HARSH “It depends on your reading habits. When I open a book, ASSESSMENT: I start reading at the footnotes.” Worldwatch Institute reports on the state of – Michel Camdessus, former managing director of the International Monetary Fund, reacting the world to complaints that his report backs big dams and relegates the concerns of the World – p. 7 Commission on Dams to a footnote.

SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 2003 NEWSPAPER OF THE 3RD WORLD WATER FORUM ~ KYOTO, SHIGA & OSAKA, JAPAN VOLUME 1, ISSUE 7 Cleaning Up the Mess by John Roberts matter. The Bush administration says it will soon award big More than 20 years of conflict supervisory reconstruction con- in the Gulf demonstrate the tracts to US companies. Reports need for a new Geneva from Washington say the US Convention to protect the envi- does not envisage a major role ronment, says Klaus Toepfer, for the UN, or even American executive director of the United NGOs, in a post-Saddam Iraq. Nations Environment Program Most UN agencies withdrew (UNEP). from Iraq hours before the “We have learned again and United States launched its again that the environment can attack. be used as a weapon,” Mr. The Bush administration’s Toepfer says. “The conse- decision to sideline the UN in quences of this are extremely the reconstruction of a post- serious, and not only for the Saddam Iraq, following its ear- people living there.” lier move to ignore the Security Mr. Toepfer says he is par- Council in deciding to attack the ticularly concerned about water, country, raises questions about arable land and the loss of bio- the future of the United Nations diversity. “We are very, very itself. Some participants at the convinced that this [deliberate 3rd World Water Forum hope destruction of environment in the US may not be able to war] is a crime against humani- shoulder the burden of recon- Protestors at the forum in Kyoto ty.” struction on its own, or be will- Mr. Toepfer says UNEP is ing to pay the political price assessing Iraq’s most urgent involved. MINISTERS BICKER OVER DECLARATION needs post-Saddam Hussein. “The United States is big, Like other UN agencies, UNEP but is it big enough? Are they Senior government officials at the by Ruud Kreutzer “more concerned with saving face would be ready to start work in going to bring every USAID 3rd World Water Forum bickered than writing a strong message”, Iraq “within days” of the war [Agency for International over the draft text of the ministerial tion climate change and promotion appear reluctant to make too many ending. Development] officer from declaration into the early hours of of public-private partnerships. “I changes to the text they spent such But whether they will get Friday morning, with the European will not return to The Hague with- a long time drafting. the chance is a very different (continued on page 2) Union demanding that the state- out these changes made. Nobody is Ms. Van Ardenne courted fur- ment tackle controversial political waiting for another vague state- ther controversy by saying there issues. ment,” Ms. Van Ardenne says. was no need to organize another Several delegations, including EU officials, seemingly back- World Water Forum. The Contents RAISING THE the European Union, India, Turkey ing Ms. Van Ardenne’s position is one of the forum’s and Brazil, expressed reservations said the text should further empha- main financial backers. News...... 2, 3 PROFILE: Development ...... 4 about the text despite a Japanese size poverty eradication. “We know what has to be done the UN’s Year of assertion that the final draft had Turkey reportedly objects to the after three forum meetings. These Competition...... 5 been adopted at the late-night meet- absence of any reference to dams in huge gatherings cost a lot of Agenda ...... 6 Freshwater ing. the chapter on the impact of floods money, but don’t produce an extra Environment...... 7 – p. 4 Dutch Development Co-opera- and droughts. drop of water for the poor,” Ms. Photos...... 8 tion Minister Agnes van Ardenne The Japanese hosts, who Van Ardenne says. criticized the text for failing to men- according to one water official are NEWS Water Forum Shimbun • Saturday, March 22, 2003 • Page 2

(continued from page 1) BRAINSTORMING? MORE LIKE MINDBOGGLING elsewhere in the world to Iraq? What will that do to its projects by Rupert Wright session,” he informed us. “We little less than stellar. For exam- benches we sat back and elsewhere? The Americans will are lucky to have Delli ple, somebody called Elliot looked smug. We had it right. need to ensure that they keep Forum participants got their Priscoli from the US Army Anthony Morley from the But no, we had it very wrong. their friends across the globe. chance to come face to face with us. No one comes near Department of the Few people talked about lack It’s a huge logistical problem,” with ministers yesterday for him on brainstorming skills.” Environment, was representing of money or lack of water. one participant said. the first time. In a session Then we were told to get Britain. He is not very well They talked about water as a UN agencies at the forum, in called Water and Poverty, they down to