panel discussion about Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). The panels will explore IWRM — what works and what doesn’t. IWRM is a principle that takes a look at the whole picture of freshwater use by acknowledging a river basin as an integrated » read on
The New Industrial Revolution Is Coming? No, It’s Already Here!
It’s a gorgeous day in Provence for the start of the sixth World Water Forum! The excitement is high at Parc Chanot in Marseille as ministers, delegations, media and students arrive in droves. The Marseille Rêve Choir, along with the Bamboo Orchestra and 250 children from schools around the city, kicked off the Opening Ceremony » read on
Meet the World Water Forum 2012 Student Reporter Team!
Today is the beginning day of the World Water Forum 2012 in Marseille, France. The WWF is the world’s largest meeting about water – previous forums in Istanbul and Mexico were attended by 25,000 people. Participants and presenters include members of international bodies like the United Nations, global NGOs like The Nature Conservancy and local NGOs such » read on
Application Form: oikos Student Reporter and University of Pennsylvania @World Water Forum, 2012
Welcome to the application form to the Student Reporter at the World Water Forum 2012! In partnership with the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Master of Environmental Studies program (US), oikos invites 10 students from the University of Pennsylvania to take part in the Student Reporter coaching programme and live blogging at the » read on