Stockholm World Water week begins, to crucially address why 2 billion people don't have access to clean water

From Hemang Desai in Stockholm
The World Water Week — 2017 kick-started on August 28 here with several senior political dignitaries attending the plenary session. The political leadership included Mayor of Stockholm, Karin Wanngard, the Swedish Minister of environment, Karolina Skog, the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment, Melanie Schultz van Haegen and the Finance Minister of Ecuador, Carlos Torre.
The annual event is hosted by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) in the city of Stockholm and this year it is taking place continuously for the 27th time. World Water Week addresses the planet’s water issues and related concerns of international development in concrete terms. The event had attracted 3000 participants from 130 countries last year.
Leaders and experts from the world’s scientific, business, government and civil society will deliberate during the coming week the delicate matter of global water challenges. World Water Week is a yearly alert to the global citizens about the looming crisis of water that both the developed and the developing world are facing. Executive Director of SIWI, Torgny Holmgren, articulated the message of Water Week to the world: Respect and understand water.
Speaking in the plenary session, the Mayor of Stockholm, Karin Wanngard, described this year’s theme, '’Water and Waste: Reduce and Reuse¨, as an important reminder of the fragility of water element.

The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Peter Thomson, said that the oceans of the world unite people of the world, and we should take care of them as they have always taken care of us. He added that among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of United Nations, 17 goals have water in them.

Karolina Skog, Minister of Environment of Sweden, invited the audience of the plenary session to discuss the essence of water. She also pointed out the strong links water has with city-planning, industry, health and sustainable environment.

The SIWI World Water Week is not an oratorical competition on the theme of water. The event wants the world to become more water wise and draw attention to the sordid fact that more than 2 billion people in this world do not have access to clean water at this very moment.
During this entire week, the thematic scope of Water Week will address issues like the drivers, the water-waste cycle, health and biodiversity, water quality management and the industry and urban dimensions of water.
The theme this year, ‘Water and Waste: Reduce and Reuse’ echoes the prophetic words of the great economist, Gunnar Myrdal, who had exhorted his own compatriots to reduce consumption in this very city in 1972, during his Nobel Prize acceptance speech:

"As has also been amply demonstrated the cutting down of consumption, and of production for home consumption, of many other items besides food, and in all the developed countries, is rational and in our own interest. This is what the discussion of the ‘quality of life’ is all about. Our economic growth in a true sense, but it should be directed differently, and in a planned way, to serve our real interest in a better life."

Comments

Unknown said…

Well covered...it is important that maximum people should know about such efforts at world level and come forward to chip in to reduce and reuse...

August 31, 2017

Unknown said…

Good to see people who can help make a difference once again deliberate upon an issue that affects the survival of the human kind. By now enough has been talked. Problems are well identified and solutions, too, known. Does the political leadership have the will power to confront industry's unquenchable thirst?

October 08, 2017

Land under siege: A silent crisis, desertification is threatening India’s future

By Raj Kumar Sinha* Desertification is emerging as one of the gravest environmental challenges of our time. Marked annually on June 17, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought reminds us that the fate of our planet’s land—and the billions who depend on it—is hanging in the balance.

Hyderabad protest demands end to Operation Kagar as senior Maoist leaders killed in encounter

By Harsh Thakor* A protest was held on June 17 at Indira Park in Hyderabad by the Shanti Charchala Committee, calling for an end to Operation Kagar and the start of peace talks with Maoist groups. The event brought together representatives from several political parties and civil society organizations. Among those who addressed the gathering were CPI (ML) New Democracy Central Committee member Vemulapalli Venkatramayya, along with leaders from the Congress, BRS, CPI, CPM, Telangana Janasamithi, MCPI, SUCI, CPI ML, RSP, and VCK. The programme also featured performances by cultural groups such as CLC, HRF, TVV, Arunodaya, Praja Kala Mandali, and Praja Natya Mandali. Public figures including actors Narayana Murthy and Tudundebba Upendar and academics like Professor Anver Khan and Professor Vinayaka Reddy participated as speakers.

