There are many initiatives about water, probably more than you can imagine.

In this post, we will talk about the “World Water Day”, an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. March 22^nd has been designated as the day whene States are invited to implement the UN recommendations and set up concrete activities. IRC (International Water and Sanitation Centre, source: http://www.irc.nl/) contributes to an official information network center in support of the observance of the Day by Government. (source: www.worldwaterday.org)

Many Countries follow this initiative, here are some examples:

Argentina

Dia Mundial del Agua con Desafios Educativos

Desafíos Educativos Conocimiento & Información – Programa ECO360

Buenos Aires, Argentina, 22 Mar 10

“On 22 March, at the Visitors Center at the Reserva Ecológica, the Ecological Reserve on the River Plate in Buenos Aires, Argentina, several activities will take place to celebrate World Water Day, from 10 am to 4 pm
Local artists have been invited to work together to build a gigantic installation with empty plastic water bottles on the theme of “the states of water”.
Pupils from primary and secondary schools from the different districts in Buenos Aires will be invited to attend two talks — one at 11 am and the other at 3 pm — on the importance of looking after fresh water and our ecosystems as well as the relationship between the quality of our water and the quality of our lives. The pupils have been studying these issues and will be bringing personal messages they have written on the subject of water care. The messages will be placed in empty plastic water bottles and used to create a massive curtain of “raindrops”.
At the same time, we are organizing an art competition about the importance of water on our planet for pre-school, primary and secondary schools from all over Buenos Aires.”

(Source: Desafios Educativos)

Australia

Siemens announces findings of meta-research study into Australia’s water and energy

Siemens Australia Ltd

Melbourne , Australia, 22 Mar 10

“Zinc bar, Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia

Announcement of research findings into Australia’s water and energy challenges.

Available for interview at event:

•Albert Goller, CEO Siemens Australia

•Chris Davis, the National Water Commission. Chris is a former CEO of Australian Water Association and a National Water Commissioner; Independent Chair of the SEQ Urban Water Security Research Alliance, and Chair of the Independent Advisory Panel for the Sydney Metro Water Plan

•Paul Graham, Theme Leader, Energy Futures, for the Energy Transformed National Research Flagship at CSIRO.”

(Source: http://www.worldwaterday.org/page/2890)

Austria

Water class – lessons for school children in East Tyrol: Education about water quality on the World Water Day 2010.

House of Water, Nationalpark Hohe Tauern Tirol, A-9963 St. Jakob
Lienz, East Tyrol / Austria: Lienzer Sparkasse, Johannesplatz 6, A-9900 Lienz, Austria, 22 Mar 10

“On the very day, World Water Day 2010, March 22nd, school children are invited to come to the Water Class.

Environmental teachers from the House of Water in the National Park Hohe Tauern come to Lienz with their equipment.

They teach groups of about 10 children in 50 minutes about Water quality: tasting fresh water from the tap, analyzing the water pH, playing a puzzling water game and looking through the microscope.”

(Source: House of Water – Evironmental education in the National Park Hohe Tauern Tyrol)

Bangladesh

World Water Day 2010 by JAAGO Foundation

JAAGO Foundation

Dhaka, Bangladesh, 22 Mar 10

“JAAGO Foundation, as it does with all the major national and international occasions, celebrated ‘World Water Day 2010’ on the 22nd of March. In partnership with Coca-Cola Far East Limited, JAAGO Foundation organized a day-long awareness generation event in the surrounding community. The initiative drew the involvement of doctors, students, local community members and volunteers, all joining hands to create awareness about safe drinking water and sanitation.

With the theme ‘Clean Water for a Healthy World’, the event saw students, people from the local community and over 100 volunteers gather together in the JAAGO Foundation School in the morning at around 10 am. They were provided with basic training for about an hour and then they set off at 11 from JAAGO Foundation to the nearby community to raise awareness about major health issues among the community members.”

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/user/korvi#p/a/u/0/UdGDp0Q8FxU)

Belgium

World Water Weekend

Serve the City

Brussels, Belgium, 22 Mar 10

“Join Serve the City for a day of serving on Saturday 20 March to raise awareness for water needs around the world. At the same time a 24hour film competition will be taking place with teams creating a 3-minute film based on a script written by a Hollywood filmmaker specifically for the event. The films will be shown and judged Monday night at a World Water Day Film and Arts Festival, with results partially based on votes from fans at 1 € each. The goal is to raise 5000 € for a small village in Malawi in need of wells. Sign up to serve, form a film team, come to the Film and Arts Festival!”

(Source: www.worldwaterweekend.be)

Brazil

Jornada Internacional de Governança da Água

Comitê da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Tijucas e ROBVQ
Santa Catarina / Biguaçu e Bacia Rio Tijucas, Brazil, 17 May 10

(Source: Jornada Internacional de Governança da Água)

Indonesia

World Water Day 2010 Seminar

Environmental Engineering USTJ

Jayapura, Papua,       Indonesia, 20 Mar 10

Environmental Engineering community in USTJ and WWF Indonesia will hold a seminar commemorating the world water day 2010.
Activities will be held in the auditorium of the University of Science and Technology Jayapura (USTJ).
The theme taken is “Clean Water for Communities and a Healthy Environment”.
We encourage students and community to participate in this activity.
These activities will be broadcast on local TV stations, daily newspapers, radio, and website WWF Indonesia (www.wwf.or.id).

This activity is supported by Telkomsel, Qualala, and the Forest Service of Papua Province, Indonesia.

(Source: World Water Day 2010)

It is so interesting to see how many countries adhere to these wonderful initiatives. Here we are listing only a few of them, but there are many other countries who participate, such as  Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Islamic Republic of, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam. Clearly, it is important to sensitize people about water issues and initiatives like these which are pointing in the right direction. Keep following us and we will keep you updated about water related initiatives!