business and answer the known in Japan. Nobody human right. The concern that line with a statement on were asked to list the three question about water and pover- knows him in Britain. In fact, the World Trade Organization Thursday by UN Secretary- most important challenges in ty. While the tables were talking his wife probably does not could undermine the ability of General Kofi Annan that the UN water and poverty. This ses- to each other, other press repre- know he was here. We were countries to regulate water would do whatever it can to sion was billed as the “first sentatives and I came up with the also told that Reza Ardakanian, properly. How gender issues assist the Iraqi people, stress attempt in history to organize answer. We thought money should be central to decision- their readiness to resume dialogue between decision would solve the poverty issue, “If you take all making about water. How humanitarian work in Iraq as makers and stakeholders”. and that water would solve the there should be more partici- well as to engage in long-term The room was full of more scarcity issue. Pretty easy, we the words pation in decision-making. reconstruction. than 30 tables, with up to eight thought. But the dialogue Local authorities should be “The United Nations will people at each table. Our com- seemed to be going on at all the upstream, there empowered. Women and girls have to come in with humanitar- pere for this event introduced tables. Perhaps they were now should be educated. And ian aid,” says Ian Johnson, vice himself. discussing when to eat the bis- will be no words Martians should be made of president of environmentally “Hi, my name is Delli,” he cuits? We did not have any bis- left for those marzipan and every Tuesday sustainable development at the said. “We have what seems to cuits, which seemed to us quite a should be a holiday. Actually, . “Then it will be up be an impossible task ahead of serious matter. people we made those last two up. to the UN development agencies us.” He made a plea for people I took advantage of the So there it was. It was all to see how we can move from not to speak too much. “If you hubbub to ask Mr. Pescolli downstream.” terribly exciting, there was humanitarian to development take all the words upstream, about his military background. quite a buzz in the room. Quite aid. This is what we did in East there will be no words left for He was rather vague. “Better what it achieved nobody was Timor, the Balkans, and those people downstream.” to say that I am editor-in-chief too sure. But as an exercise in Then he talked some more. of Water Policy.” the Iranian minister of Energy, democracy, it seemed a lot When he stopped, the He let the tables talk on for was set to be here, but we more popular than another Japanese Senior Vice Minister twenty minutes, longer than I couldn’t see him. Maybe other event that was taking place in of Land, Infrastructure and thought necessary. There had matters had detained him. the Middle East at the same Transport, Kouki Chouma, obviously been a lot of high- Suddenly we were off. time, also aimed at bringing came to the microphone. level dialogue, even though Each table was asked to give power to the people. “This is a brainstorming some of the ministers looked a their answers. On the press

Four dams were construct- ed in under his tenure. Dam Talks “Waste of Time” They serve the Geriza Irrigation Scheme, the largest by Ruud Kreutzer that a planned dam on Japan’s whether dams are good or bad single project of its kind in the Kawabe River would only ben- are an exercise in futility. world. The Sudanese econo- Joining a debate on the neces- efit local construction tycoons. “Dams are the lifeline of my depends on them for half Anna Tibaijuka sity of dams, Sudan’s Yousif Absent because his flight my country,” said Mr. Ahmed, the country’s electricity. With Fadlalla Ahmed grabbed the from Colorado had been who was until recently only four months of rain a Afghanistan.” microphone to tell participants delayed, US environmentalist Sudan’s official in charge of year, the man-made lakes pro- UN-Habitat, the biggest of the 3rd World Water Forum David Wegner declared in a dam construction. “This vide water during the long dry implementer of the UN’s oil-for- that their discussion was a written text read out in whole debate is meaningless.” season. food program in predominantly waste of time. Japanese on his behalf that Mr. Ahmed said he shared “Moreover, the lakes are Kurdish northern Iraq, is gearing Mr. Ahmed drew his con- “dams have become a religion the concerns of those opposed full of fish,” Mr. Ahmed says. up for an immediate return once clusion after listening to three unto themselves”. to dams. “You know, every- “Without the dams, the rivers hostilities have ended. “Like the hours of pleas for the disman- To break the rampant anti- body is keen to protect the would run dry for part of the rest of the UN, and subject to the tling of dams. dam sentiment, Mr. Ahmed, a environment. Me too. I think year, so fish couldn’t survive. authority of the Security Japanese law professor Sudanese Irrigation and Water no dam should ever be con- Now a lot of poor people from Council, UN-Habitat is ready to Takayoshi Igarashi advocated Ministry official, took the structed without a proper envi- Khartoum go there to fish. So play its part in the rehabilitation the “smooth removal of dams” floor. Visibly fed up with the ronmental study. But the effect it is really no exaggeration to and reconstruction of Iraq,” says in his country, while environ- discussion, he said general on the environment differs say these dams are our life- Habitat executive director Anna mentalist Shouko Turu argued statements and debates on from place to place,” he said. line.” Tibaijuka. NEWS Water Forum Shimbun • Saturday, March 22, 2003 • Page 3

