Water - our most valuable resource - our gift of life, to protect and care for
To celebrate World Water Day on 22 March, UNESCO's online magazine, the Courier has published a collection of articles on this precious resource, that is increasingly threatened by population growth, pollution and poor management.
Water: A Grindstone of Governance
There is no water shortage, at least not on paper. The Second United Nations World Water Development Report shows that water resources are unequally distributed, and above all, badly managed. Presented in Mexico City in March 2006, ‘Water, a Shared Responsibility’, takes an inventory of the planet’s water resources. More
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Water, A Shared Responsibility - The main theme of the 4th World Water Forum (4th WWF) was Local Actions for a Global Challenge. Water related problems have their greatest impacts at the local level. As a result, local actions are key for generating concrete results that, when amalgamated across sectors and regions, will move us closer to meeting the water-related targets set by the Millennium Development Goals.
Valencia: Water Wisdom - In Valencia's vast “huerta”, the heartland of Spain’s orchards, water is an historically strategic element. For centuries a special court has met on every Thursday to settle disputes relating to this key resource. More
The Promise of the River Congo - The Congo River, whose flow is the greatest in the world after the Amazon, possesses an exceptional hydroelectric potential for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). While estimates boast that it could satisfy the electrical needs of the entire African continent, the access rate for inhabitants in the DRC is paradoxically one of the lowest in the world. More
Living in a Country Without Water - Desalinization, recycling, importation: confronted with a virtual absence of water resources, Kuwait has been forced to find solutions to face its water shortage problems. More
When Water becomes a Political Challenge - In an overwhelming majority vote, water was enshrined in Uruguay's constitution as public property - a world first. As a result, the state must now decide what will happen to private concessions that managed the supply network before the vote, and also undertake the task of monitoring water quality. More
“Arab States Suffer from Water Scarcity”: Interview with Prince Talal - Prince Talal bin Abdul Aziz, President of the Arab Gulf Foundation for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND) has repeatedly warned of the water shortage threatening a number of Arab States, particularly in the six Gulf States. More