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04.04.06 : Les Tchèques remontés contre les crues

par Alexis ROSENZWEIG
Prague de notre correspondant, mardi 04 avril 2006
La République tchèque est, une nouvelle fois, l'un des pays d'Europe centrale les plus touchés par les crues du début de printemps. Rapide fonte des neiges et fortes précipitations font monter le niveau des cours d'eau depuis la semaine dernière, avec des conséquences telles que l'état d'urgence a été proclamé dans sept régions du pays. Idem en Hongrie, où le Premier ministre a décrété hier l'état d'urgence dans certaines zones, alors que le Danube en crue égalait son plus haut niveau historique, menaçant la Serbie et la Roumanie voisines.
En République tchèque, les crues ont fait au moins cinq victimes et des milliers de personnes ont été évacuées. Un cinquième de la ville d'Olomouc (sud-est de Prague) s'est retrouvé sous les eaux après l'effondrement d'une digue sur la Morava. Dans le nord-ouest de la Bohême, la situation est tendue, même si le niveau de l'Elbe pourrait baisser à partir d'aujourd'hui. Hier, il montait encore d'un centimètre par heure et paralysait la ville d'Usti nad Labem, menaçant, en aval, la ville allemande de Dresde. Par prévention, l'usine de Spolana, située en bordure de l'Elbe à une vingtaine de kilomètres de Prague, a été fermée. Réputé pour les matières toxiques qu'il renferme, ce site fait partie des "fardeaux écologiques" laissés par le régime communiste. Déjà menacée par les grandes crues de 2002, une partie de cet ancien fleuron de l'industrie chimique tchécoslovaque a récemment été confiée à un joint-venture franco-britannique, qui doit dépolluer le bâtiment.
En moins de dix ans, c'est la troisième fois que les Tchèques sont confrontés à de telles inondations. En 1997, l'est du pays avait été durement touché ; en 2002, la Vltava avait enseveli plusieurs quartiers de Prague ainsi que le métro sous ses eaux boueuses, faisant plus d'une dizaine de victimes et causant plus de 2,5 milliards d'euros de dégâts. Cette année, les autorités ont déployé dans la capitale un système de barrières amovibles pour contenir l'eau. "Dans beaucoup de localités, les niveaux des rivières ont atteint leur maximum, mais il reste de grandes quantités de neige dans les régions montagneuses, a prévenu le Premier ministre Jiri Paroubek. Si la fonte se poursuit, cela pourrait déclencher de nouvelles inondations." A deux mois des législatives, ce problème récurrent est devenu l'un des thèmes de la campagne. Autorités régionales et centrales s'accusent mutuellement de ne pas avoir tiré les leçons des précédentes catastrophes. Peu des villes touchées par les dernières inondations ont fait les travaux requis. Grâce à des fonds régionaux, nationaux et européens, les habitants de Terezin (nord-ouest de Prague) sont les rares à être protégés par un système de canalisations.
Le gouvernement a promis une aide de plus de 13 millions d'euros aux communes sinistrées. Et annoncé qu'une partie des dégâts serait réparée grâce à des fonds de l'UE, dont la République tchèque fait partie depuis le 1er mai 2004.

Source : Libération, 04.04.2006

03.04.06 : Chine : le coût de la protection du fleuve Songhua
1,2 milliards de dollars : c’est le coût que va représenter les travaux de protection du fleuve Songhua, au nord de la Chine, après sa contamination par du benzène à l’automne dernier. Le programme, qui va au-delà de la dépollution, comprend 200 projets pour réduire la pollution industrielle, améliorer le traitement des eaux usées, etc. Le Bureau d’Etat de la protection de l’environnement a aussi annoncé qu’il punirait plus sévèrement les responsables de pollution. L'épisode de 2005, dû à l’explosion d’une usine de chimie, a privé d’eau potable 3,8 millions de Chinois habitant le nord-est de la province de Jilin, et aussi 500.000 Russes qui se trouvent à la frontière sino-russe.
Source : le Journal de l'Environnement, 03.04.2006

02.04.06 : Large public hearing held at the Narmada dharna site today : eminent people come together to condemn the illegal height raise and support the fearless Andolankaris

India, March 2nd, 2006
As the indefinite fast continued into its 5th day, and the health of the three Andolankaris: Jamsingh Navgave, Medha Patkar, and Bhagwatibehen Patidar worsens, a large public hearing was organised at the dharna at Jantar Mantar to protest against the unjust and illegal displacement and lack of rehabilitation inflicted on the families affected by the Sardar Sarovar dam.
The Public Hearing was attended by over 500 people including those of the Narmada Valley who have now been here for 17 consecutive days. They were joined by people fighting against unjust displacement and brutal slum demolitions in cities like New Delhi and Mumbai. Experts, supporters, academicians and activists came in full force to take part in this Public Hearing. The panel consisted of eminent persons such as Arundhati Roy, CPI National Secretary D. Raja, noted socialist Surendra Mohan, Shri B.D. Sharma, human rights activist S.A.R. Geelani, actress Nandita Das, JNU Professor Jayati Ghosh, journalist Praful Bidwai, DU Professor Achin Vinaik, film-maker Sanjay Kak, writer Jai Sen, Nandini Sundar, CPI(ML) leader Kumudini Pati, Anupam Mishra, Ramaswamy Iyu, Kamal Mitra Chenoy, Prashant Bushan, S.P. Shukla, Kavita Shrivastava, Prabhash Joshi, Anil Chandhary, Bharat Ghandhi, Rajni Tilak, Retd. Jst. Rajindra Sachar, Prem Kishen Sharma, Prabhir Purakayastha from the CPI(M), and many others.
Shri D. Raja, whose party has extended support to the UPA government, clearly stated that the CPI supported the government based on its promises in the Common Minimum Program (CPM), which clearly state that eviction and displacement will not be done. He has promised to talk to the Prime Minister immediately.
The testimonials of the people exposed the injustices constantly perpetrated on the families affected by Sardar Sarovar, detailing the violations in the current clearance to raise the dam height, NBA^Òs struggle for the past 20 years. What cannot be denied is the clear message delivered people that we will not sit quiet as democracy and peoples^Ò rights are trampled on.
Speakers, including displaced people from the Narmada Valley, raised the following issues: In Maharashtra, contrary to state government claims, over 3000 families have yet to be rehabilitated, according to the report of the monitoring & evaluation body appointed by the state of Maharashtra. The M.P. government has not distributed even one inch of land to those who are entitled to it. Instead, illegal cash compensation is being rampantly distributed, which is a violation of Supreme Court orders. The Gujarat affected families face a host of problems at the resettlement sites, with serious violations such as bad land allotted, land not allotted to many eligible families, and lack of proper amenities at the sites. All in all, the situation of rehabilitation in all three states is appalling, with 35,000 families affected under 122 metres who have not been rehabilitated ! Hence the construction of the dam should be stopped right away and people rehabilitated.
Today marks the 17th day of the indefinite dharna to protest against the illegal decision to raise the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam to 121.92 metres in complete violation of the Narmada Tribunal Award and Supreme Court judgments, and of the constitutionally-guaranteed fundamental rights of the people. Each step of further construction of the dam is in direct violation threatens the lives and livelihoods of thousands of families.