private,” he said. World Water In one of a handful of inter- Oda Silences Protestors jections from the floor, a Day WaterAid worker in by Bernard Simon Oda’s intervention, the chanting an effusive endorsement of many Mozambique said that aid donors by Rupert Wright had stopped and the protestors of the report’s findings. “I find it and organizations were unwilling A stern intervention yesterday by were filing out of the hall. remarkable how far we’ve come to admit their mistakes. “Will the An unlikely alliance of farm- Hideaki Oda, secretary-general But that did not stop partici- in the past three years,” Mr. banks accept responsibility for a ers and children is gathering in of the 3rd World Water Forum, pants from criticizing the meager Kasrils said, recalling that much failed project and write off that Bahoor in India. In Hong ended a noisy protest that threat- amount of time allowed by the of the discussion at the 2nd debt?” he asked. “Will NGOs be Kong, groups led by Ecovision ened to disrupt one of the chair, Margaret Catley-Carlson, World Water Forum in The held accountable when the taps and Surfrider Asia meet to try forum’s most contentious ses- head of the Global Water Hague focused on full-cost they have helped install stop to clean up the South China sions. Partnership, for contributions recovery for water services and working after five years? Until Sea. And in Cape Verde, there “Please sit down,” Mr. Oda from the audience. an emphasis on the private sector. we do that, the model of South is an exhibition at the National said over the microphones as The bulk of the session was Much of the Camdessus will be wasted,” he said. Library. protestors chanting “Water for devoted to Mr. Camdessus’ sum- report “reflects approaches Agnes van Ardenne, the Today is World Water Day. people, not for profits” unfurled mation of his panel’s conclusions already being adopted in South Dutch minister for development Throughout the world, events their banners and paraded across and the reaction of officials. Africa,” Mr. Kasrils said. “We cooperation, applauded the are happening and stunts are the stage of the main hall. The In essence, the report urges a must not reject the report because panel’s emphasis on mobilizing being performed to increase protests erupted during a discus- doubling of financial flows for we don’t like some of the people all sources of funding from both public, corporate and govern- sion on a landmark report on water infrastructure, and con- responsible for it or the process the public and private sectors. ment awareness of the impor- financing water infrastructure cludes that this is possible, pro- that has taken place.” But she said that too much of the tance of water. compiled by a panel under the vided, in Mr. Camdessus’ words, Mr. Kasrils said he especially debate had so far centered on the The event is one of the most chairmanship of Michel “all the various parties accept the endorsed the conclusion that role of multinational corpora- important legacies of the 1992 Camdessus, former managing need to change their approach”. institutions need to be more tions, with not enough attention United Nations Earth Summit. director of the International Ronnie Kasrils, South accountable for their perform- paid to small enterprises in devel- The theme for this year’s event Monetary Fund. Africa’s water minister, momen- ance. “This is the acid test, not oping countries. is “Water for the Future”. Within moments of Mr. tarily silenced the protestors with whether something is public or Each year a different UN agency takes the lead role in promoting the day. This year it ing in water negotiations, fact- and shortages, temporary or is the turn of the UN finding missions and an exten- long-term, become more press- Environment Program. So UNESCO MEDIATES sive database on treaties and ing. what is it up to? river basins throughout the The Permanent Court of One of the things it is doing world. Arbitration, which has 100 years is inviting people to contribute WATER DISPUTES Possible conflict areas are of experience in mediating con- stories to its Web site. To date, work on the basis of the willing the 263 river basins that are flicts, will offer legal advice and it hasn’t been inundated with by Ruud Kreutzer cooperation of the parties. The shared by two or more states, in a neutral forum for parties seek- articles — or maybe they are only leverage it will have is the which half the world population ing conciliation, fact-finding still being edited. Alexandra