N°6 - Saturday, 17 March, 2012 Summary Edit rial...Financial tools for promoting hygiene, change of behaviours and a better coordination in the countries affected by cholera are part

> The Grassroots and Citizenship in figures

• 199 projects obtained theGrassroots and CitizenshipCommission label

• 77 projects presented inMarseille during the WorldWater Forum

• More than 2,000 youngprofessionals involved

• More than 700 childrenattended

• More than 20 films and documentaries

• 14 photo exhibitions

• 7 technical visits

• 33 conferences on womenand water, indigenous people,culture and ethicsN

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N°6 - Saturday, 17 March, 2012

Summary• Towards the integrated

improvement of hygiene and health . . . . P. 2

• Time for women! . . . . . . P. 3

• Portfolio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 4/5

• Virtual water used to compensate natural hydraulic inequalities . P. 6

• Blue gold for green growth . . . . . . . . . . P. 7

• Spirituality and Water: Have We Reached the Utopia? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 8

Edit rialAll mobilised!

T he 6th World Water Forum, a greatechoing opportunity to raise higherthe cause of water on the interna-

tional agenda, has highlighted the importantrole of civil society, notably through thesucceeding statements of different per-sonalities during the opening ceremony.Thus, everyone must take responsibility,the public power, the managing authorities,the experts, but also civil society.Many associations, NGOs, neighborhoodcommittees, schools, and voluntary citizens mobilised at the 6th Forum inMarseille and around the world through various initiatives: humanitarian,academic, technical, educational, cultural, artistic and otherwise.Artists, filmmakers, youth and women have also made their voices heardon water issues, in their own ways, with their own solutions and withtheir own commitments. •

Martine Vassal, President of the Roots and Citizenship Commission

of the 6thWorld Water Forum

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The forum Gazette N°6 Saturday, 17 March, 20122

11% of EuropeanUnion inhabitantssuffer from the lackof access to safe drinking water

The United Nations Econo-mic Commission for Europeand Solidarity Water Europehave presented the book“No one left behind: Goodpractices to ensure equitableaccess to water and sanitationin the pan-european region”.This document highlightsgeographical, economic andsocial issues of this access,which is lacking for mostvulnerable peoples. Accordingto Kristalina Georgieva, Eu-ropean Commissioner forinternational cooperation,humanitarian aid and crisisresponse, “11% of EuropeanUnion inhabitants suffer fromthe lack of access to drinkingwater”. Speakers insistedon the importance of Pu-blic-Private partnerships, theconcrete application of theWater Framework Directive,and women awareness onwater management.

The volunteer, spokesman of the forum and ambassador of the territory

All citizens of Marseille andits region, 600 volunteershave played in fine style thedual role of the Forum spo-kespersons and ambassadorsof their territory. The event'ssuccess is also due to theiravailability, their qualities andtheir dedication to all parti-cipants, visitors and stake-holders from the entire world.Specialised in tourism andevents in Marseille, Ecole Tu-non, even closed its doorsduring the week to put 40of its pupils available to theForum. A first for the esta-blishment!

The right to water and sanitation ensureseveryone the right to access safe drinkingwater in sufficient and acceptable quantities,

physically accessible and affordable as well assanitation”, stated Corinne Schuster-Wallace,Programme Officer for Water Nexus Health,during the session organised by WHO on thesubject. “Each country develops its own strategyon sanitation. It is necessary to integrate policiesat a regional level and in research. This alsoincludes field work, analysis and results.".

Since 1990, 1.8 billion people have hadaccess to improved sanitation facilities. But2.5 billion people still lack sanitation. 1.1billion human beings, or 15% of the world’spopulation practice open defecation. Chinaand India account for nearly half of globalprogress in sanitation. Sub – Saharan Africarepresents more than 40% of the world’spopulation that lacks the access to supplyingresources of improved drinking water (whichprotects up to a satisfactory level the waterfrom outside contamination, especially fromfaeces). This is one of the main tools for the

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Towards the integrated improvement of hygiene and health

fight against diseases, especially cholera. ForThierry Vandevelde, from Veolia Foundation,an improved coordination of projects in thecountries affected by cholera, and the jointdevelopment of strategic plans could helperadicate this horrible disease, with Africahaving 80% of the cases.