Dipti Bhatnagar Clifton Rozario Kamla Yadav
Bawa Mahariya Pinjaribai Pavra Yogini Khanolkar
Kailash Awasya Ashish Mandloi

Contact :
62, Mahatma Gandhi Road,
Badwani,
Madhya Pradesh - 451551
Tel: 07290-222464
Email: badwani[at]narmada.org

Source : www.narmada.org

More information on Narmada River :
Save the Narmada  : http://www.narmada.org
General information : http://www.rightlivelihood.org/recip/narmada.htm
http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/0/9e3354ac109cdba880256775004e6746?Opendocument


30.03.06 : Ost Europa versinkt im Hochwasser
Dresden bereitet Evakuierungen vor
Keine Entwarnung in Sicht: Noch immer steigen die Pegel der Elbe; die Bürger von Dresden werden bereits auf Evakuierungen vorbereitet. Für das Wochenende sind weitere heftige Niederschläge vorhergesagt.
Dresden/Schöna/Pirna - Zumindest das Tempo der steigenden Wassermassen hat sich verlangsamt. In Dresden verharrte der Wasserstand heute früh zunächst bei 6,89 Metern, erklärte eine Sprecherin der Stadt. Kritisch wird die Lage in der Regel ab einem Pegel von 7 Metern - dann gilt Alarmstufe 4. Mit einer möglichen Evakuierung von Häusern in elbnahen Stadtteilen rechnen die Behörden nicht vor Morgen. Dafür müsse ein Pegelstand von 7,50 Metern erreicht werden, hieß es.
Anders die Situation in Schöna: Hier verzeichnete der Katastrophenschutz einen Wasserstand von 7,85 Metern. Für heute Abend wird an dieser Messstation mit einem Höchststand zwischen 8,30 bis 8,50 Metern gerechnet.
Neben dem Tauwetter ließen ergiebige Schauer in die Morgenstunden die Flüsse zusätzlich anschwellen, meldete der Wetterdienst Meteomedia. Zwischen Mitternacht und 6 Uhr fielen in Dresden 8,3 Liter, in Pirna 7,9 Liter Regen pro Quadratmeter. Und es ist kein Ende abzusehen: Ab morgen Mittag rechnen die Meteorologen mit erneuten Niederschlägen.
In Pirna und Dresden sollen ab heute die ersten Gebäude in flussnahen Gebieten geräumt werden. Zunächst herrschte aber noch die mittelstarke Alarmstufe drei, wie ein Sprecher des Lagezentrums der Polizei auf Anfrage mitteilte.
In Bad Schandau mussten in der Nacht rund 150 Bewohner ihre Häuser verlassen. Sie wurden bei Bekannten und in der Stadthalle in Sebnitz untergebracht, sagte eine Sprecherin der Einsatzleitung heute. Die Evakuierung der Häuser erfolgte, nachdem in großen Teilen des Stadtkerns der Strom abgeschaltet worden war.

Katastrophenalarm in Tschechien, Erdrutsche in der Schweiz
Im Osten Europas führen wegen Regenfällen und Schneeschmelze neben Elbe und Donau auch Moldau und March Hochwasser. Angesichts der starken Überschwemmungsgefahr haben die tschechischen Behörden gestern Abend in der Region Südböhmen Katastrophenalarm ausgerufen. Betroffen waren die Bezirke Tabor und Jindrichuv Hradec.
Der Fluss Luznice, der ohnehin schon Hochwasser führe, werde in den kommenden Stunden vermutlich noch um einige Dutzend Zentimeter ansteigen, sagte der Chef des regionalen Sicherheitsrates. In der südlichen Region Mähren wurde Katastrophenalarm ausgerufen. Mehrere tausend Menschen wurden dort evakuiert.
Im Schweizer Kanton Solothurn lösten heftige Niederschläge zwei Erdrutsche aus. Über das ganze Kantonsgebiet verteilt seien Keller überschwemmt worden. Zudem führe die Emme Hochwasser.

Bundesumweltminister warnt vor Elbausbau
Bundesumweltminister Sigmar Gabriel hat im Hinblick auf das erneute Hochwasser an Elbe, Donau und Main vor einem weiteren Ausbau der Elbe gewarnt. Im ZDF-"Morgenmagazin" warnte der SPD-Politiker heute davor, wirtschaftliche Interessen gegen den Hochwasserschutz auszuspielen. "Vorbeugen ist besser, als Schlamm auszubaggern", sagte Gabriel. Wenn das Gedächtnis ein bisschen nachlasse, setzten sich wirtschaftliche Interessen letztlich gegen die Hausbesitzer durch, kritisierte er.
ala/dpa/AP/AFP
Source : Der Spiegel, 31.03.2006

30.03.06 : l'Europe de l'Est sous les eaux
A Pirna, dans l'est de l'Allemagne. L'état d'alerte a été décrété dans la Saxe en raison de la crue de l'Elbe. Certains habitants ont dû être évacués, comme à Pirna, à 20 kilomètres de la frontière tchèque. Intempéries: état d'alerte décrété en raison de la crue de l'Elbe. A Bad Schandau, un millier d'habitants ont quitté leur maison dès mercredi soir. L'électricité a été coupée à certains endroits, par mesure de sécurité.
A la frontière germano-tchèque, le niveau de l'Elbe a franchi dans la nuit la barre des sept mètres, tandis que dans la principale ville de la région, Dresde, il a atteint 6,45 mètres - contre 2 m seulement en temps normal. La Saxe a connu en 2002 de terribles inondations, le niveau de l'Elbe dépassant à certains endroits les 12 mètres. A l'époque, une partie de la vieille ville de Dresde et ses trésors architecturaux baroques avaient été engloutis sous les eaux.
La région autour de Passau, en Bavière, est menacée par des inondations en raison de la crue du Danube.
La République tchèque connaît également des crues importantes provoquées par un temps pluvieux et un brusque redoux qui a suivi un hiver très enneigé. Les autorités locales ont décrété l'état d'urgence en Moravie où des milliers de personnes ont été évacuées en raison des inondations liées à la crue de la rivière Dyje, dont le débit est trente fois supérieur à la normale.
L'alerte de niveau 3, la plus élevée, a été déclarée dans 78 localités du pays jeudi matin, alors que les eaux de l'Elbe, la Vltava, la Morava et d'autres rivières du pays ne cessaient de monter. A Prague, où le souvenir des terribles inondations de 2002 hante encore les mémoires, la municipalité a fait monter des barrières mobiles pour tenter de juguler la montée de la Vltava dont les eaux ont déjà envahi les quais.
La Slovaquie et le sud de la Pologne sont également en état d'alerte à cause de la fonte rapide des neiges liée au redoux.
source : Libération.fr, 30.03.06


30.03.06 : East Europe under waters
Pirna, East Germany. The alarm was given because of the Elbe river swelling. Some of the people had to be evacuated, like in Pirna, 20 km far from the Czech border. In Bad Schandau, a thousand inhabitants left their home as of Wednesday evening. Electricity was cut off, as a security measure.
At the Germano-Czech border, the Elbe level passed the height of 7 meters during the night, while in Dresde, main city of the region, it reached 6.45 meters (during the normal period, it is only 2 m high). The Saxe knew in 2002 terrible floods, the Elbe level being over 12 m in some places. At that time, a part of the old town of Dresde and its architectural baroque treasures had been submerged by waters.
The region around Passau, in Bavaria, is also threatened by floods due to Danube river rising.
The Czech Republic is also going through important floods caused by a rainy weather and an abrupt rise in temperature that followed a quite snow-covered winter. Local authorities decreeted the emergency state in Moravia, where thousands of people were evacuated, because of floods linked to the Dyje river rising. The discharge of this river is indeed 30 times higher than normally.
The 3rd level alarm, the highest one, was decreeted in 78 communes of the country Thursday morning, while the Elbe, the Vltava, the Morava rivers and other rivers of the country were still rising. In Prague, where the souvenir of the floods of 2002 still haunts the memories, the municipalities made mobile barriers be settled, in order to try to control the Vltava's rising, whose waters already invaded the quays.
Slovakia and South Poland are also in state of alert because of the quick thaw linked to the rise of temperatures.
Source : Libération.fr, 30.03.06, translation : ERN