Unesco yesterday announced power of reason.” of the world missions over international dis- Pasyeka, an 11th grade student the creation of a new facility to States and lives. In 19 of putes and other forms of assis- from Cherkassy, Ukraine, is help nations prevent and resolve non-governmen- these river tance. “The facility opens a new one of six stories that can be freshwater disputes. tal organizations basins, five or dimension in the efforts of the read at the site. Andras Szollosi-Nagy, will be able to more nations Permanent Court of Arbitration She says: “75% of human director of Unesco’s turn to the facility are involved. to peacefully resolve disputes brain is water and 75% of a International Hydrological to help resolve A good part of pertaining to natural resources,” living tree is water. A person Program, said the Water conflicts or prob- Africa and the says Tjaco van den Hout, secre- can live a month without Cooperation Facility, a joint ini- lems over inter- Middle East tary-general of the court. food, but only about a week tiative with the World Water national water depends on Studies by Unesco and oth- without water. 80% of an ear Council, the Permanent Court of resources, or foreign water ers show that over the past 50 of corn, 75% of a chicken, Arbitration in The Hague and a local disputes resources for years there have been 507 inter- 95% of a tomato, 70% of an group of universities, will “react with international more than half national conflicts over water, of elephant, 92% of the water- to crises, assist or intervene in ramifications their water which 37 involved violence, 21 melon is water.” crises, when asked to do so by such as contro- needs. of them with military action. They obviously teach a lot the parties involved, and will versy over new Szollosi-Nagy The facili- However, to date there has only of statistics in Ukraine. Here in moreover try to anticipate and dam projects on ty is designed ever been one war over water. It Kyoto, celebrations kicked off a prevent water conflicts”. shared rivers or the pollution of to reduce the risk that competi- was fought more than 2,000 day early, when the pedallos The facility, to be based at international aquifers. tion over water resources could years ago in a country that is were unleashed on the lake Unesco’s Paris headquarters, The facility will provide a increasingly become a source of now called Iraq. opposite the conference center. will function “on demand”, Mr. range of services, including tension or even conflict between Szollosi-Nagy explains. “It will technical and legal advice, train- states as water demand grows For more information look at http://www.waterday2003.org DEVELOPMENT: The Year of Freshwater Water Forum Shimbun • Saturday, March 22, 2003 • Page 4

ith water issues States are unfit for recreational increasingly Some insist that access to clean drinking use. appearing at the water and sanitation is a basic human right At the same time, consump- W top of the global tion of this essential but scarce development agenda, the United which governments should be obliged to resource is rising fast. Water use Nations General Assembly has provide. has jumped six-fold over the dubbed 2003 the International past century, more than twice Year of Freshwater. Starting the rate of population growth. with the UN’s 3rd World Water The UN Pushes to Bring Water “You’re finally starting to see Forum in Kyoto, the year prom- the pinch,” Brian Richter, direc- ises a series of events designed tor of a freshwater campaign for to highlight the critical impor- Issues into the Public Eye the Nature Conservancy, a US tance of safe, clean water sup- conservation group, recently by Bernard Simon plies and bring water concerns told The New York Times. even more prominently into the water and sanitation. Roughly are vast and disturbing, even if More of the world is facing “Where rivers would have been public eye. one billion people—more than they cannot always be easily water shortages. The water in a naturally low condition, The Year of Freshwater one-sixth of the world’s popula- measured. For instance, women development report notes that you’re imposing human utiliza- reflects a growing awareness of tion — lack access to a steady and girls in many countries are , India, Mexico, north- tion to the point where rivers are water’s critical contribution not supply of clean water. And more forced to walk long distances to ern China and parts of the entering conditions where just to health, but also educa- than double that number, an esti- fetch water when they could be Middle East and sub-Saharan they’ve never been seen before, tion, social well-being and polit- mated 2.4 billion, are deprived at school or generating vital Africa are likely to be worst and in some cases drying up for ical stability. As UN secretary- of proper sanitation. income. Depleted and polluted affected. the first time in history.” general Kofi Annan puts it, According to highlights water supplies have raised ten- Furthermore, potential fresh- The International Year of “Water is likely to become a from the World Water sions between farmers, indus- water supplies are being severe- Freshwater is