Knowledge Centre : Environment : Water : Page 3
Categories
- Arsenic Poisoning (4)
- Dams (33)
- Rivers (13)
- Water and Sanitation@ (49) new
- World Water Forums (6)
|
|
|
Links
- Mountain Water
-
Mountains provide most of the world's fresh water, harbour as much or more biodiversity than any other areas and are home to at least one in ten people. Yet, war, poverty, hunger, climate change and environmental degradation are threatening the web of life that mountains support.
(Added: Wed Jul 17 2002 Modified: Tue Jun 14 2005 Hits: 160)
- Nature for Sale: The Impacts of Privatizing Water and Biodiversity
-
Friends of the Earth International. The publication focuses on the privatization of water and biodiversity. By highlighting local experiences, we aim to raise awareness of the impacts of privatization on the resources that all of us, our children and generations of children to come need to be able to survive.
http://www.foei.org/en/publications/pdfs/privatization.pdf
(Added: Fri Jan 28 2005 Modified: Thu Mar 27 2008 Hits: 244)
- Neither Public Nor Private: Unpacking the Johannesburg Water Corporatization Model
-
Local authorities across South Africa have undergone an enormous transformation in the postapartheid period. Ten years into democracy, most local authorities are contending with the difficulties of providing and improving the quality of water and sanitation services in areas that historically received service of abysmal quality, if any. The national policy guidelines driving local authorities uphold several important equity principles such as a free allocation of basic water services in a "developmental"-that is, inclusive and participatory-manner. Local authorities struggle to put these principles into practice, as the financial and human resource constraints they face often lead them to put efficiency objectives in the forefront, with the hope that the equity issues will be dealt with down the line. (UNRISD, 2006)
(Added: Wed Aug 30 2006 Hits: 87)
- NGO Major Group Discussion Paper on Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements (Word 118KB)
-
(From Choike) This paper was written based on contributions from the wider NGO community, in response to a call for information sent out by the NGO Major Group Focal Points. Drafts of this paper have been widely circulated for review. Issues relating to water, sanitation and human settlements are indeed complex and invariably inter-connected. An overall understanding of how it all functions together is something few can claim to know. An integrated approach is what is essential and the lack thereof is perhaps the biggest barrier to effective implementation. A crisis of global magnitude is looming on account of inadequate access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation. The compelling statistics are well-known, and urgently demand action. A fundamentally new approach to water, sanitation and human settlements will be needed if the aim is to satisfy the water needs of 8-10 billion people while protecting the eco-systems that sustain our economies and terrestrial life. Evolving strategies to ensure sustainable livelihoods and communities is at the heart of a resolution to this crisis.
http://www.un-ngls.org/cso/NGOWater.doc
(Added: Thu Mar 11 2004 Modified: Tue Jun 14 2005 Hits: 136)
- Pan American Information Network on Environmental Health (Repidisca)
-
Repidisca operates in the Latin American and Caribbean region, disseminates information on environmental health, environmental epidemiology, sanitary and environmental engineering, water supply, waste water, solid waste, hazardous waste and occupational health. It maintains the following databases: (a) Bibliographical database: union database from cooperating countries. Some 85,000 records. (b) institutional directory on environmental health (c) union serial catalogue (d) thesaurus: environmental health terms in Spanish, Portuguese, German, French. (e) International Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals (IRPTC): from UNEP (f) REPDISCA information bank: containing technical dissemination sheets, news, publications catalogue and other CEPIS/REPDISCA brochures.
(Added: Mon Mar 31 2003 Modified: Tue Jun 14 2005 Hits: 104)
- People's Water Forum Urges World Water Parliament
-
By Vanya Walker-Leigh FLORENCE, Italy, March 24, 2003 (ENS) - The Iraq conflict is partly about future control of Iraq's huge water resources, an Italian Catholic missionary told an alternative world water forum in Florence, endorsing the meeting's closing call for a new world water deal based on public sector control and a legal right to water for all by 2020.
