5th World Water Forum (2)

The World Water Forum aims at a dialogue between representing governments, UN agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academia, the media and other civil society groups... to influence the measures that will be taken for the management of water in the world.

The main theme is “bridging divides for water". It is subdivided into six times: global change and risk management; advancing human development and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); managing and protecting water resources; governance and management; finance; and education, knowledge and capacity development.

The Forum will also offer a water fair and a water exhibition.

¤+ Monday 16th

The Turkish Prime Minister’s Water Prize, which awards media representatives for coverage of national and international water issues was given to Alison Bartle of Aqua-Media International.

The third King Hassan II Great World Water Prize for cooperation and solidarity in the fields of management and development in water resources was given to Abdulatif Yousef Al-Hamad, Director General of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development.

- Opening of thematic sessions

Many issues were tackled : links between water, climate change, disasters and migrations, the necessity of improving the capacity of each country to act more efficiently and of integrating the water resource management to meet human and environmental needs, guarantee the access to water and sanitation for the poor. Water and sanitation crisis are not because of lack of resources but mainly due to inefficient governments.

- Launch of the Third World Water Development Report

The Third World Water Development Report (WWDR-3) was launched ; it deals about the importance of water specialists to take part in decision making, the effects of the energy sector on the use of water, the necessity of improving water facilities in developing countries.

http://www.iisd.ca/ymb/water/worldwater5/html/ymbvol82num16e.html

5th World Water Forum

As you know, today has begun the 5th World Water Forum (from the 16 to the 22 march 2009) in Turkey. World Water Fora are managed by the World Water Coucil every three years.

Oktay Tabasaran, Secretary General, World Water Forum

http://www.worldwaterforum5.org/

http://www.iisd.ca/ymb/water/worldwater5/

About water management in the world

There is fewer and fewer fresh water available in the world. However, if a state doesn't have enough fresh water it can't feed its population and develop itself. Indeed, water consumption is one of the factors which prove that a state is a developed one. United Nations think water could be more precious that oil; so water is called 'blue gold'.

To have available water has became an crucial economic issue. This could be the first reason of conflicts between several states.

Water is unequally distributed. Thus, it's crucial that states get on well and share water. And yet, it's extremely difficult because for example when there is a transborder river upstream countrie(s) can control the river flow and threaten downstream countries.

In 1503,in Italy, Léonard de Vinci and Machiavel were thinking about divert the Arno river from Pise because Florence was fighting against. In Africa, droughts were and are still linked with social problems. In Asia, water is an politic power tool.

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Some people think managing water between states can lead to pacification. For instance, during the 1960's war, India and Pakistan kept on building the Indus river facilities.

Several meetings about water show the realization of a lot of countries that management of water must be though together. Nonetheless, no measures were taken.

At the first international lecture about water in 1977 in Mar del Plata in Argentina, water was defined as a common good that anyone can access without any maters. In 1992, in Dublin, water was defined as a economic good. In 1997, in Marrakech, in Morocco, at the world water forum, experts talked about their fear of water conflicts, more expensive water. In 1992 in Rio and in 1997 in New York, at the earth summit, water wasn't really present.

In 2000 in La Haye in the Netherlands, at the second world water forum, everyone agrees about the importance of managing well water but not about the measures to take. Water was finally defined as an essential good for humans and ecosystems' life and health and the main key of countries' development.

The most crucial issue about water is to assure cost-effective management of water and guarantee the poors' access to it.

Source : http://www.cnrs.fr/

Atatürk dam - GAP - Case of the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers

Called before Karababa Dam, the Atatürk dam is on the Euphrates river in Southern Anatolia in Turkey. It is one of the GAP dams and one of the world's largest dams.

Its construction began in 1963. It opened in 1992.

The reservoir called Atatürk lake is the third biggest in Turkey (817 km² ; 48,7 km3). 10 towns and 156 villages are around. It’s considered as a “sea” by local population : fishing is developing so there are a lot of ships, leisure like water sports (swimming, sailing, canoeing...) can be practiced.
The creation of the reservoir led to bad consequences :
- hundreds hamlets and villages were inundated, about 50,000 inhabitants were compelled to leave their home,
- the old capital of the ancient Commagene kingdom called Samsat was inundated.

It was built in order to provide electricity and for irrigation.

It is 169m high, 1,820 long ; the hydraulic power plants have got a capacity of 2,400MW per year so 8,900GWh of electricity can be provided.

Irrigation is made by gravity-flow ; there are two parallel tunnels (26 km long and 7,6 m in diameter). It concerns one third of the Euphrates flow. On the irrigated area, cotton's production is increasing.

About Iraq, Syria and Turkey…
- a protocol was annexed to the 1946 Treaty of Friendship and Good Neighbourly Relations between Iraq and Turkey ; Turkey promised to share related data and to allow 15.75 km³/year or 500 m³/s of water arriving to Syria.
- in 1990, Turkey filled up the Atatürk reservoir that cut Euphrates flow to Syria and Iraq during about one month. So both downstream countries were fed up.
- Syria and Iraq blame Turkey for being responsible of many shortages and to turning water into a political weapon

Conflicts - GAP - Case of the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers

GAP provokes tensions between Turkey, Syria and Iraq.
A protocol about the share of water was annexed to the 1946 Treaty of Friendship and Good Neighbourly Relations between Iraq and Turkey. Turkey also promised to share related data and to allow 15.75 km³/year o r 500 m³/s of water arriving to Syria. In 1990, Turkey filled up the Atatürk reservoir that cut Euphrates flow to Syria and Iraq during about one month. Syria and Iraq blame Turkey for being responsible of many shortages and to turning water into a political weapon.

From time to time the PKK (Kurdish terrorist) damages dams and canals.

Economic development - GAP - Case of the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers

Thanks to irrigation, production of cotton, wheat, barley, lentils is increasing. Farmers are encouraged to grow new varieties of vegetables and fruits.

Fishing industry is more and more important thanks to the numerous lakes created by dams.

The 19 hydroelectric power plants provide 8,900 GW/hour ; they will supply 22% of the Turkey needs in 2010.

Social purposes - GAP - Case of the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers

The GAP considers the sustainable human development issue which aims at creating a background where future generations could live in good conditions.Thanks to the GAP, Turkey wants to normalize levels of development, of income and living standards between the Southern Anatolia and the rest of the country by promoting business, creating jobs, building airports and highways...