sure to be marked growing source of tension and Development Report that were tries and urban consumers in ly polluted, with 90% of sewage by vigorous debate on the best fierce competition between released earlier this month, many countries, including even and 70% of industrial waste in way of extending successes. nations, if present trends contin- close to two-thirds of the highly developed industrialized developing countries discharged Some insist that access to clean ue. But it can also be a catalyst world’s projected population economies like the United without treatment. The report drinking water and sanitation is for cooperation.” could have less water than they States. says that only five of Europe’s a basic human right which gov- Unesco has made water one need by the middle of this cen- But growing supply con- 55 biggest rivers can be classi- ernments should be obliged to of its five highest concerns. The tury. straints complicate the task of fied as pristine, while 40% of provide. Others note that water series of events planned for The broader consequences expanding access to fresh water. water bodies in the United is a scarce commodity and that it 2003 afford “an unequalled can be put to most effective use opportunity to listen carefully to only when it is subject to the what the world, at all levels, has THE PACIFIC INSTITUTE GUIDE TO WATER MANAGEMENT rigors of the marketplace, to say on the vital, even sacred, Water Forum Shimbun presents a simple three-part guide to good water management from Peter underlining the need for cost- subject of water,” says Koichira Gleick’s Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment and Security. related pricing and private-sec- Matsuura, Unesco’s director- 1. Continue to Manage Water as a Social Good 3. Maintain Strong Government Regulation and tor involvement in water general. • Meet basic human needs for water. All resi- Oversight schemes. March 22, World Water Day, dents in a service area should be guaranteed • Governments should retain or establish pub- Amid the disagreements and will see the release of the first a basic water quantity under any privatization lic ownership or control of water sources. the challenges, many success World Water Development agreement. • Public agencies and water-service providers stories are also emerging. Over Report, compiled by 23 UN • Meet basic ecosystem needs for water. should monitor water quality. Governments the past seven years, the number bodies, which will lay out the Natural ecosystems should be guaranteed a should define and enforce water-quality laws. of South Africans without challenges of water supply and basic water requirement under any privatiza- • Contracts that lay out the responsibilities of access to clean drinking water management for the 21st centu- tion agreement. each partner are a prerequisite for the suc- has halved. The New Scientist ry. • The basic water requirement for users should cess of any privatization. recently reported that the num- A theme certain to be reiter- be provided at subsidized rates when neces- • Clear dispute-resolution procedures should ber of cholera cases in remote ated throughout the year will be sary for reasons of poverty. be developed prior to privatization. Bangladeshi villages had halved the UN’s goal of halving, by the 2. Use Sound Economics in Water Management • Independent technical assistance and con- after women began using old • Water and water services should be provided tract review should be standard. year 2015, the proportion of saris to filter drinking water. at fair and reasonable rates. • Negotiations over privatization contracts people unable to reach or afford The development report • Whenever possible, link proposed rate should be open, transparent, and include all safe drinking water, and those notes that many more water dis- increases with agreed-upon improvements in affected stakeholders. without access to basic sanita- service. putes have had peaceful rather tion. The UN has also pledged to • Subsidies, if necessary, should be economi- Source: The New Economy of Water: The Risks than violent outcomes in recent stop “the unsustainable cally and socially sound. and Benefits of Globalization and Privatization of years. Many of this year’s gath- exploitation” of water resources. • Private companies should be required to Fresh Water, by Peter H. Gleick, Gary Wolff, erings and deliberations will The challenges are daunting. demonstrate that new water-supply projects Elizabeth L. Chalecki, and Rachel Reyes. aim to reinforce that trend. The UN estimates that 2.2 mil- are less expensive than projects to improve Published by The Pacific Institute for Studies in For more information about lion people, mostly in develop- water conservation and water-use efficiency Development, Environment and Security. water issues go to ing countries, die each year of before they are permitted to invest and raise www.wateryear2003.org illnesses stemming from poor water rates to repay the investment. AWARD WINNING ARTICLE Water Forum Shimbun • Saturday, March 22, 2003 • Page 5