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2003/2003-03-24-01.asp
(Added: Wed Mar 26 2003 Modified: Wed Jun 07 2006 Hits: 123)
- Pipe Dreams: The failure of the private sector to invest in water services in developing countries [pdf]
-
The last 15 years of donor policy has been based on the idea that the 'competition and efficiency' of privatisation provides the answer to the global water crisis. But this report calls this idea a pipe dream, demonstrating that water privatisation has failed to deliver even the investment promised, let alone sufficient investment to connect new communities in the kinds of numbers needed. What makes this even worse is that, while international donors have promoted the role of the private sector as investors in the water sector, at the same time they have substantially cut their own investment in this area. As a result, the net contribution of 15 years of privatisation has been to significantly reduce the funds available to poor countries for investment in water, by billions of dollars. The report finds that it vital that donors and governments are honest with people about the limits of water privatisation, and develop a new strategy for investing in public water systems to make good on their MDG promises. (World Development Movement, March 2006)
http://www.wdm.org.uk/resources/briefings/aid/pipedreamsfullreport.pdf
(Added: Mon Mar 27 2006 Hits: 275)
- Plundering the Yerevan water utility
-
US NGO Government Accountability Project (GAP) reports that World Bank officials were at best complacent and at worst complicit in fraud which led to the mis-spending of $35 million on reforms to the water supply in Armenia's capital Yerevan (Bea Edwards,GAP, August 2008).
http://www.whistleblower.org/doc/2008/PlunderingtheYerevanWaterUtility8.1.08.pdf
(Added: Fri Aug 08 2008 Hits: 14)
- Rainwater Harvesting - Solution to the Water Crisis in India
-
The Centre for Science and Environment, a New Delhi based non-governmental organisation (NGO) has been promoting the revival of traditional systems of water harvesting as a practical solution for drought proofing the affected areas. The organisation has developed a comprehensive strategy to further the impact of its campaign for participatory, equitable and decentralised paradigm for water management. Work done so far includes establishing raincentres. Raincentres are a network of permanent exhibitions that seek to spread water literacy among urban Indians. They portaray the significance of rain in the Indian way of life--its influence on the customs, traditions, economy and politics of this country. They define the role played by every Indian citizen in harvesting rainwater and using it to combat the menace of water scarcity. The raincentres provide the people the know-how to harvest rain. They equip the civil society to take leadership in the movement to conserve water. They begin the process of rebuilding a society of water literates. The raincentres are yet another milestone in CSE's campaign on Jal Swaraj.
http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/
(Added: Mon Sep 08 2003 Modified: Tue Dec 20 2005 Hits: 137)
- Rich countries, poor water (pdf)
-
The water crisis facing poorer countries could extend to richer ones if drastic policy changes are not made. Supporting large-scale industry and growing populations using water at high rates has come close to exhausting the water supplies of some First World cities. The overall picture would only get worse in coming years as global warming brought lower rainfall and increased evaporation of water and changed the pattern of snow melting from mountain areas. The report proposes seven ways to tackle the problem: conserving catchments and wetlands; balancing conservation and consumption; changing attitudes to water; repairing ageing infrastructure; increase charges to farmers for water use; reduce water contamination; and more study of water systems. (WWF, August 2006)
http://assets.panda.org/downloads/rich_countries_poor_water_final_170706.pdf
(Added: Thu Aug 17 2006 Hits: 44)
- RIGHTS-NAMIBIA: Government Considering Water Subsidies For Poor
-
The Namibian government, frequently accused of making water unaffordable to the poor, is finally taking steps to address this countrywide problem that threatens to hamper the country's efforts to meet the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs. (IPS, 5 February, 2008)
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=41082
(Added: Mon Feb 11 2008 Hits: 51)
- Running Dry: the humanitarian impact of the global water crisis
-
Since the tsunami of December 2004 claimed more than a quarter-million lives and caused billions of dollars of damage, excess of water has created other natural disasters, including the 2005 hurricanes in the Caribbean, western Pacific and the United States and flooding from unprecedented rainfall across Europe. At the same time, millions of people live without access to adequate or clean water, with little hope their situation will improve as the global water-shortage crisis escalates.This IRIN In-Depth focuses on the most pertinent issues surrounding the water crisis through feature essays dealing with some of the 'macro' issues and direct field reports from the communities and people most affected by water scarcity and contamination. (IRIN, October 2006)
http://www.irinnews.org/webspecials/runningdry/default.asp
(Added: Tue Oct 03 2006 Hits: 138)
- Saving Water from Field to Fork: Curbing losses and wastage in the food chain
-
The ongoing food crisis, characterized by growing shortages and rising prices of staple commodities, has far reaching implications for the world's scarce water resources, says this study. The report claims that"More food is likely to come at a cost of more water use in agriculture," (Stockholm International Water Institute, International Water Management Institute and the Stockholm Environment Institute, May 2008).