28.03.06 : Washington State to Revise Water Quality Standards
Olympia, WASHINGTON, March 28, 2006 (ENS)
The Washington state Department of Ecology plans to revise a portion of the water quality standards it submitted to the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval in 2003.
This decision, announced Thursday, follows an EPA ruling that Ecology's 2003 standards did not sufficiently protect salmon and bull trout to satisfy the requirements of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) and the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).
The upcoming revision by Ecology will redesignate a number of stream and reach segments to more stringent temperature and dissolved oxygen standards.
"We are committed to developing standards that are protective of fish, especially those species that are threatened or endangered," said Jay Manning, Ecology director. "We have worked closely with EPA and will soon propose revised rules that make habitat designations more accurate."
One change in the 2003 standards is a shift to a system that identifies the beneficial uses such as fish habitat, drinking water or recreation of each water body, and the standards needed to protect those uses.
Ecology had planned to enact the standards in a two-step process, by first adopting the standards needed for different uses, and then spending the following two to three years going basin-by-basin examining whether the fisheries uses were as accurate as possible.
The EPA concluded that the standards failed to accurately designate fish habitat in a number of rivers and streams. Now, Ecology intends to propose rules to fix these problems. The formal rulemaking process will begin in early April.
The rule revisions will affect major rivers that drain into Puget Sound, such as the Nooksack, Skagit, Stillaguamish, Snohomish, Green, Puyallup and Nisqually Rivers. These rivers include important spawning, rearing and migration habitat for ESA threatened species of Chinook salmon and bull trout.
Many activities contribute to water temperature problems. Over the last century, trees that provide shade along river banks have been removed due to forestry and agricultural practices and urban development. Rivers have been altered by dams to store water and levees for flood control.
Industrial and municipal discharges can warm a stream. Although some programs are already in place to restore temperatures and meet existing standards, the more protective water quality standards will help focus needed improvement.
In addition to concerns about the temperature standards, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have expressed concerns that even the dissolved oxygen standards that apply to the revised uses may not be protective enough. Ecology will engage in further study in coordination with federal fish agencies and EPA to determine the most appropriate standards for dissolved oxygen to protect salmon during spawning and egg and fry development. Ecology will share the results with the public in a series of technical workshops.
If results of the study and workshops indicate that the dissolved oxygen criteria should be corrected, Ecology will begin a follow-up rule-making process by summer 2008.
"We believe Washington did a fine job in revising the majority of their standards in 2003, and we anticipate moving these through our approval process, including ESA and tribal consultations," said Michael Bogert, administrator for EPA's Region 10. "Today's partial disapproval is narrowly targeted to specific water bodies where additional work is needed to ensure the protection of known salmon and bull trout populations."
Source : ENS, 28.03.2006

23.03.06 : NBA dharna continues on the seventh day in front of Water Resources Ministry
Minister says he sticks by his statements, his secretary says he is helpless !

New Dehli, India, March 23th, 2006
For the 7th consecutive day and night, the families affected by the Sardar
Sarovar Project have been sitting on indefinite dharna (sit-in) outside
the Ministry of Water Resources in New Delhi. Over 300 people are now
sitting in front of the Ministry, all day and all night, to demand that
the dam construction be halted immediately until full rehabilitation is
completed.
People from organizations and movements in Delhi and from around the world
are here at the dharna to provide support to the andolankaris who are
sitting in front of the Ministry. Several eminent persons such as Jst
Rajinder Sachar, noted journalist Kuldip Nayyar, Advocate Sanjay Parikh,
former Scheduled Tribes Commissioner Shri B.D. Sharma, socialist leader
and ex-MP Shri Surendra Mohanji, noted novelist Shri Kamleshwar, ex-MP and
President of the All India Democratic Women's Association Mrs Suhasini
Ali, noted Hindi journalist Jitendra Kumar, veteran Gandhian Shri
Subbarao, and noted Members of Parliament (MPs) Shri Abani Roy, Shri Manoj
Bhattacharjee, Shri Baburao, Shri Vinod Kumar and others have stopped by
the dharna to pledge their support. Mrs Brinda Karat and Mrs Suhassini Ali
from the CPI(M) and members of the All India Democratic Women's
Association also stopped by to show their support.
Today, the people of the Valley commemorated Shaheed Diwas, Martyr's Day,
the 75th death anniversary of revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and
Rajguru. These young freedom fighters were hanged by the British regime
for their radical anti-imperialist. The people of the Valley were joined
by a street theatre group called Nishant who put up street plays about the
trio's times and tribulations.
Shri Baburao, an MP from Andhra Pradesh and a member of the Communist
Party of India (Marxist) raised a question about the Sardar Sarovar
Project during the Zero Hour of Parliament 2 days ago. An excerpt from his
strong statement is below:
"In view of the enormity of the human misery involved, it is time that the
Hon'ble Prime Minister himself to lead a Parliamentary Delegation to the
project site to assess the situation and halt construction pending the
visit and the appropriate follow up. Other points apart, first and fore
most is that the grievances and genuine apprehensions of thousands of
families have to be attended and resolved. I urge the Hon'ble Prime
Minister to respond generously to mitigate this human misery."

Another question was also raised in the Parliament demanding answers from
the government on the issue of rehabilitation. We demand that the
government provide quick and satisfactory answers to these pertinent
questions BEFORE raising the height any further.
Yesterday, a delegation met with the Water Resources Minister. Prof. Soz
stated that he stands by his statements that rehabilitation has not been
done and that the clearance was premature. He said that he has sent
official communication to Gujarat is this regard, but is yet to receive a
response. However, his Secretary Shri Harinarayan who gave the clearance
as the Chairman of the Narmada Control Authority stated that he was
helpless. He said that even though the NCA opposes the cash compensation
being distributed in Madhya Pradesh, it has been accepted by the Grievance
Redressal Authority and by the Rehabilitation Sub-Group of the NCA. It
must be noted that this is the same GRA who has always interpreted the
Narmada Award to benefit the M.P. government, including his negative
position on the issue of both major sons and temporary displacement, both
of which were struck down by the Supreme Court in its verdict last year.
On March 20th, the adivasi (tribal) families met the Chairman of the
National Commission on Scheduled Tribes, who had visited the Valley in
April last year. At that time, the Chairman had held large meetings in the
submergence areas of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra and in the
resettlement sites of Gujarat. Everywhere the message that rang loud and
clear was that rehabilitation had not been done and was ripe with
violations. The Chairman informed us that his report of last year's visit
will be presented to the President of India in April. He was surprised
that the NCA had given clearance to raise the dam height when it was a
clear violation of the Supreme Court verdicts. We urge the Chairman to
issue a statement stating the non-compliance and lack of rehabilitation
that he saw in the Valley.
Additionally, in the evening on 21st of March, a meeting was held with
Members of Parliament who are concerned and sensitive to the issue. The
MPs pledged their support to the movement and promised to help in all
possible ways,
At present, the dharna continues in front of the Ministry. The men and
women of the Valley are determined to fight for their rights till the end.
PLEASE JOIN US. ALSO PLEASE WRITE to the Water Resources Minister, Prof
Saifuddin Soz and the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh (details below).

Ashish Mandloi, Sitaram Patidar, Pinjaribai, Mohan Patidar, Madansingh
Rukhdusingh, Dipti Bhatnagar, Chetan Salve, Clifton Rozario, Medha Patkar

Contacts :
Prof Saifuddin Soz
Minister of Water Resources
Shramshakti Bhavan, Rafi Marg, New Delhi
Ph: 011-23714200
Fax: 011-23710804
Residential phone and fax: 011- 23782032

Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister's Office, South Block, New Delhi
Ph: 011- 23016857, 23012312
Fax: 011- 23019545, 23016857
Res: 011- 23015603

Contact numbers at dharna site :
Medha- 09869446684
Dipti- 09879536407
Pushparaj- 09312754460

Source : Narmada Andolan, 23.03.06

22.03.06 : Global Warming Will Make Water Crisis Intolerable
Mexico City, MEXICO, March 22, 2006 (ENS)
An international meeting on the future of the world's fresh water resources is marking World Water Day today with a renewed effort to ensure that more clean drinking water reaches the 1.1 billion people who do not have access to safe water, but the crisis is complicated by the impacts of a warming climate, an world renowned atmospheric chemist told delegates.
In addition to drinking water scarcity, about 2.6 billion people, four out of every 10, lack access to sanitation. This situation is a humanitarian crisis - dealing with it must move to the top of the global agenda say ministers and water experts meeting here for the 4th World Water Forum.
In his keynote speech to the Forum Tuesday, Nobel Prize Winner in chemistry Mario Molina warned that climate change and inappropriate water management might intensify global warming by the end of this century, creating "an intolerable risk."

Chemist Mario Molina told delegates that the complex relationships in the water cycle are still poorly understood. He predicted that the water cycle will intensify, causing extreme weather events such as hurricanes and increasing the frequency and severity of droughts and floods.
If the current global warming trend is maintained, the temperature of the planet will rise eight degrees Celsius during this century, "an increase of historic proportions," said Molina, who shared the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on the destruction of the ozone layer by chlorofluorocarbons.
Molina said intensifying rains and droughts are related to climate change and to the melting of glaciers. Climate change has exacerbated flooding and water scarcity, he said.
The year 2005 "was the warmest in the last thousand years," Molina pointed out, showing charts of "paleo-climate data," extracted from drops of water encapsulated within glaciers and information from the outer rings of trees in ancient forests.