This article is a winning entry Mjobi and hundreds of thou- and would be keen to join any Committee chairman Melvin and have a responsibility to in a competition organized by sands of shack-dwellers like project launched with this Manentsa visited the area protect their citizens. In addi- the Water Media Network and her remain severely marginal- aim. She would also be happy himself with an entourage on tion, reducing health risks will sponsored by the 3rd World ized under the new regime. if the metro could supply even Arbour Day in September but promote sustainable develop- Water Forum. And nothing exemplifies this just taps on the streets. She the dismay that was apparent- ment and reduce the inequities situation more than their lack would be happy to pay for this ly expressed has yet to be that they are finding so hard to he river “does not look of access to safe water and service as long as it carried a translated into action. eliminate. like a river”. That’s the sanitation. Not only is there fair price. In the meantime, every searing appraisal by no water in Hlanani, accord- The saddest thing about morning, as Mr. Seti put it, the River of Heaven TNonthando Mjobi, resi- ing to Mrs. Mjobi, there are Hlanani is not that Soweto- health of the residents is dete- In this regard, Hlalani is a pri- dent of Hlalani shack settle- mary reason to be skeptical of ment in Soweto-on-Sea, in the Coega, the multi-billion-dollar state of the Chatty River in industrial development. If just a South Africa. CHATTY fraction of Coega’s budget was She should know. Swollen spent on addressing the risks with rubbish, the watercourse identified by the WHO report, lies rotting not 50 meters from freeing up the human potential her door. TRANSFORMED INTO in this ghetto and a thousand We found Mrs. Mjobi, 54, more like it, what wonders returning with her friend could not be achieved? Linda Mambasi along a RIVER OF RUBBISH Of course it could be ques- refuse-laden path collecting tioned why Mrs. Mjobi and her isikwamba, wild spinach that neighbors do not simply start can be cooked and mixed with “The battle for water and sanitation will have cleaning up themselves. But rice or meat. Together with the pollution, especially in the two children, she and her hus- to be fought in human settlements, river itself, is so thick and nox- band live off his pension, so ious, this would not be easy. there is precious little money particularly in the slums and shanties of the growing More importantly, there is a for meat. lack of education and a great But it is the water that is urban development countries.” debilitating apathy bred quite needed for cooking (and by Guy Rogers clearly from malnutrition and drinking and washing) that is illness and years of neglect, so the real problem. leadership is needed. Drawing from the also no toilets, which means on-Sea, the embracing town- riorating. In India, a project has been befouled Chatty is out of the begging from the cement ship, was once a stronghold The recently published launched to resuscitate the question and there is no other house community again. of the anti-apartheid strug- World Health Report by the Ganga, the “river of heaven”. running water in Hlanani: no Clearly, access is not always gle. The saddest thing is it World Health Organization At the moment, Hlanani taps in the shacks or yards, of forthcoming, to which the all looks as bad, if not (WHO) says unsafe water, (Xhosa for “stay here”) is hell course, but not even in the stench in the area testifies. worse, than when I visited in sanitation and hygiene is one on Earth, the festering epicen- streets. So each day Mrs. June last year during the of the top 10 major health ter of the poorest of the poor, Mjobi takes the family’s pre- From Bad to Worse launch of a rejuvenation risks threatening communities that community so beloved by cious 25-liter bucket and goes The reek of the Chatty hangs project designed to address worldwide. About 1.7 million our political speech-makers. begging in the neighboring like a pall around us. Surely exactly the pollution ills Mrs deaths a year occur because of One rescue scenario is to “cement house” community. not pleasant to live here, I Mjobi described to me this problems like this. Nine out of get the people out. Another Because their water con- venture. week. 10 of these victims are chil- is to fix up the mess. This is sumption is metered, these People “get sick from the I asked ward councilor dren. exactly the kind of opportu- neighbors, many of whom are smell”, Mrs. Mjobi confirms. Mpumelelo Seti about this, Significantly, the report nity identified in unemployed, are often not There are mosquitoes and a explains how the new science Johannesburg at the World that keen to help. So she pollution-related condition There is a lack of of health risk assessment has Summit on Sustainable moves on from house to called kwazakwaza. Mrs emerged from the study of Development. Imagine house until she finds sympa- Mambazi shows us an ugly education and a environmental problems. being able to catch fish in thy. rash on her feet and calves. Flowing from this point, it the Chatty again and kids To have the bucket filled, There is also TB and eye infec- great debilitating calls on governments to invest being able to