SD Main Page ~
Download PDF ~
Download Text ~
The free Adobe(R) Acrobat(R) Reader allows you to view, navigate, and print PDF files across all major computing platforms.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WATER AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
19-21 MARCH 1998
The International Conference on Water and Sustainable Development took place from 19-21 March 1998 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The conference, sponsored by the Government of France, gathered approximately 600 participants, including Ministers and high-level officials from public bodies in charge of water management in 84 countries and representatives of civil society, UN agencies, international organizations and development banks involved in the water sector. The objective of the conference was to contribute to the elaboration of strategies necessary for improving freshwater resources conservation and management in rural and urban areas to ensure better-controlled drinking water supply, sanitation and irrigation, while integrating desertification control into these objectives.
Over the course of the conference, participants convened in three parallel experts' workshops, on improving knowledge of water resources and uses for sustainable management, favoring the development of regulatory tools and institutional capacity building, and defining strategies for sustainable management and identifying appropriate financial resources. In these workshops, delegates heard presentations on a number of case studies and discussed a series of draft recommendations which they later finalized and submitted to the Ministerial session for adoption. Two special workshops were also convened by the Global Water Partnership and the World Water Council and by the International Network of Basin Organizations. A Ministerial session took place during the second half of the conference, where delegates were addressed by more than 120 Ministers, high-level officials and representatives of international organizations, including French President Jacques Chirac and French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. A drafting committee also convened and formulated a Ministerial Declaration.
The conference adopted a Programme for Priority Actions, comprised of recommendations from the three expert workshops, as well as a Ministerial Declaration. These documents will be submitted as official documents and will provide input for discussion at the sixth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-6) in April.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF RECENT WATER-RELATED DECISIONS
At the 19th Special Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGASS) in June 1997, delegates adopted a Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, which contains recommendations for action in the area of freshwater. The text notes that, in view of growing demands, water will become a major limiting factor in socio-economic development unless early action is taken. It identifies an urgent need to, inter alia: formulate and implement policies and programmes for integrated watershed management; strengthen regional and international cooperation for technology transfer and the financing of integrated water resources programmes and projects; provide an environment that encourages investments from public and private sources to improve water supply and sanitation services; recognize water as a social and economic good; and call for a dialogue under the aegis of the CSD, beginning at its sixth session, aimed at building a consensus on the necessary actions, means of implementation and tangible results, in order to consider initiating a strategic approach for the implementation of all aspects of the sustainable use of freshwater for social and economic purposes.
A decision taken at UNGASS regarding the CSD work programme for 1998-2002 deemed that "strategic approaches to freshwater management" would be the sectoral theme for CSD-6. In his address to the Assembly during UNGASS, French President Jacques Chirac proposed to host an international conference in France in March 1998, gathering all actors involved in water policy.
EXPERT GROUP MEETING ON STRATEGIC APPROACHES TO FRESHWATER MANAGEMENT
In preparation for the CSD's Intersessional Ad Hoc Working Group and CSD-6's consideration of strategic approaches to freshwater management, an Expert Group met in Harare, Zimbabwe from 27-30 January 1998. The Co-Chairs' summary of the meeting notes that integrated water resources management, within a national economic framework, is essential for achieving efficient and equitable allocation of water resources and for promoting sustainable economic development and poverty alleviation. The summary includes several recommendations for action on capacity building, information management, environment and development, economics and finance, participation and institutions and international cooperation.
CSD INTERSESSIONAL AD HOC WORKING GROUP
The CSD's Intersessional Ad Hoc Working Group on Strategic Approaches to Freshwater Management met from 23-27 February 1998 at UN Headquarters in New York. Delegates exchanged views on freshwater issues and offered comments on two iterations of a Co-Chairs' draft report. The revised report incorporates remarks on the second iteration and will provide the basis for negotiation at CSD-6. The report: contains an introduction and background; outlines key issues and challenges; calls for action and means of implementation in the areas of information for decision making, institutions, capacity building and participation, technology transfer and research cooperation, and financial resources and mechanisms; and presents recommendations for follow-up and assessment.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WATER AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Prior to the conference, a call for papers was launched to identify case studies illustrating present situations and ongoing reforms, as well as proposals for the application of recommendations resulting from previous international conferences. A selection of case studies reflecting innovative experiences of States, civil society and international organizations were chosen to be presented in the conference's workshops.
An international Steering Committee was also formed prior to the conference, which consisted of the Ministers chosen to chair the three expert workshops, and representatives of States, civil society, UN agencies and international organizations. The Committee was responsible for preparing the conference's draft recommendations, using the papers received and analyzing the conclusions of previous international meetings, the Harare experts' group meeting of January 1998 in particular. The Steering Committee met in Paris from 12-13 February 1998. Its preliminary conclusions were forwarded to all countries and organizations invited to the conference and were discussed as draft recommendations during the first two days of the conference in the three experts' workshops.
REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE
At the opening Plenary on Thursday morning, 19 March, Dominique Voynet, French Minister of Regional Planning and Environment, welcomed participants and thanked the conference organizers. She highlighted lack of access, wasteful use and pollution of water resources as pressing problems that the international community must heed. She emphasized several prerequisites for addressing these problems, including: improved knowledge of water resources; regulatory tools and institutional organization for sustainable management; and financial resources for sustainable management.
Dr. Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, President of the World Water Council, said the finite volume of freshwater is in a state of crisis. He emphasized: increasing water scarcity; lack of accessibility to clean drinking water and sanitation; water quality deterioration; the fragmentation of water management; decline of financial resource allocation; and lack of awareness by decision-makers and the public.
The conference's international Steering Committee prepared a set of draft recommendations in the areas of knowledge of water resources and uses for sustainable management, human resources development and institutional capacity building, and sustainable water management and financing. These draft recommendations were used as a basis for discussion in the three experts' workshops, which met during the first day and a half of the conference. On the final day of the conference, the attending Ministers in charge of water management officially approved the recommendations of the workshops, which were amended based on their discussions and compiled into a Programme for Priority Actions. In addition to commenting upon and amending the recommendations, workshop participants benefited from the presentation of several case studies.
WATER RESOURCES AND USES: J. Szyszko (Poland) chaired the workshop on improving knowledge of water resources and uses for sustainable management. Keynote speaker Derek Osborne (European Environment Agency) called for a high priority to be assigned to: sanitation and reuse of water; broader administrative structures taking into account complete catchment areas; proper pricing allocation; and partnerships and cooperation.
The first day of the workshop was devoted to presentations and general discussion. The Observatoire du Sahara et du Sahel said the adequacy of water in arid zones in Africa will be a major problem in the future and called for improved management, particularly joint management, of nonrenewable resources. Spain focused on water reutilization as a sustainable option for integrated water resources management, particularly for agriculture, landscape irrigation and industrial uses. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted the linkage between health, water and sanitation, and noted the absence of health issues in the draft recommendations. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) highlighted the disparity among regions in integrated information management systems and noted that only in South America has the number of monitoring stations increased, while in Africa it has decreased. He also highlighted the World Hydrological Cycle Observing System as a global supplement to other information management systems. Italy highlighted the Euro-Mediterranean Information System on Know-How in the Water Sector, comprising 27 countries, as an example of regional cooperation and information management.
The Ramsar Convention noted the key role of wetlands in addressing the global water crisis and called for greater focus on an ecosystem approach instead of a user-based approach. Japan detailed the development of its nationwide hydrological and water quality database network on the Internet. A representative of Eurowaternet showcased its information gathering and reporting service. Burkina Faso, Niger, Cameroon, Germany, Brazil, Cote d'Ivoire and Romania shared their experiences in water resources management.
Cross-cutting themes emerging from the discussion included linkages between water and health, poverty alleviation, food security and natural disasters. Consensus emerged concerning the quality and reliability of data and the need for proper assessment and evaluation of such data so that projects and their results are not jeopardized. Participants stressed that people must know how to use information provided to them; technology as a quick fix will not work. The importance of cooperative research, community stakeholder involvement, information and technology sharing, information management systems and data gathering centers, and financial support for such centers by the international community, were also highlighted.
On the second day of the workshop, delegates heard additional presentations and discussed the draft recommendations. Presentations were made on: watershed and ecosystem planning in the US; Poland's creation of a river basin observatory; Spain's integrated approach to water resources inventories; and implementation of an alternative system of water management in India.
In their discussion on the workshop's draft recommendations, delegates achieved a broad level of consensus. It was agreed that greater focus should be given to the river basin approach. It was also agreed that more emphasis should be placed on land-plant-water interactions and disaster forecasting and warning systems. Regarding a proposal to add text noting the lack of water assessment capacity in African countries, several Latin American countries stressed that information systems are needed in all developing countries. Participants decided to include no specific reference to Africa. Delegates agreed that national, regional and international programmes require strengthening. The European Commission warned against turning recommendations on facilitating regional and international cooperation to improve knowledge into a shopping list of preferred programmes. Participants agreed to include examples of good practice.
INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: The workshop on promoting human resources development and institutional capacity building was chaired by Antonio A. Dayrell de Lima (Brazil), who outlined deficits in water resource management. Keynote speaker Ismael Serageldin (World Bank) made a presentation on institutional fragmentation, participatory approaches and subsidiarity, equity, private sector financing, and best practices. In the ensuing discussion, participants highlighted: the development aspects of water (Ethiopia); partnerships (Egypt and Cote d'Ivoire); nomadic people (Mauritania); indigenous people (Mexico and Japan); and women and underprivileged people (US). South Africa qualified a reference to subsidiarity and Sudan called for information exchange between riparian States.