Director-General of UNESCO Koïchiro Matsuura says the theme of Water and Culture is of particular significance for UNESCO, which is leading the activities surrounding this year's World Water Day.
"To achieve sustainable solutions that contribute to equity, peace and development, water management and governance need to take proper account of cultural and biological diversity," Matsuura said. "For this reason, UNESCO believes that the cultural dimension of water deserves further exploration so that its many ramifications may become better understood."
Modern approaches to water resource management have tended to be overwhelmingly technology-driven in their attempt to solve the world's urgent water problems, he said.
Water-related extreme events, such as floods and droughts, kill more people than any other natural disaster, and water-borne diseases continue to cause the death of thousands of children every day.
Because of its growth and development, the human population increasingly alters the quality and distribution of water. "But the amount of fresh water on Earth, to be shared among all forms of life, remains the same," said Matsuura. "This situation imposes on humankind a responsibility to develop ethically sound systems of water governance."
But, he said, technology alone will not lead us to viable solutions.

Koïchiro Matsuura is Director-General of the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
"Traditional knowledge alerts us to the fact that water is not merely a commodity," Matsuura said. "Since the dawn of humanity, water has inspired us, giving life spiritually, materially, intellectually and emotionally. Sharing and applying the rich contents of our knowledge systems, including those of traditional and indigenous societies, as well as lessons learned from our historical interactions with water, may greatly contribute to finding solutions for today's water challenges."
"The nexus between culture and nature is the avenue for understanding resilience, creativity and adaptability in both social and ecological systems. In this perspective, sustainable water use and, hence, a sustainable future depend on the harmonious relationship between water and culture," the UNESCO director-general said.
"Consequently," he said, "it is vital that water management and governance take cultural traditions, indigenous practices and societal values into serious account."
The global water crisis is growing, UNESCO said in a statement to mark World Water Day. The water crisis threatens the security, stability and sustainability of the planet and consequently, humanity itself. This is why the period from 2005 to 2015 has been declared the International Decade for Action Water for Life.
Reiterating that lack of access to water is a major source of death and disease in the world, World Water Council President Loïc Fauchon announced the launch of the Council's Water for Schools initiative, which seeks to provide access to water in 1,000 schools in 10 countries.

Water, the essential liquid of life
During the Forum's plenary session on Tuesday, the director of the National Water Commission for Mexico Cristóbal Jaime announced an agreement by which an office of the World Meteorological Organization will be established in Mexico.
Jaime reiterated an "urgent call" to the UN Secretary General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation to reduce by half the average number of deaths associated to water related disasters that will take place between now and the year 2015, as compared to the figures recorded for the decade from 1991-2000.
Jaime said emergency aid funds should be established for preventive measures against disasters. "The international community might approve financing early warning systems and educational programs for the most vulnerable countries," he suggested.
The representatives of Asian countries Tuesday announced the creation of the Asia Pacific Water Forum in a region particularly hard hit by disasters. A recent UNESCAP study showed that the Asian and Pacific region accounted for 91 per cent of the world's total deaths due to natural disaster. The average annual economic damage has increased from US$10.6 billion over the past five decades to US$29 billion over the past 15 years.
Ryutaro Hashimoto, former Prime Minister of Japan and president of the Japan Water Forum, and chair of the UN Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, supported the agreement creating the Asia Pacific Water Forum. He reminded the audience that 60 percent of the world population lives in the Asia Pacific region and explored how to obtain financing for local water projects in his keynote address.

Kim Huk Su is executive secretary for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
Kim Huk Su, executive secretary for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), said that there are two major priorities for the new regional forum - the need for tools to support Integrated Water Resource Management, and "radically" more effective risk management and risk prevention.
Asia and the Pacific is also the world's most disaster-prone region. A recent UNESCAP study showed that the region accounted for 91 percent of the world's total deaths due to natural disaster. The average annual economic damage has increased from US$10.6 billion over the past five decades to US$29 billion over the past 15 years.
Kim said that although the Asia-Pacific region has the highest economic growth rates in the world, it also has the lowest per-capita fresh water availability, and the highest number of people living below the poverty line.
North America has had its share of water disasters. At the plenary conference Tuesday on Risk Management, Carl Strock, chief of engineers of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), told delegates that a critical report on the performance of the government concerning Hurricane Katrina recognized that communication among different levels of government, logistics to deliver aid, and local warning systems did not perform as expected.

Carl Strock, chief of engineers of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers explained some of the failures that worsened the effects of Hurricane Katrina.
"Disasters are now globalized phenomena," said Strock, "that require intervention from everyone."
Tropical storms in 2006 are expected to be even stronger than in 2005, the year hurricane Katrina and storm Stan wreaked havoc on the Mesoamerican region, said Max Campo, executive secretary of the Central American Regional Committee for Water Resources during a session of the IUCN-World Conservation Union at the Forum.
Campos emphasized that, "We must integrate existing knowledge and technology in a systematic way so that citizens, with or without internet access, can receive information on time so that people and their families can escape from catastrophic events."
The African continent has to date developed only 3.8 percent of its water resources for supply, irrigation and electrical power, according to the Regional Document on Africa, "Water Resources Development in Africa: Challenges Response and Prospective," prepared for discussion at the Forum.
Africa's situation implies the need for hefty investment in various areas, and this investment must go hand in hand with changes in regional and national policy and capability, the document states.
Investment in water will spur progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals. It will mitigate the scourge of malnutrition, food scarcity, poverty and disease that has led African nations to be counted among the poorest of the world, said the Regional Document.
Many developing countries are looking to the World Bank for water investments, and the bank is interested in funding water-related needs.
New investments in water management and development are essential for growth in developing countries, and they need to be sustainable - achieving the right balance between water security, and social and environmental protection - said a new World Bank report, Water for Growth and Development, presented at the Forum.
"Simply constructing new infrastructure projects is not enough on its own," said Kathy Sierra, World Bank Vice President for Infrastructure. "It is essential to manage and govern water resources effectively. Such water investments will lead to responsible growth, embracing both environmental sustainability and social development."
Public financing for basic water security has been and will remain essential, but the scale of needed investments cannot be provided by public funds alone so the private sector will have an important complementary role to play, said the World Bank report. "All investment, whether public or private, should be complemented by robust regulatory and monitoring frameworks, designed with the active participation of water users and civil society."
But privatization of water is just what many people fear, because the essential liquid could be priced out of their reach. Some 10,000 people marched in the streets of Mexico City on Saturday, demanding that water services not be privatized.
Source : ENS, 22.03.2006

 

22.03.06 : Oroville Dam Agreement Benefits Feather River, Fish, Local Community
Oroville, California - USA, March 22, 2006 (ENS)
Salmon and steelhead of the Feather River, along with the many people who fish and boat there, will benefit from an agreement covering operations of the Oroville hydroelectric project, that was signed Tuesday in Oroville. The agreement forms the basis of a new 50 year operating license for the project.
The agreement is the result of two years of negotiations among over 40 parties including American Rivers, federal and state agencies, local governments, water providers and Native American tribes. It will now be submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for approval.
At 770 feet high, Oroville Dam is the tallest in the United States. It is the main water storage facility for California's State Water Project, which supplies water to some 23 million municipal and agricultural customers from San Diego to Redding.
Owned by the state and operated by the Department of Water Resources (DWR), the project has a electricity generating capacity of 750MW.
The agreement will remedy some of the impacts caused by the project's operations.
To restore salmon and steelhead habitat, downstream of the dam, DWR will improve flows and water temperatures, add spawning gravels and large woody debris, and restore floodplain and side-channel habitat.
The DWR will add river access points and campsites to create a 15 mile long Feather River bluewater trail. A new park with trails, picnic areas, an interpretive center and boat launching areas will be constructed. DWR will also fund a study to determine the feasibility of constructing whitewater recreation facilities in Oroville.
Community benefits include $50 million that DWR will allocate to river-related projects to stimulate economic activity in the area and reconnect the community with the river.
To mitigate for the loss of upstream spawning habitat, DWR and Pacific Gas & Electric, which operates dams upstream on the Feather and in other river basins, will work with agencies and other stakeholders to evaluate fish passage opportunities in the Feather and surrounding river basins and implement the most promising project.
"For years the Oroville project has harmed salmon and steelhead habitat and has limited opportunities for fishing, boating and other recreation," said Steve Rothert of American Rivers. "This agreement restores some balance to the river, and includes many benefits for clean water, fish and wildlife and local communities."
"We have a responsibility to fix some of the damage dams cause to our rivers," Rothert said. "It is simple common sense to bring these old dams up to date with today's science, technology, and laws. This agreement for Oroville Dam makes both environmental and economic sense."
Source : ENS, 22.03.2006


18.03.06 Affected families are sitting on indefinite dharna outside the water resources Ministry in Dehli !

The politics behind sardar sarovar exposed !
No guarantee of electricity or irrigation, even as thousands of adivasis and farmers of over 200 villages are being submerged !