swim in its she pays over “thank you tions which are particularly heavily in risk prevention and waters. If we get our priori- money” which usually fails to tough on the kids, many of apathy. says one of the best ways to do ties right, we can achieve cover the cost of the neigh- whom attend Sivuyile Primary this is to implement stricter these goals. bor’s generosity, yet still bites School, which is situated next environmental controls. into her meager funds. door to Hlanani, 50 meters and he says he has raised the There are compelling rea- GUY ROGERS is a senior reporter Born in Fraser’s Camp from the Chatty’s edge. matter repeatedly during the sons why our leaders should and columnist on The Herald in South near Grahamstown in 1948, She would like the river past year in the metro social take heed of this advice, not Africa, where he focuses on the watershed year marking and the surrounding area to be services standing committee only because they are the stew- environmental issues. the genesis of apartheid, Mrs. cleaned up, Mrs Mjobi says, but had received little support. ards of our health resources AGENDA: KYOTO, MARCH 22 Water Forum Shimbun • Saturday, March 22, 2003 • Page 6

at this Forum, which is the fair and W orld Bank Silences Ohh Minister, My efficient distribution of limited Quote of the Day resources. Sharing is caring. Thank Many journalists from the Water A young Soweto 16-year old girl, you for your cooperation." So if you “We certainly don't have a unified Media Network were strangely quiet Kamagelo Maja, brought the house have some cold noodles left over, view of these proposals.” yesterday, due to over-enthusiastic down at one of the youth sessions in don't forget to pass them on to some- – Margaret Catley-Carson, chair, singing at a karaoke bar the night Kyoto when she politely introduced one else before you leave the restau- Global Water Partnership, describing before. The quality of the perform- herself to Nane Annan, wife of UN rant. the divergence between protestors ances was mixed. Tracey Osborne of secretary-general Kofi Annan, before and panel members at the forum. the World Bank gave a spirited rendi- spotting South African Water Affairs tion of Boston's More than a Feeling; Minister Ronnie Kasrils in the audi- other journalists showed their age by ence. "That's my minister!" she knowing the dance to Y.M.C.A, exclaimed proudly. Delighted by her while Kehinde Banigbetan Oladapo, forthright attitude, the audience a reporter on Nigeria’s The Country clapped and cheered. Mr. Kasrils newspaper, was the star crooner, beamed proudly. Africa's answer to Nat King Cole.

Out of Steam Practice What You

A photocopied warning to eat Normally the sauna is a good place for what you order is circulating in the a journalist to hang out to pick up rumors refreshments area at the forum in and gossip. For some reason people are Kyoto. "Before you eat please read more outspoken when they are dressed this," is written on it with fluorescent only in a towel. But for the last few nights pink pen. The directive is as follows: the sauna in the Westin Miyako Hotel has "We seek your cooperation to reduce been deserted. Either delegates are too the amount of leftovers on the table. busy working, or they've had their fill of Wasting any kind of food or drink is hot air. against what we are trying to achieve ENVIRONMENT Water Forum Shimbun • Saturday, March 22, 2003 • Page 7

ome of us may be used America and the Caribbean. Sheehan says. And thus the dors never reaches municipal Rajasthan irrigation minister, to assessing ourselves With falling northern hemi- very poorest often pay the high- coffers, where it might then be Kamla Beniwal. “Water on a personal basis: sphere populations, much of the est prices. The price of water in used on vital infrastructure, resources do not belong to peo- SHow wasteful was I? world’s future population the slums of Nairobi, Ms. thus preventing an endless ple or to the society,” she thun- What mistakes have I made and growth is expected to take place Shehaan writes, is up to 11 cycle of disease. But the poor- dered. “They belong to the gov- how can I make amends? But in southern cities. Urban migra- times more expensive than that est of the earth cannot be ernment. Go read the laws gov- we are less accustomed to mak- tion and growth combined with provided by municipal servic- ignored without due conse- erning irrigation in Rajasthan. ing those judgments of our- high birth rates will mean that es. Slum water is up to 25 times quence. As New York Times If there is water, we will give it selves as a race. The between 2000 and 2030 nearly more expensive in Dhaka, up to correspondent Thomas to the people. If there is no Washington-based Worldwatch water, what can we do but exe- Institute has been making them cute our drought-relief meas- for us. Their annual review, ures? People, however, do not entitled The State of the World, Worldwatch Review have the right to tamper with demonstrates in stark and bleak the flow of water.” terms just how much we are Claiming rainwater to be fouling our own nest, and lays For twenty years the Worldwatch Institute has provided government property, she