http://www.siwi.org/documents/Resources/Policy_Briefs/Paper_13_Field_to_Fork.pdf
(Added: Tue May 27 2008 Hits: 35)
- Solutions for a Water Short World
-
As populations grow and water use per person rises, demand for freshwater is soaring. Yet the supply of freshwater is finite and threatened by pollution. To avoid a crisis, many countries must conserve water, pollute less, manage supply and demand, and slow population growth.
http://www.infoforhealth.org/pr/m14edsum.shtml
(Added: Mon Mar 29 1999 Modified: Tue Jun 14 2005 Hits: 217)
- SOMALIA: Displaced families surviving on less than one meal a day
-
Large numbers of families displaced by violence in Somalia are surviving on less than one meal a day and spending large proportions of their meagre income buying drinking water, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). (IRIN, 16 March 2008)
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=77225
(Added: Mon Mar 17 2008 Hits: 17)
- Source Water and Sanitation News
-
The Source Water and Sanitation News Service is a joint endeavour of the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre. Source provides bi-weekly news and bimonthly special features, by e-mail and on the Web, on water and sanitation in developing countries, with an emphasis on rural and peri-urban areas.
(Added: Wed Apr 16 2003 Modified: Tue Jun 14 2005 Hits: 103)
- Take Action! Peaceful protests against water privatization in el salvador end in jail and terrorism charges
-
On July 2 the Salvadoran police violently attacked a peaceful protest against water privatization and arrested 14 people (Friends of the Earth International)
http://www.foei.org/en/get-involved/take-action/el-salvador-water-protests
(Added: Wed Aug 29 2007 Hits: 119)
- The freshwater boom is over. Our rivers are starting to run dry
-
As these two effects of climate change - global drying and rising salt pollution - run up against the growing demand for water, and as irrigation systems run dry or become contaminated, the possibility arises of a permanent global food deficit. Even with a net food surplus, 800 million people are malnourished. Touted means of adapting to this crisis all involve using a great deal of energy and worsening global warming. To avert this catastrophe and keep the rise in temperature below this level of drying requires a global cut in carbon emissions of 60% by 2030 - which means a 90% reduction in rich nations such as the United Kingdom. It sounds ridiculous. But then you consider the alternative. (George Monbiot, Guardian, 10 October 2006)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1891588,00.html
(Added: Wed Oct 11 2006 Hits: 74)
- The Great Water Robbery (PDF)
-
By Gunnar Aegisson (Aug 2002), One World Action. Privatisation of water services is virtually compulsory for developing countries: both the World Bank and the IMF impose it as a precondition for funding assistance. The privatised water sector world-wide is dominated by a handful of multi-national companies. They are not interested in serving the poorest people, who are not seen as profitable customers. Water services are becoming the privilege of those who can pay high prices.