India, March 18, 2006
Since yesterday, March 17, over 120 representatives from the Valley are
sitting on dharna in front of the Ministry of Water Resources on Rafi
Marg. We met the Water Resources Minister yesterday and he has informed us
that he indeed thinks the decision to clear the raising of the height of
the Sardar Sarovar Dam is premature. We are going to continue to sit on
indefinite dharna until this latest construction of the dam is stopped and
the decision is reviewed.
When the decision to raise the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam was taken,
not only were the Gram Sabhas of the various submergence villages ignored,
but also the Cabinet and the Vidhan Sabha were not even informed of the
decision. This truth has now been uncovered in Maharashtra. Bureaucrats
and officials, on the basis of their false reports and secretive
procedures, without consulting the concerned ministers, have played foul
politics to illegally submerge villages where thousands of people are yet
to be resettled.
In January 2004, the Maharashtra government decided that any further
decision to raise the height of the dam would be taken by the State
Cabinet. When we spoke to Shri Patangrao Kadam, Rehabilitation Minister
and other Ministers regarding the 8th March 2006 clearance by the NCA to
raise the dam height to 121.92 metres, we were told that there was no
clearance by the Cabinet and that this decision to raise the dam height
would be opposed. The Minister also said that the clearance for
construction would only be given after all affected families were
rehabilitated. However, the Rehabilitation Secretary of Maharashtra stated
that the clearance from the Cabinet had already been given! A special
meeting has been called on the 20th of March in the Mantralaya in Mumbai.
The truth of the matter will be known then.
Besides Maharashtra, even Madhya Pradesh, despite the criticism it faces
for having illegally and inhumanly submerged Harsud affected by the
upstream Narmada Sagar Project, is quite prepared to repeat hundreds of
Harsuds by submerging the thickly populated villages in the Sardar Sarovar
submergence area.
The BJP government of Madhya Pradesh has decided to go hand-in-hand with
the Gujarat government’s gross violation. In fact, two months ago, Shivraj
Chauhan, Chief Minister of M.P., made a statement that M.P. would
rehabilitate 14,000 families within 15 days! But the only thing M.P. did
in those 15 days were to send people ex-parte (one-sided) notices of
uncultivable land. The uncultivability of these lands is proved from
M.P.’s own affidavit dated 11.4.2000 before the Supreme Court. In fact,
some of the lands offered to families as alternative agricultural land,
fall in the submergence area of the Maheshwar dam!
While in Maharashtra there remain more than 1000 families who are yet to
be rehabilitated and another 2000 families who are yet to be officially
declared but are eligible. The ongoing dam construction is going to not
only submerge families in Maharashtra but also tens of thousands of
families in M.P. The Central government should take a truthful stand
asking the state governments to refrain from violating the Narmada Award
and Supreme Court verdicts which require complete rehabilitation before
submergence. The Central government should, at once, stop the ongoing
construction and rehabilitate families.

Bawa Mahariya, Raiji Deva, Kamla Yadav, Madan Rukhdiya, Norji Padvi,
Yogini Khanolkar, Ashish Mandloi, Pema Bapu, Dipti Bhatnagar, Bhana, Medha
Patkar

Contacts :
Narmada Bachao Andolan
- C/o B-13 Shivam Flats, Ellora Park, Baroda, Gujarat 390023. Ph:
0265-2282232 - 62 M.G. Marg, Badwani, Madhya Pradesh 451551. Ph:
07290-222464
- Maitri Niwas, Tembewadi, Dhadgaon, dist Nandurbar, Maharashtra. Ph:
02595-220620

 

17.03.06 : World Water Forum Promises New Wave of Action
Mexico City, MEXICO, March 17, 2006 (ENS)
Urgent actions are needed to guarantee the present and future supply of water for all humanity, Mexican President Vicente Fox said Thursday, welcoming some 11,000 participants from 120 nations to the 4th World Water Forum. Water usage increased six-fold during the 20th century, twice the rate of population growth.
"Humanity depends on a deep change of attitude that encourages a new culture based on shared responsibility for the care and distribution of this vital liquid with fairness," the President said.
Delegates gathered at the Banamex Convention Center to discuss and adopt public policies for the management of fresh water. Held once every three years, the Forum is an initiative of the World Water Council, which aims to raise awareness of water issues worldwide through seven days of forums, panels, and networking.

President of Mexico Vincente Fox welcomes some 11,000 delegates to the opening of the 4th World Water Forum.
Mexicans share with all the nations of the world the challenge of restoring the worldwide water balance, President Fox said. "We know that unique solutions do not exist that can be applied indiscriminately to the international problem of the water. Today the great solutions take place in the local scope," he said, emphasizing the conference theme, Local Actions for a Global Challenge.
Within that overarching theme, Forum participants will address the issues through five framework themes - water for growth and development, implementing integrated water resources management, water supply and sanitation for all, water management for food and the environment, and risk management.
A ministerial conference to be held later in the week has attracted the participation of 121 ministers, conference organizers said. The Water Fair, and the World Water Expo will also take place during the week-long event.
"For Mexico, this experience will facilitate progress in the formulation of appropriate public policy and in the adoption of concrete solutions that have proven to be successful in other latitudes," said Cristóbal Jaime Jáquez, Director General for the National Water Commission of Mexico.
At a supper for dignitaries at the Palace of the Castle of Chapultepec Thursday night, President Fox told his guests, "Mexico recognizes, along with all you, the urgency to engage in a dialog and to make right agreements on the present and the future supply of water."
"We have decided to center the attention of the world on battles of local significance, convinced that thanks to them we have approached the objectives and commitments of the Millenium," President Fox said.
"Humanity cannot permit one of every five inhabitants on Earth to lack fresh water, clean and sufficient," President Fox told his guests, who included Moroccan Prime Minister Driss Jettou, Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan; Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, heir apparent to the Dutch throne; and President of the World Water Council Loïc Fauchon.
In his opening address to the Forum earlier in the day, Fauchon said, "Water, which has brought us together here, is a topic of major subject of concern, a subject of worry, and sometimes even a subject of discord."
"Water is endangered, and with it, so are we," said Fauchon. "For the situation made for water in the world is unacceptable."
"Unacceptable is the lack of water or its poor quality which, last year, caused 10 times more deaths than all the wars waged on the planet together."

Since March 2005, Loïc Fauchon of France has presided over the World Water Council based in Marseille.
"Unacceptable are the hundreds of millions of women and children who, each morning, must walk many hours in search of water that is too scarce, distant or contaminated," he said, calling for old animosities to be laid aside and everyone to join in securing sufficient supplies of water for all.
The World Health Organization/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme estimates indicate that 1.1 billion people still do not have access to an adequate supply of drinking water and some 2.6 billion do not have access to basic sanitation. These people are among the world's poorest, and over half of them live in China or India.
In addition, seven million people die of waterborne diseases every year.
Still, on a global scale the world has plenty of freshwater, although it is unevenly distributed, according to a United Nations World Water Development Report released last week in advance of the Forum.
A joint effort of 24 UN agencies and entities involved in water resources management, the report says it is governance systems that "determine who gets what water, when and how, and decide who has the right to water and related services."
Governance, as used in the report, means not only formal government bodies, but local authorities, the private sector and civil society. They make decisions on the full range of issues connected to water - health and food security, economic development, land use and the preservation of the natural ecosystems on which water resources depend.
Although there is plenty of water on Earth, "mismanagement, limited resources and environmental changes mean that almost one-fifth of the planet's population still lacks access to safe drinking water and 40 percent lack access to basic sanitation," the report states.