sup- out the areas in which we could ported the demolition of a suc- improve. anyone who is interested with a global audit on the rela- cessful and useful dam built by The latest edition, the tive health of the planet. The Institute’s 20th-anniversary local people following the Institute’s 20th-anniversary advice of the dam genius, special, sets out a few more edition makes a harsh assessment. Gopal Singh, despite the fact painful home truths. Drawing that not one of the thousands of on the environmental report by John Roberts dams he has built has ever been card issued at the Johannesburg breached. World Summit on Sustainable all of the 2.2 billion extra peo- 34 times more expensive in Friedman chillingly points out, The first structure declared Development held in August ple will be born in cities in the Tegucigalpa, 20 to 60 times “If you don’t visit a bad neigh- illegal by the government was 2002, the report demonstrates developing world. more expensive in Surabaya, borhood, a bad neighborhood one built by villagers in how vital the message of sus- Yet the poorest are often the and up to 83 times more expen- will visit you.” Gopalpura in 1985. The vil- tainability is. Simply by peer- most exploited, paying bribes sive in Karachi. Looking to those who live lagers were told to demolish it. ing out from the skyscraper in order to live in an illegal The World Water Forum’s on the land and deal with prob- They protested and eventually hotels of Sandton, the rich, up- dwelling in informal settle- World Water Vision was lems of survival every day of saved the dam in spite of offi- market suburb, delegates could ments unrecognized by official- unveiled in The Hague in 2000 their lives can often provide cial visits from government irri- see the squalor of dom and thus lacking basic to help combat these issues. some of the best answers. India gation engineers who stood Johannesburg’s urban slums. services such as clean water Discussions there focused on suffers from the vagaries of a around laughing and jeering at “From its vast human inequali- and sewerage enjoyed by those the best way to tackle water and climate that can deposit as what they considered a primi- ty to the coal soot in its air and people paying municipal taxes sewerage provision, using a much as 15,000mm of rain a tive structure. Nonetheless, it the falling water tables beneath or bribes and able to demand mixture of public and private year in one part of the country, was a structure that worked. its surface, Johannesburg is a such services. infrastructure and financing. and as little as 100mm in anoth- Since then, an NGO, Tarun living, breathing example of er. But it has the Bharat Sangh, has assisted vil- why sustainable development is advantage of a rural lagers in constructing water- imperative,” the report says. population so innova- harvesting structures across the In its chapter entitled tive that it invents state. Uniting Divided Cities, Molly clever engineering According to Delhi’s Center O’Meara Sheehan points out solutions to overcome for Science and the that the trickle-down theory of some of their climatic Environment, the controversy wealth distribution does not disadvantages. has exposed the “I won’t and seem to be working very well. Such is the case in you can’t” attitude of the Drawn to huge cities, country Rajasthan. There, a bureaucracy. “[Government] dwellers seek a better life, but clever local farmer, has displayed the apathy of the often find a base existence: Gopal Singh, watched laws governing water towards “More than half the people in the way the water the interest of the people,” a Cairo, Nairobi and Mumbai, for behaved in his fields statement from the center says. example, lack adequate hous- and learned to build The cleverest people are out ing — living in slums or even dams to conserve the in the fields, prevented from

on the pavement,” Ms. Sheehan 'Eileen Frederiksen precious rainwater. providing their own, innovative writes. The cities of the world are coursing toward crisis, according to a new report Each dam was con- solutions, while many of the According to the United structed to suit local people sitting in government Nations, almost a billion people “What makes informal set- So often, the poor “pay conditions. Over the years, he offices are using all their ener- around the world live in slums, tlements so cheap in the short more for their cholera,” accord- built more than 4,000 water- gies to prevent their citizens accounting for 56% of Africa’s term is that the cost of urban ing to health researcher Carolyn harvesting structures. from solving their problems on urban population, 37% in Asia services are not factored in Stephens. And money that Then along came big gov- their own. and Oceania, and 26% in Latin from the beginning,” Ms. flows to the private water ven- ernment in the form of the PHOTOS Water Forum Shimbun • Saturday, March 22, 2003 • Page 8

Nice lady, but who is she and what did I just sign?

Water? There’s plenty of Heineken Talking Heads Photos by Darren Sullivan If another one of those activists interrupts me....

Maybe if I close my eyes I won’t be here any more Good session, so glad I organized it