Change of mentalities

Another direction, indicated by Piers Cross,from the Water and Sanitation for All orga-nisation, is the cooperation between educationand the health sector. In all cases, thesanitation problems can be solved by “aregional and global cooperation”.Margaret Montgomery, expert in water sa-nitation, hygiene and health at the WHO, of-fered details on the functioning of healthcenters in Kenya. “We provide them withmoney to buy the required material forpromoting hygiene measures among the pa-tients of the center”, she mentioned. “Beha-vioral changes in hygiene should be promotedstarting from the base.” •

Hygiene is at the heart of international concerns.

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The World Health Organisation organised a summary session on improving hygiene and health through water and sanitation. Financial tools for promoting hygiene, change of behaviours and a better coordination in the countries affected by cholera are part of the undertaken measures.

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The forum Gazette N°6 Saturday, 17 March, 2012 3

World waterproblems : the answerwill come from women

Interview with Famke Janssen,Ambassador for Green CrossInternational Water for Lifeand Peace Programme.

- What is your main messageconcerning women and wa-ter?

Women and children are themost vulnerable persons towater issues. Because of limitedwater and the absence of hy-giene facilities many younggirls have to drop out of schoolwhen they reach puberty. Atthe same time, women aresupplying water and walk anaverage of fifteen kilometersa day, spending eight hourscollecting water that is not al-ways safe to drink.

- What is the solution youwould like to promote to thereaders of the “Forum Ga-zette”?

I think it is important to buildand support projects for waterand sanitation for all. TheGreen Cross initiative “SmartWater for Green Schools”helps to improve the lives ofpopulations in Bolivia by im-plementing rainwater harvestingsystems and providing educa-tional programmes related tohygiene, sanitation and envi-ronmental awareness. 400 000persons benefited from theseinitiatives in Bolivia so far.

- What do you hope will beachieved at the end of the 6thWorld Water Forum?

In conditions of water scarcity,some players such as big cor-porations could possibly takeover to make profits at a stagewhere this could hamper thecommunity. To avoid this, co-operation is needed as wellas spreading the message oflocal communities. I hope thatthis Forum will help morewomen getting access to de-cision-making because theyare the most efficient when itcomes to bringing sustainablesolutions to the issues linkedwith water. Women face theproblem daily and know bestwhat needs to be done.

In Africa, the water issue belongs towomen: they go to get water and bring itback in a bucket” says Courtès Ketcha,

mayor of Bangangté, Cameroon. In France,water is immediately available but “socialand economic problems to access to waterhave recently emerged, affecting particularlysingle-parent families and especially women”adds Odile Gauthier, Director for Waterand Biodiversity at the Ministry of Ecologyof France. Indeed, women are still underre-presented in decision-making bodies, althoughthey have been identified as one of the nine“Major Groups” of Agenda 21 at the RioSummit in 1992.

Wednesday's session began with a paradeof women and men carrying white signs onwhich important issues and feminist pers-pectives on the relation of women andwater were presented. Then, experts andhigh-level female political officials supportedthese messages by providing concrete answers

Make way for women! The room was full at the high level session on women’s leadership in the water sector at the 6th World Water Forum, on 14 March. High level speakers and participants agree: women are the key to solving issues linked with water and sanitation.

based on real-world contexts. Educationappeared to be the main focus, but speakersalso called for an integrated approach at thelocal level .

“We’ve argued the case; now is the time to act!” Kenza Kaouakib Robinson, UN-Water Secretary

At the end of the session, attendees agreedit was time for action. According to theWomen for Water Partnership, governmentsshould be made responsible for promotingwomen's leadership, namely at the locallevel. Three months ahead of the Rio+20conference, one of the signs read “getinvolved with us to accelerate and achievethe millennium development goals”—a re-ference to the 2015 deadline. Further ex-changes will continue on the Women forWater Partnership website.

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Like the other speakers, Maria Mutagamba, Minister for Environment and Water of Uganda, calls for gender-sensitive policies.

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Portfolio

A young boy hangs his message

about water

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Water & Spiritualities concert, with all "The minstrels", after the Water & Ethic conference.