Ryutaro Hashimoto, chair of the newly established UN Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, said the world is experiencing a water crisis that demands immediate action, and that most of the Millennium Development Goals cannot be achieved without solving water problems.
The triennial report is the most comprehensive assessment to date of freshwater resources. Entitled "Water, a shared responsibility," this edition focuses on the importance of governance in managing the world's water resources and tackling poverty.
At the current rate of progress, regions such as sub-Saharan Africa will not meet the UN Millenium Development Goal (MDG) of halving, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water. The MDG target of halving, by 2015, the proportion of people without basic sanitation will not be met globally if present trends persist.
According to the report "mismanagement, corruption, lack of appropriate institutions, bureaucratic inertia and a shortage of new investments in building human capacity as well as physical infrastructure" are responsible for this situation.
In many places of the world, "a colossal 30 to 40 percent or more of water goes unaccounted for, through water leakages in pipes and canals and illegal connections," the report states.
Although there are no accurate figures, it is estimated that political corruption costs the water sector millions of dollars every year and undermines water services, especially to the poor. The report cites a survey in India for example, in which 41 percent of the customer respondents had made more than one small bribe in the past six months to falsify meter readings, 30 percent had made payments to expedite repair work, and 12 percent had made payments to expedite new water and sanitation connections.
"Good governance is essential for managing our increasingly stretched supplies of freshwater and indispensable for tackling poverty," says UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura. "There is no one blueprint for good governance, which is both complex and dynamic. But we know that it must include adequate institutions - nationally, regionally and locally, strong, effective legal frameworks and sufficient human and financial resources."
It also requires "essential freedoms, like the freedom of speech and the right to organize," says the report, which stresses that, "If citizens cannot access basic information on water quality and quantity, it seriously curtails their chances of halting environmentally unsound water projects or to hold relevant government agencies accountable."
"Water, a shared responsibility," will be formally presented by the UNESCO Director-General, on behalf of the United Nations, to the Fourth World Water Forum in Mexico City on March 22, World Water Day.

Torkil Jønch-Clausen accepts the King Hassan II Great World Water Prize from Moroccan Environment Ministery Mohamed Eyazghi.
Morocco's Minister of Environment Mohamed Eyazghi introduced the King Hassan II Great World Water Prize and announced that the international jury had chosen Torkil Jønch-Clausen of Denmark for his scientific accomplishments and support for international cooperation in the field of water. Jønch-Clausen is director for development and innovation of DHI Water & Environment, a Danish independent research and consultancy organization.
In his acceptance speech, Jønch-Clausen said his award is a result of cooperation between the Danish government, DHI-Water and Environment, and the Global Water Partnership. He announced that the US$100,000 in prize money would be used to fund women from developing countries to study water issues.
Created in 2000, the King Hassan II Great World Water Prize is an international award jointly established by the Government of Morocco and the World Water Council, in memory of his Majesty King Hassan II of Morocco's leadership and encouragement of cooperation and sound management of water resources.
At the closing ceremony of the Forum on March 22, the Kyoto World Water Grand Prize of US$45,000 will be awarded for the first time to an individual or organization that has carried out activities on the community level to address critical needs related to water.

Find out more at the World Water Council
Source : ENS, 17.03.2006

 

14.03.06 : A Chance for a Living Danube, Living Rivers and Floodplains in the Danube River Basin !

March, 14th: World Day against Dams and for Living Rivers
The Danube and its tributaries at the crossroad: On the way to a good ecological status by real implementation of the European Water Framework Directive or ongoing deterioration with new dams and reservoirs, canalizing, heavy dredging and cutting off floodplains?
The Danube Environmental Forum unites more than 170 environmental organizations in all countries of the Danube River Basin. The stocktaking for the Danube report to European Commission, the "Roof Report" on the Danube River Basin of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube (ICPDR) has has given clear evidence that hydromorphological alterations are the most serious problem of river ecology. Nevertheless a lot of new infrastructure plannings threaten to destroy or deteriorate remaining treasures of nature.
There is planning of new dams in the longest remaining free flowing stretch of the upper Danube in Germany, in the Austrian alpine region, at Drava, Sava and Mura river in Croatia and Slovenia, at Vrbas river in Bosnia and Herzegovina, only to mention some of the most important ones. We have the huge canalizing project of the Danube-Oder-Elbe-Canal in the Czech Republic affecting Austria and Slovakia. We face massive dregding and deepening in Danube stretches of Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. This is accompanied by planning new dams on other streams and rivers for hydropower, new dikes and reservoirs for technical flood protection.
The Danube Environmental Forum opposes these deteriorations of river and floodplain ecology. It is obliged to the aim of the European Water Framework Directive of improving water and river ecology to reach a good ecological status and to prevent deterioration. We accept the aim of improving transport, energy supply, climate protection and flood defence, but there are better sustainable solutions than destroying and deteriorating river and floodplain ecology. Before such new infrastructure measures alternatives should be thoroughly examined. Possibilities are for navigation improvement of logistics and railroad transport, for hydropower measures to save energy, energy efficiency and other less developed renewable energies with minor adverse ecological effects, for flood defence the re-use of former floodplains, restoring of rivers and oxbows and different forms of agricultural land use to hold back and retard water.
The Danube Environmental Forum is willing to contribute to the actual and ongoing process of implementation of the Water Framework Directive on the one hand to prevent deterioration and on the other hand to improve and restore river and floodplain ecology in the Danube River Basin. We express our solidarity with the action in Banja Luka on March, 14th, to protect Vrbas river!

For further information on March, 14th and the Danube WFD Roof Report :
European Rivers Network: http://www.rivernet.org/general/movement/14mars.htm
International Rivers Network: http://www.irn/dayofaction
ICPDR and Danube Basin Analysis (WFD Roof Report 2004) http://www.icpdr.org/pls/danubis/danubis_db.dyn_navigator.show

For information and information exchange on Danube River Basin hydromorphology and the Water Framework Directive:
Danube Environmental Forum Water Policy Team
Co-ordinator WG Hydromorphology
Gerhard Nagl, M.A.
Tel. ++49-991-3831609
gerhard.nagl@donaufluss.de


Notes to Editors
What is DEF ? (The Danube Environmental Forum):
DEF is a Danube River Basin-wide platform of non-governmental, non-profit and politically independent environmental organisations. DEF fulfils its mission through encouraging cooperation among governmental and non-governmental organisations in the Danube River region, supporting the exchange of information, and promoting public participation in environmental decision-making.
Currently 174 NGOs from 13 countries (Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine) constitute the membership of DEF. The DEF Secretariat is located in Bratislava, Slovakia, and is hosted by DAPHNE - Institute of Applied Ecology. DEF has its National Focal Points in 13 states and is open to new members from all Danube countries working towards environmental protection in water-related issues.
A crucial goal for DEF is to create a Danube River Basin-wide platform of non-governmental organisations that have a common understanding in, and approach to, environmental protection of the Danube River. The core of DEF's effort is to reinforce information exchange and cooperation among national and international institutions, the NGO community and the public sector leading to sustainable development of Danube River Basin.
DEF aims to develop and reinforce partnerships between governmental and non-governmental organizations, particularly with regards to the implementation of EU WFD. DEF members utilise the skills and experiences developed after many years of practice in public participation activities to support the development of an effective Public Participation (PP) Strategy for the Danube River Basin.

DEF Secretariat
Rytierska 2
841 10 Bratislava
Tel. +421 2 654 561 13
def@changenet.sk

14.03.06 : Eine Chance für eine Lebendige Donau, Lebendige Flüsse und Auen im Einzugsgebiet der Donau !