http://www.servicesforall.org/html/WaterPolicy/Summary_Robbery.html
(Added: Tue Oct 22 2002 Modified: Tue Oct 24 2006 Hits: 153)
- The Impact of Water Conflicts on Pastoral Livelihoods: The Case of Wajir District in Kenya [PDF]
-
In this report, Eileen Omosa analyses the relationship between natural resource-based conflicts and pastoral livelihoods in Wajir District, Kenya, to determine "what livelihood opportunities are lost to people when they spend their time and resources managing water related conflicts?" The research aimed to understand the socio-economic characteristics of the study area; governance of water resources; water-related conflicts and their management; and to analyze relationships between the limited water resources, arising conflicts and their impact on the people's assets and capabilities to earn a livelihood. It was published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development in August 2005.
http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2005/security_pastoral_water_impacts.pdf
(Added: Fri Oct 28 2005 Hits: 54)
- The Right to Water
-
This website, launched on Human Rights Day 2003, has been established by WaterAid and Rights and Humanity, in cooperation with FAN, as part of our contribution to the International Year of Freshwater 2003. Its aims are to: * Provide information on relevant policy commitments and explain the concepts and theories of human rights law with respect to the right to water. * Disseminate General Comment No 15 adopted by the UN Committee on Economic, Socialand Cultural Rights confirming and interpreting the right to water. * Promote the use of the right to water as a tool for community empowerment, advocacy and legal redress.
http://www.righttowater.org.uk/
(Added: Thu Dec 18 2003 Modified: Tue Jun 14 2005 Hits: 239)
- The Roles of the US Government and World Bank in The Drive to Privatize Basic Services in Developing Countries (pdf)
-
Access to affordable services, including health care, education, water and electricity, is essential to human dignity, fulfillment and productivity. It is a right for all, not a privilege for those who can pay. The rising cost of services is increasingly forcing families to choose. When services are unavailable or unaffordable, the greatest burden often falls upon women and the poor. The World Bank and the U.S. Government often place undue pressure on governments to privatize, overlooking the many negative impacts of privatization and ultimately jeopardizing access to basic services. (Bank Information Center, July 2006)
(Added: Wed Aug 02 2006 Hits: 199)
- The trickle-away effect
-
Multinational water companies once beat a path to buy up privatised operators in Argentina. Now they are desperate to get out, writes Oliver Balch in the Guardian, Monday November 21, 2005
http://www.guardian.co.uk/argentina/story/0,11439,1647532,00.html
(Added: Tue Nov 22 2005 Modified: Fri Nov 25 2005 Hits: 74)
- The UN World Water Development Report: Water for People, Water for Life
-
The World Water Development Report (WWDR) is a periodic, comprehensive review giving an authoritative picture of the state of the world's freshwater resources, and aiming to provide decision-makers with the tools for sustainable use of our water. Coordinated by the World Water Assessment Programme, the Report is the result of the collaboration of twenty-three UN agencies and convention secretariats and lays the foundations for regular, system-wide monitoring and reporting by the UN, together with development of standardized methodologies and data. The first edition of this report, Water for People, Water for Life, was launched in 2003 on World Water Day (March 22nd) at the Third World Water Forum in Kyoto, Japan.
http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/wwdr/index.shtml
(Added: Fri Apr 04 2003 Modified: Tue Jun 14 2005 Hits: 111)
- The United Nations Environment Programme: Freshwater
-
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) addresses the issue of how the decline in the quantity and quality of the world's fresh water resources "may prove to be the dominant issue on the environment and development agenda of the coming century." Users can learn about water scarcity, water and sanitation, water quality, groundwater, floods and droughts, and other key water-related issues. The website provides links to case studies of some of these key issues such as the mitigation of the impact of urbanization on freshwater resources in Africa. Researchers can find conference proceedings, information on institutions and programs dealing with water resource issues, and policy documentation.
(Added: Mon Oct 18 2004 Modified: Tue Jun 14 2005 Hits: 87)