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School children of Marseille discover life in Dry Lands and Oasis.

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"In time of crisis, put your money where your mouth is" was one of the messages conveyed by women NGOs

to water experts.

“Water Blues” illumination show on the façade

of Town Hall in Old Port, Marseille.

Close to 180 countries in Marseille for the 6th Word Water Forum.

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Ning On the World Water Forum website, institutional and civil society representatives present their projects, positions and solutions to improve water supply and governance.

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Trees of life carry the commitments of children. May these wishes come true !

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Jean-Michel Compere and Bernard Michaux, from CILE company in Belgium present their solution foremergency containers.

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Xavier Leflaive, OECD, presents the “Environmental

Outlook to 2050: the consequence of Inaction”

and “Meeting the Water Reform Challenge” at the 6th World Water Forum.

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A Little Ms. Sea postcard to support the

tsunami-hit region of Japan.International Youth meeting :

Japanese children - Yuriko Kobayashi, Sota Tsukurimichi, and Rie Matsuzaki –at the Forum.

The team of the Forum Gazette, journalists and young professionals from the Projection Network.

Bart Devos, President of the World Youth Parliament for Water, E.K. Park, President of the Forum regional commission, Loïc Fauchon, President of the WorldWater Council, Ben Braga, President of the 6th World Water Forum, Henri de Raincourt, French Minister in charge of Cooperation, and Martine Vassal, Vice Mayor of Marseille.

Turker Kurtas, Isotope Hydrologist at the Atomic Energy Agency

explains: "The C02 lowers the pH of the oceans".

In 2100, the pH should increase from 8.1 to 7.8 impacting

shellfish and habitat.

Commitments for water appraised by the international Forumcommunity.

Commitment from the Water Sentinel,

Marseille highscool

Financial commitments for water in Africa, presented by Mr. Bai-Mass Taal, African Ministers Council on Water ©

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Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi (Deputy Minister, Ministry of Water and Environmental Affairs, South Africa),for African Youth and Gender Solutionson Water and Sanitation.

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Discussion regarding water careers

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Distinguishing between “land userights” and “people’srights” in informalareas

Juridical and political barriers,together with land laws, aremore serious than financialbarriers when it gets to connec-ting slums to urban spaces,according to the participantsof the conference (Re)sources« What if cities were takingon water ? » on 14 March.The distinction “land use rights”and “people’s rights” is seenas a necessary precursor towater and sanitation accessfor informal areas' inhabitants: people’s access to these basicservices should not dependon the ownership or the legalityof their housing.

"Water should floodthe lobby in favor of decentralisation"

” Territorial bodies and com-munities must increasingly playessential roles in urban go-vernance. Water must continueto fuel advocacy in favor ofdecentralisation in developingcountries”, said Charles Josselin,former French Minister of Co-operation and Vice-Presidentof the Advisor General ofCôtes-d'Armor.

At the (Re)sources conferenceon the 14 March, Mr. Josselingave a lecture “And if the CityTook Water?”, where he em-phasised the many solutionspresented at the 6th WorldWater Forum and the impor-tance of reinforcement capa-cities in neighborhoodcommittees.


measure lifestyle impacts on water resources.Maurice Bernard, Director of the Departmentof Sustainable Development for AFD indicatedthat, “on the one hand, the population isgrowing; on the other hand, our lifestylesare consuming more water.”

Opportunities to overcome unequal geographic water repartition

Beyond the numbers, revealing this hiddenwater contained in consumer productsallows to compensate for geographical im-balances of water reparation around theglobe.Analyzing the “import/export” balance ofvirtual water helps countries in hydraulicstress to limit exportation of products that

consume largeamounts of water forproduction.Exporting goods fromcountries with moreprevalent water re-sources to those inwater stress favors apositive exchange ofvirtual water.At the local level, theimplication can po-tentially change ourdaily consumption de-cisions encouraging,for example, local products with a low “water added-value.”•

