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World Water Week kicks off in Stockholm
Stockholm (AFP) Aug 18, 2008 A week-long conference on the impact of lacking water resources around the world began in Stockholm Monday with calls for radical changes in behaviour and mentality when it comes to water usage. "We've had a luxurious lifestyle during the last 25 years, not caring at all about the environment. It's necessary to change the way people consume, buy, eat," said British professor John Anthony Allan, winner of the 2008 Stockholm Water Prize. The annual World Water Week, which has gathered some 2,500 experts in the Swedish capital, is focused this year on how lacking water supply impacts sanitation and hygiene. Almost half of the world's population lacks proper toilet facilities, a situation that can have dire consequences on public health and which poses a challenge to resolve since water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource. Climate change, soaring population numbers and the rapid economic development of Asia and Africa have all put a strain on the world's water supply. "It's important to increase the awareness of the decision makers on this issue," said World Water Week chief Anders Berntell, referring to the urgent need to improve sanitation around the world. Twenty percent of the planet's population face water shortages, a figure that is expected to hit 30 percent by 2025, according to the United Nations which has declared 2008 the International Year of Sanitation. "Sanitation is one of the biggest scandals of all times. It's something that we have to put on our radar screen," insisted Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, who heads up the UN Secretary General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation. He said some "7,500 people die every day due to this lack of sanitation," pointing out that "the situation is the same as seven years ago." Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Share This Article With Planet Earth
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Sanitation and hygiene in focus at World Water Week
Stockholm (AFP) Aug 17, 2008As the world races to find solutions to the planet's climate woes, some 2,500 experts meet in Stockholm this week to put the spotlight on one of the most pressing issues, that of water resources, at World Water Week. |
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