Madhya Pradesh village's inspiring example of how small budget effort conserves water amidst heat wave

By Bharat Dogra Heat waves have been intensifying over vast areas of India in recent days and there are also many reports of water scarcity making the conditions worse for people. However the situation can differ significantly in various villages depending on whether or not significant water conservation efforts have been made. In recent years I have visited several villages of good water conservation efforts where I noticed that even at the time of adverse weather conditions, people of these villages as well as farm and other animals feel important relief in terms of access to adequate water. Due to water and moisture conservation, conditions of farms and pastures is also much better. What is more, with the participation and involvement of people, even quite low budgets have been utilized well to achieve very useful and durable results.

Central London discussion to spotlight LGBTQ+ ex-Muslim rights and persecution

By A Representative On June 13, 2025, the Dissident Club in Central London will host a public discussion to mark the 18th anniversary of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) and to commemorate World Refugee Day. The event, scheduled from 7:00 to 9:00 pm, will feature speakers Ali Malik, Maryam Namazie, and Taha Siddiqui, who are expected to address the intersecting challenges faced by LGBTQ+ ex-Muslims globally.

Population explosion: India needs a clear-headed policy, data-driven governance, long-term planning

By N.S. Venkataraman* At the upcoming G7 summit in Canada, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited as a special guest, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau citing two main reasons: India’s rise as the world’s fifth-largest economy and its status as the most populous nation. While economic growth is undoubtedly a point of pride, the latter distinction—India’s population—raises an important question: should this be seen as a strength or a source of growing concern? India has not conducted a national census since 2011, leaving the current population figures largely speculative. Estimates place the population at around 1.4 billion, with projections reaching 1.8 billion by 2050. Despite modest declines in fertility and death rates, the annual population growth remains between 1.5% and 2%. The next census, scheduled for 2026, will provide a more accurate demographic picture, but until then, policymaking remains uninformed by crucial data. Over the past eleven years, the gov...

Victim to cricketing politics, Alvin Kalicharan was a most organized left handed batsman

By Harsh Thakor* On March 21st Alvin Kalicharan celebrates his 75th birthday. Sadly, his exploits have been forgotten or overlooked. Arguably no left handed batsman was technically sounder or more organized than this little man. Kalicharan was classed as a left-handed version of Rohan Kanhai. Possibly no left-handed batsmen to such a degree blend technical perfection with artistry and power.

Exploring 'Volokolamsk Highway': A tale of Soviet heroism and resilience

By Harsh Thakor* "Volokolamsk Highway" is a classical war novel by Alexander Bek, first published in Russian in 1944 and translated into English in 1958. Set during WWII on the Eastern Front, it describes critical battles fought by the Soviet Red Army against Nazi forces advancing toward Moscow in October 1941. Republished by Foreign Languages Press in 2023, the novel offers a vivid portrayal of Soviet soldiers' struggles to defeat fascism. It is recommended for those seeking insight into Soviet heroism during World War II.

Citizens demand judicial probe into Ahmedabad plane crash, cite neglect of intern doctors, victims' families

By A Representative A wide coalition of concerned citizens, academics, medical professionals, social activists, and public intellectuals has submitted a petition to the Prime Minister of India demanding an urgent judicial inquiry into the recent tragic airplane crash in Ahmedabad that claimed over 240 lives. The petition, coordinated by the Movement for Secular Democracy (MSD), calls for a high-level judicial committee, headed by a retired High Court justice and comprising eminent citizens, to investigate the incident beyond the scope of the existing technical committee.

Better halves lead the way as organic farmers, entrepreneurs and social reformers

By Bharat Dogra Two major challenges continue to limit the full participation of rural women in development. First, their crucial roles, potential, and capabilities often remain underrecognized. Second, even when women are encouraged to take on broader responsibilities, the overarching development models may not align with their needs or perspectives and may even appear counterproductive. Under such conditions, it is unrealistic to expect women to engage as enthusiastic and creative participants.

Search This Blog