Although not visible to the humaneye, be it the production of a car, aTee-shirt, a loaf of bread or any

other product or service, water is consu-med.Agricultural production uses by far thegreatest amount of water, consuming 70%of the world’s reserves. For example, it is estimated that to produceone kilo of chicken requires 3,900 liters ofwater and one kilo of grain on averagerequires 1,300 liters.This “double pyramid” developed by theCentre of Food and Nutrition in Barilla,Italy, that takes into consideration the rela-tionship between water and foodstuffs, de-monstrates the minimum impact of theMediterranean diet on water resources.On the industrial side, it is estimated that akilo of cotton re-quires 5,260 litersand a kilo of paperconsumes 2,000 litersof water.Looking at the ave-rage goods consu-med, it is possible toevaluate the averagequantity of virtualwater consumed percapita and country;for example 1,400 li-ters/person in Asiaand 4,000 liters/per-son in Europe andNorth America, ac-cording to the FAO. Virtual water thuspresents a tool to

Levi -Virtual water used to compensate naturalhydraulic inequalities In the context of diminishing water resources due to global population growth and climate change, quantifying previouslyhidden water within consumer goods sheds new light on our lifestyle. The virtual water concept also servesas a tool for countries experiencing hydraulic stress.

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Household WaterSecurity for Asia Pacific

The University of Seoul so-lution, presented by Prof.Moo Yong Han, was reco-gnised "Winning Solution"by UN Economic and SocialCommission for Asia Pacificat the World Water Forum.This innovative, low-cost andsocially acceptable solar di-sinfection technology suppliesdrinking water from rainwaterharvested from the rooftop.

The implementation of thissystem will improve health,economic growth and equi-table access to safe waterand sanitation in developingregions.

Water culture into local governance

The second day of local au-thorities’ processes focusedon the cultural dimensionof water. Increasingly, localauthorities are integratingwater in cooperation policies.But in order to be effective,these partnerships shouldtake sociocultural factorsinto account to ensure thatprojects are compatible withlocal contexts. In cooperationwith UNESCO, the Interna-tional Association of Fran-cophone Mayors led activitiesto raise the awareness ofelected officials to these is-sues. The objective: for localauthorities to take the diffe-rent uses and symbolic re-presentations of water intoaccount.


Blue gold for green growth

World Water Council (WWC) Pre-sident Loïc Fauchon is convincedthat « the enrichment of man

shall not be done through the depletion ofnature ». To him, green growth should bebased on equitable distribution betweenman and nature and not on plundering. Yet,one thing is certain: “There is no developmentwithout water, but there is not enoughwater for development ". Water is actuallylinked with green growth, according to theKorean ambassador for water resources,Eun-kyung Park. She makes the case thatgreen growth has to be based on efficientwater use and on promoting economictools for development. To do so, emphasisshould be given to the social dimension ofgreen growth. In total, 26 case studiesproviding details on green growth best prac-tices were presented during the first session

of the experts group working on the role ofwater in green growth. This group, whichgathers high level international actors, hasplanned to meet two to three times throu-ghout 2012.

The south korean case

In Korea, more than 17 billion dollars wereinvested in rivers restoration, underlinedSeung-soo Han, who is the Republic ofKorea’s former Prime Minister and Presidentof the Global Green Growth Institute. Thishigh level panel is, according to Seung-sooHan – for whom water issues are global – agood start of a global effort to find integratedsolutions so that governments recognisethe essential role of water in green growth.

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Seung Soo Han former South Korea Prime Minister and President of the Global Green Growth Instituteis taking part in the panel – first from the right.

A policy framework supported by twenty-six case studies introducing best practices in terms of green growth are unveiledby a group of international experts. This presentation is the beginning of the work of this group which unites high level actors on the place of water in this new form of development.


Water and energy: all players get together for the first time

“This Forum is a milestoneconcerning the managementof water and energy relatedissues” declares Richard Taylor,Executive Director of the In-ternational Hydropower As-sociation (IHA). Indeed, afterhaving previously focused mainlyon hydropower, further inter-relations between the twosectors have been exploredin Marseille (as impacts of oiland gas abstraction on water,energy needs for desalinationof water, reusing residues fromwaste water treatment toproduce heat, etc.) . JacquesLabre, Director InstitutionalRelations and European Affairsat Suez-Environnement adds:“Together with the NGOs,youth representatives, enter-prises, the academia etc. a si-gnificant number of oil andgas representatives joined thediscussions here”. At the endof the Forum the target of 20countries to commit to theHydropower Sustainability As-sessment Protocol is expectedto be met in the next months.In addition, an internationalPolicy Network on Water andEnergy has been created, toenable players to exchangeon best practices and spreadknowledge.