14. März: Welttag gegen Staudämme und für Lebendige Flüsse
Die Donau und ihre Nebenflüsse sind an einem Scheideweg: Auf dem Weg zu einem guten ökologischen Zustand durch wirkliche Umsetzung der europäischen Wasserrahmenrichtlinie oder weitere Verschlechterung durch neue Staudämme und Talsperren, Kanalisierung, umfangreiche Ausbaggerungen und Abtrennung der Flussauen?
Das Danube Environmental Forum (Donau-Umweltforum) vereint über 170 Umweltorganisationen im gesamten Donaueinzugsgebiet. Die Bestandsaufnahme für den Donaubericht, den „Dachbericht" der Internationalen Kommission für den Schutz der Donau (IKSD), hat eindeutig ergeben, dass die Veränderungen der Gewässerstruktur das größte Problem für die Ökologie des Flusses sind. Nichtsdestoweniger drohen zahlreiche Ausbauplanungen den verbliebenen Naturreichtum zu zerstören oder zu beeinträchtigen.
Es gibt Planungen für neue Staudämme auf dem längsten freifließenden Abschnitt der oberen Donau in Deutschland, in den österreichischen Alpen, an der Drava, Save und Mura in Kroatien und Slowenien, am Fluss Vrbas in Bosnien-Herzegowina, um nur einige der wichtigsten zu nennen. Wir haben das riesige Kanalbauprojekt Donau-Oder-Elbe-Kanal in Tschechien, das auch Österreich und die Slowakei betrifft. Wir sind mit massiven Ausbaggerungen und Vertiefungen auf Abschnitten der Donau in Deutschland, Österreich, Ungarn, Rumänien und Bulgarien konfrontiert. Das ist von weiteren Staudammplanungen an Bächen und Flüssen für die Wasserkraft, von neuen Deichen, Rückhaltebecken und Poldern für den technischen Hochwasserschutz, begleitet.
Das Danube Environmental Forum (Donau-Umweltforum) wehrt sich gegen diese Verschlechterungen für die Ökologie von Fluss und Aue. Es ist dem Ziel der Wasserrahmenrichtlinie verpflichtet, die Gewässer- und Flussökologie zu verbessern, um einen guten ökologischen Zustand zu erreichen, und Verschlechterungen zu verhindern. Wir akzeptieren das Ziel, Güterverkehr, Energieversorgung, Klima- und Hochwasserschutz zu verbessern, aber es gibt dafür bessere nachhaltige Lösungen, als Fluss- und Auenökologie zu zerstören und zu verschlechtern. Vor einem Ausbau sollten gründlich Alternativen untersucht werden. Mögliche andere Lösungen sind für die Schifffahrt eine verbesserte Logistik und ein Transport auf der Bahn, für die Wasserkraft Energieeinsparung, Energieeffizienz und andere noch weniger entwickelte erneuerbare Energien mit geringeren negativen ökologischen Auswirkungen, für den Hochwasserschutz die Wiedernutzung der früheren Auen, die Renaturierung von Flüssen und Altarmen und eine veränderte landwirtschaftliche Nutzung, um Wasser zurückzuhalten und zu verlangsamen.
Das Danube Environmental Forum (Donau-Umweltforum) ist bereit, zu dem zur Zeit beschleunigten Prozess der Umsetzung der Wasserrahmenrichtlinie beizutragen, um einerseits eine weitere Verschlechterung zu verhindern und andererseits die Fluss- und Auenökologie im Donaueinzugsgebiet zu verbessern. Wir erklären unsere Solidarität mit der Aktion in Banja Luka (Bosnien-Herzegowina) zum Schutz des Flusses Vrbas am 14. März!

Für weitere Informationen über den 14. März und den Dachbericht zur Donau nach der Wasserrahmenrichtlinie:
European Rivers Network: http://www.rivernet.org/general/movement/14mars.htm
International Rivers Network: http://www.irn/dayofaction
IKSD und Bericht Donaueinzugsgebiet (Dachbericht WRRL 2004) http://www.icpdr.org/pls/danubis/danubis_db.dyn_navigator.show

Für Informationen und Informationsaustausch zur Gewässerstruktur im Donaueinzugsgebiet und zur Wasserrahmenrichtlinie:
Danube Environmental Forum Water Policy Team
Koordinator AG Gewässerstruktur
Gerhard Nagl, M.A.
Tel. ++49-(0)991-3831609
gerhard.nagl@donaufluss.de

Erläuterungen für die Presse/Medien:
Was ist DEF? (Danube Environmental Forum - Donau-Umweltforum):
Das DEF ist ein donauweiter Zusammenschluss von nicht kommerziellen und politisch unabhängigen Umweltorganisationen. Das DEF erfüllt seinen Auftrag durch die Förderung der Zusammenarbeit von Regierungs- und Nichtregierungsorganisationen im Einzugsgebiet der Donau, es unterstützt den Informationsaustausch und setzt sich für Öffentlichkeitsbeteiligung bei Umweltentscheidungen ein.
Zurzeit sind im DEF 174 NGOs aus 13 Ländern (Bosnien-Herzegowina, Bulgarien, Deutschland, Kroatien, Moldova, Österreich, Rumänien, Serbien und Montenegro, Slowakei, Slowenien, Tschechien, Ukraine, Ungarn) Mitglied. Das Sekretariat des DEF ist in Bratislava in der Slowakei bei DAPHNE - Institut für angewandte Ökologie. DEF hat in allen 13 Ländern nationale „Focal Points", Organisationen, die ihre Länder im DEF vertreten (für Deutschland der Bund Naturschutz in Bayern e.V.). Es ist offen für neue Mitglieder aus allen Donauländern, die im Bereich Wasser und Gewässer für die Umwelt arbeiten.
Ein wesentliches Ziel des DEF ist es, eine donauweite Plattform von Nichtregierungsorganisationen mit einem gemeinsamen Ansatz und Konzept zum Schutz der Donau zu schaffen. Im Zentrum der Arbeit des DEF steht es, den Informationsaustausch und die Zusammenarbeit zwischen nationalen und internationalen Einrichtungen und zwischen Verbänden und Behörden im Sinne einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung im Donauraum zu stärken.
Insbesondere bei der Umsetzung der europäischen Wasserrahmenrichtlinie will das DEF die Zusammenarbeit von staatlichen Behörden und Nichtregierungsorganisationen entwickeln und verstärken. Die Mitglieder des DEF nützen ihre Fähigkeiten und langjährigen Erfahrungen im Bereich der Öffentlichkeitsarbeit, um auch zur Wasserrahmenrichtlinie die Entwicklung einer effizienten Strategie wirklicher und wirksamer Öffentlichkeitsbeteiligung im Donau-Einzugsgebiet zu unterstützen.

Sekretariat DEF
Rytierska 2
841 10 Bratislava
Tel. +421 2 654 561 13
def@changenet.sk

 

13.03.06 : Bathing water quality : publication of the Directive
This directive was adopted the last 15th February and completes the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/CE. This new directive is to be transposed in the national law of each member state before the 28th March 2008. The previous directive (n° 76/160/CE of the 8/12/1976) will be definitely repealed from the 31/12/2014.
This new Directive deals with the bathing waters, which include every part of surface waters where people bath and where it is not forbiden or inadvisable to bath (are excluded of bathing waters : swimming pool, treated water or therapeuthic waters, captive surface waters disjoint from surface or underground waters).
The Directive demands from the member states a strict monitoring of these bathing waters. This monitoring includes a listing by the member state of the bathing waters, a definition of the bathing period, an evaluation of the quality of the bathing waters according 2 parameters (19 in the previous directive of 1976). This new rule will be enforced from March 2008. After 24th March 2011 at the latest, waters will be compulsory classified according quality criteria defined by the annexes of the Directive and profils of the bathing waters are determined, and then revised and updated regularly.
Concerning coastal and continental waters, the new norms are more understandable and methods use to check water quality are easier to implement. However, the norms are stronger for marine waters, and did not change a lot for fresh waters.
Finally, the Directive gives an important part to the participation and the public information. All information on bathing waters should be actively spread and available, and this will be a coimpulsory rule from the 24th March 2008. The information should be transmitted in non-technical words, during the bathing period, in an accessible place and near the bathing place. Internet should also be used.

Read the whole article in French
Source : Journal de l'Environnement, 13.03.2006, summary and translation : ERN

07.03.06 : Conflicting EU Funds - Bad examples for new members in use of EU funds
Brussels/Vienna - 07 Mar 2006

A new WWF report, "Conflicting EU funds", shows that despite the EU commitment to halt biodiversity loss by 2010, vast sums of European Union money are being spent on roads, dams and irrigation schemes which threaten critically endangered species and key habitats in Europe. The responsibility lies not just in poor coordination and decision making in Brussels but also and especially at national or regional levels.
As and plan their own use of EU funds, they would do well to learn from mistakes made in and other countries or risk losing some of their most valuable natural assets. Both and are currently in the midst of national programming for future use of EU funds in preparation for formally joining the EU in 2007 or latest 2008. Decisions being made this year will to a certain extent determine the future of the prodigious natural wealth both countries will bring with them to the EU, including Europe's largest populations of brown bears and wolves as well as the greatest remaining stands of virgin forest.
EU funds are being used to build roads and dams that are destroying the habitat of the Iberian lynx, the world's most endangered cat species. In , the remaining Iberian lynx population - with around 100 individuals left, including just 25 breeding females - is under major threat due to loss and fragmentation of its habitat from new construction work.
The WWF report presents eight case studies where competing plans funded by the EU are damaging biodiversity. In , for example, while the EU Commission Directorate General (DG) responsible for the environment is supporting a LIFE project to protect brown bears, the DG Regional Development is funding the planned Egnatia Highway, which directly threatens these animals.
EU plans to promote inland shipping on the Danube River, including the most valuable stretches of the Lower Danube between and and the Danube Delta, could seriously impact wetland areas along up to 1,000 km of the river. Removing "bottlenecks" on the Danube has been identified as one of 30 priority projects for the EU as part of its Trans-European Network for Transportation (TEN-T). Specific sections have been identified as priority areas for action, and it is feared that adaptations such as dredging, river training, canalisation and damming (to increase depth) will affect floodplains and affect species such as the Beluga Sturgeon along with the many bird species that utilise the Danube.
To avoid repeating past mistakes, WWF recommends that existing and future EU Member States develop good national programmes that contribute to the 2010 goal of halting biodiversity loss, including strong support for nature conservation objectives as well as safeguards e.g. through effective application of Environmental Impact Assessments. Member States should also inform and involve interest groups and stakeholders, especially environmental advocates like WWF and other organisations, in developing plans for use of European funds.

For more information :
Luminita Tanasie, Communications Manager, WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme, Tel. + +40 744 163 283

Source : http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/europe/news/index.cfm?uNewsID=62640

 

03.03.06 : "Water's situation changed faster than expected"

The analysis of Loïc Fauchon, president of the World Water Council, before the World Water Forum. 03.03.2006

The 4th World Water Forum in Mexico is already a success : more than 9.000 people are registered (among them some 800 reporters), and many alternative events will take place around the official Forum. Getting people together is a begining, but it doesn't prevent the disagreements between the numerous water actors, that remain important.
Difficulties are still growing, since the last Forum in Tokyo in 2003 and the Johannesburg's Conference in 2002. The demographic development and the growth of the biggest cities are more important than expected, and this results in disruptions in the planning of the water facilities and in increasing pollution problems. We have to add to these problems the ones created by climate changes.
Among others topics, should be discussed the theme of the water access in developed and developing countries and the one of financing the water access through the world.

Read the whole article (in French)
Source : Journal de l'Environnement, 03.03.2006, summary in english : ERN

 

01.03.06 : Baïkal Lake threatened by a giant pipeline

The Baïkal Lake is the older lake in the world, that appeared 25 millions years ago. 600 km long and 60 km wide, it reaches a depth of 1637 m and shelters a unique and remarkable fauna.

This exceptional patrimony is threatened by a pipeline project planned by the Russian State Company Transneft. That pipeline will be a giant one : 4200 km long (from a place near Vladivostok to Irkoutsk, near the Baïkal Lake), a transportation capacity of 80 millions tons oil per year, a cost of 15 billions €. The Transneft Company already has President Poutine's support. The problem is that Trnasneft plans to run the pipeline 800 m from the Lake, and the pipe could pollute the Lake if any accident or breaking occured.

The Russian ecologists and scientists are mobilizing against this project and recently received the support of Unesco. The scientists studied the case for the Russian State Organism for Environment and Technologyand concluded to the important potential danger the pipeline represents for the Baïkal. The State Organism already published an advice, asking to modify the arrival of the pipe near Vladivostok, because of the existence of a nature reserve, that shelters the last leopards of the Far-East.

Unesco made also studies and showed that the pipeline is crossing seismic zones on 66% of its course. Well, the Transneft Company already was involved during the last 15 years, in differents cases of major petroleum pollutions. If the pipeline was built, Unesco could classify the Baïkal Lake as an "endangered site", and this classification could have important consequences in terme of touristic frequenting of the place for Russia.

Read the whole article (in French)

Source : Le Monde, 01.03.2006, summary in english : ERN

 

01.03.06 :The myths and facts of freshwater - Conserving freshwater ecosystems
is a vital building block for eradicating poverty

By Jamie Pittock

More than one billion people worldwide do not have access to clean freshwater. More than two billion do not have adequate sanitation services and the annual death toll from water-borne diseases is estimated at more
than five million. In addition, the past 30 years have seen a 50 per cent decline in populations of freshwater species, the fastest rate of decline as compared with species living in marine and forest ecosystems.

With statistics like this, it’s time to be worried. With so many people around the world experiencing water shortages, it’s time to act to preserve what’s left of our freshwater resources.

As thousands of participants gather in Mexico to attend the fourth World Water Forum, a multi-stakeholder meeting aimed at raising the awareness on international water issues and influencing water policy makers at the global
level, they should know the myths and facts, and more importantly, practical solutions in addressing the planet’s water crisis.

Myth: Dams will reduce the water crisis by storing water and generating hydro-electricity, and will not have a negative impact on the environment.

Fact: There are over 48,000 large dams in operation worldwide. Many of these dams, as well as those under construction, are threatening the world’s largest and most important rivers. A recent scientific report shows that over 60 per cent of the world’s 227 largest rivers have been fragmented by dams, leading to the destruction of wetlands, a decline in freshwater
species ­ including river dolphins, fish, and birds ­ and the forced displacement of millions of people. While dams can be an important provider of hydro-power, they do not always guarantee reliable supplies of water and electricity. Moreover, they are very expensive to build, vastly more expensive than measures to reduce demand by using water and electricity more efficiently. In some places money spent on dams would provide more socio-economic benefits if used to restore wetlands. Governments should opt for non-infrastructure alternatives to dam building, but if they are to be
built, they should follow stringent guidelines set forth by the World Commission on Dams in 2000 in order to mitigate risk.

Myth: We need more water to grow more food.

Fact: We are already withdrawing 54 per cent of the world’s accessible freshwater sources, with the agriculture sector alone using up to 70 per cent of that. Of that 70 per cent, more than half is wasted through inefficient irrigation methods. In countries where some of the world’s “thirstiest” crops ­ cotton, rice and sugar ­ are grown, new farm practices
ensure that scarce water resources are being used in more productive ways. In South Africa, for example, better practices such as cooperative farming for smallholders, farm planning and drip irrigation schemes have seen water
productivity rise significantly and downstream erosion and pollution decrease. In India, farmers have developed an efficient rice irrigation system that is increasing yields by 20-50 per cent, while drawing much less water from the environment. High priority should be given to using water more wisely and supporting farmers and irrigation managers to use farm
practices that enable them to produce more food with less water.

Myth: Freshwater habitats are being conserved at the expense of people.

Fact: WWF case studies from Colombia, Brazil, South Africa and China have shown increased income, employment, and fish yield in conjunction with nature conservation projects by local communities. More than a third of the
world’s 100 biggest cities ­ including New York, Jakarta, Tokyo, Mumbai, Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles, Barcelona, Nairobi and Melbourne ­ rely on fully or partly protected forests in catchment areas for much of their drinking
water. Well-managed natural forests minimize the risk of landslides, erosion and sedimentation. They also substantially improve water purity by filtering pollutants, such as pesticides, and in some cases capture and store water.
Countries would do well to adopt a forest watershed protection strategy as this can result in massive savings in the cost of water supply, as well as improve the health of local populations.

Knowing some of the facts, one would think responsible governments would be quick to implement cheaper, long-lasting solutions to managing their water supplies. Sadly, many still perceive large-scale infrastructure projects,
like dams, as delivering results quicker than more efficient small-scale, community-based efforts. Governments have also failed to implement previously agreed upon national and global frameworks for sustainable water
management.

The fact of the matter is that water is a finite resource, a supply that is quickly being exhausted and cannot be sustained by grandiose projects. Rather, we should be concentrating our efforts on equitable water allocation, watershed and wetland restoration, pollution reduction, and sustainable fisheries management. Conserving freshwater ecosystems is not
some lofty goal preached by the environmental movement but a practical and vital building block for eradicating poverty. Conservation of freshwater ecosystems can result in clean drinking water and more effective agriculture
and fisheries for the poor.

Conserving wetlands and rivers must be a priority for governments pursuing water security and poverty reduction. The 4th World Water Forum could be an important turning point if governments focus on the missing link: better
management of rivers, wetlands and other freshwater bodies as the source of water for people and nature.

* Jamie Pittock is Director of WWF’s Global Freshwater Programme, Gland,
Switzerland.

 

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