Eco-construction and Water Manage-ment : Possible reconciliation?

On Friday 16 March 2012, theCCI of Marseille-Provence,along with its Greek, Catalonianand Portuguese partners pre-sented the InsMed projectand the InsMed Greenbookguide at the World Water Fo-rum in Marseille.This guide is designed to ac-company managers, designersand decision-makers in thefield and assist them whendrafting appropriate questions.It constitutes assistance tothe implementation of goodpractices in the field of eco-management of water: resourcelimitations, efficient use ofequipment and resource subs-titutions.


Those who contributed to this newspaper :Publisher : Secretariat of the International Forum Committee, 11 la Canebière 13001 Marseille France - Editorialdirector : Jean-Marc Lacave, Executive Director of the 6th World Water Forum Secretariat - Chief editor : ClaudineChilinski, Marketing Director and Communication - Associate editor : Carole Schaal-Cornillet - Journalists : C. Garcia, J.-C. Barla, G. Tur, A. Place, M.-P. Vega, N. Bureau du Colombier - Writers "Réseau Projection" : M.Guyomard, A.-C.Popescu, C.Castellanos Perez Bolde, A. Labaeye, C.Vigé Hélie, J. Grueau, L. Ghiglia, H.Sanou, K.A.Tallagbé Dayé, B. KakouArsene, M. Djigo, A.Abu Saleem, Ebadati, T. Takeda, A. Issoufou, C. Perez Bolde, R. Tejeda, M. Lobo, A. de Bonneville, S. Detchou, S. Davin, J. Chenut, F. Roignant, U. Fifi, J.Kileshye, S. Ngilambi, Z. Koffi Vilevo, R. Guirbaye, L. Johnson, Ludington, Uche, N. Shlesinger, Tignino, Li Ning, P. Anamaria-Cristina, A. Kafkalidis, H. Gonçalves - Graphic designer : A. Triaureau - Webmaster : M.-C. Audibert - Coordination : Econostrum

Spirituality and Water: Have We Reached the Utopia? Human Right to Water: "Relatively little water is used to meet basic human needs. Everyone needs water to survive".

Marseille Water Ethics” is a new initiativeannounced on 15 March by KathrynKintzele, Co-Chair of the Biosphere

Ethics Initiative of the International Union forConservation of Nature. This is a living projectdesigned to enhance sustainable attitudes andethical issues associated with water resourceutilisation and management.Jean Conrad, from the Catholic InternationalEducation Office, started his presentationwith “Everyone who drinks this water will be-come thirsty again, but everybody that drinksthe water I give him will never thirst" John4:13. He then elaborated that when waterpolicies, laws and economics derive from thatethical basis, we are better able to have an au-thentic debate about the values that theconcerned communities look to uphold.Ethical analysis does not solve problems.

Instead, it lays out the problems in terms tothen easily identify solutions. Murad Bino, Exe-cutive Director of Inter-Islamic Network onWater Resources Development and Manage-ment (INWRDAM) explained if water wasclean and air was pure, everything would bein harmony with God’s plan. Water is life andit is respected for this reason in many culturesand religions. It is necessary for survival andthat makes it a key aspect of many cultures.Speakers and attendees of the session agreedthat what is needed is to connect the dots toreveal the beautiful design that can becomethe way societies choose to respond to rivers,lakes, springs, wetlands and aquifers. In a worldfacing changes and growth, crises and turmoils,emotional and spiritual well-being are notonly aspects but the foundations for a healthyand fulfilling life.•

Marie-Joséphine Grosjean, Jean Conrad and Murad Bino agree on the importance of water in various religious traditions.

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Documents

N°6 - Saturday, 17 March, 2012 Summary Edit rial...Financial tools for promoting hygiene, change of behaviours and a better coordination in the countries affected by cholera are part