Presentations were also made on: national transition from top-down water management systems (Czech Republic); background to national legislation (Mexico); water basin management and the Mediterranean water crisis (Morocco); "barefoot" solutions and rainfall harvesting (India); irrigation and rational use of water resources (Jordan); natural water purification (Vietnam); Mediterranean regional cooperation (the Blue Plan); and the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (Italy).
The Chair summarized several written amendments to the workshop's draft recommendations which delegates had submitted, and invited discussion on those referring to the "polluter pays principle," transboundary water systems and economic information. Ethiopia called for the national application of the polluter pays principle. The Chair welcomed another amendment stating that polluters' capacity to pay should be considered.
Regarding transboundary water systems, the Chair, supported by Egypt and Haiti, agreed that "transboundary" should replace a reference to "international" water bodies. He reassured the two countries proposing deletion of the paragraph that no mandatory regime was being proposed in the draft recommendation. Supported by Mauritania, he urged countries not to delete the reference to transboundary systems. China said the reference should be deleted or replaced with non-specific text encouraging cooperation. The Secretariat said it is understood that the issue is essentially political. He said the Ministerial Declaration would encourage States to promote dialogue at the basin level, involving civil society, government authorities, and, to the extent possible, riparian States where international water bodies are concerned. Regarding a reference to the GEF, Australia expressed concern that any proposed expansion in the action programme to accommodate freshwater initiatives could call the incremental costs principle into question. Regarding its proposal to delete text on the collection and dissemination of economic information, China explained that data collection should be at the discretion of the country concerned. Ethiopia said monitoring systems should be "national."
On the second day of the workshop, the Chair presented an amended version of the workshop's draft recommendations based on the above discussion and invited delegates to comment on it. In the paragraph encouraging riparian States to cooperate on transboundary water resources, China added "taking into account the interests of all the riparian States concerned." Egypt, supported by Turkey, proposed an introductory reference to the UNGASS Programme for Further Implementation of Agenda 21. Ethiopia noted that UNGASS had reached no consensus on the issue. Egypt objected to text taken from the CSD Intersessional Working Group because it has not been adopted. Ethiopia, supported by Colombia, said he could only accept references to Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration. Regarding human resources development, Mexico introduced a reference to developed country commitments. China added a reference to promoting the transfer of environmentally sound technology and know-how and on technical cooperation between developing countries.
Additional presentations were made on: water privatization in Cote d'Ivoire; national water policy in Lebanon; the impacts of irrigation management; cooperation between the NGO Wateraid and the Tanzanian government in community water management and sanitation provision; water services restructuring in Port-au-Prince; and UNDP-World Bank assistance to poor people for access to sustainable water and sanitation services.
MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES: The workshop on defining strategies for sustainable water management and identifying appropriate means of financing, chaired by S. Toure (Cote D'Ivoire), began with a keynote address from A. Pouillieute of the French Development Fund (CDF). He said investment policies should be guided by three principles: rehabilitating rather than creating new investment when possible; selecting cost-saving technologies suited to particular conditions; and developing a participatory approach. He underscored that users must pay a price for water close to its actual cost. He stressed the need to reduce costs through professional and efficient management within a clear institutional framework, and said ODA should maximize leveraging of local finance and be set aside for less profitable priorities such as training and institutional strengthening.
Delegates commented on the workshop's draft recommendations. Colombia said the recommendations overemphasize fundraising at the national and local levels and downplay the importance of international fundraising. He called for the establishment of a mechanism to channel new and additional international financing to developing countries. China proposed noting that differences in countries' priorities and conditions should be respected and underscoring that new and additional financial resources must be made available to developing countries. Switzerland suggested emphasizing measures for ecosystem and watershed protection. Australia stressed that bilaterial assistance must be based on recipient countries' priorities and highlighted innovative financial mechanisms to leverage private sector capital based on the user pays principle. Ethiopia proposed highlighting food production and hydropower development as important for poverty alleviation.
Regarding priorities for ODA, the EU proposed support for creating an enabling environment and for research and disaster preparedness. He called for more openness to public-private financing. Turkey recommended greater emphasis on private sector involvement, the use of market mechanisms and a specific reference to underprivileged groups and women. Senegal and Peru highlighted the importance of maintenance of water supply systems. Mauritania and Burkina Faso emphasized the continuing need for international assistance in financing water supply.
Several developing countries highlighted difficulties with implementing "user pays" pricing systems in developing countries. Cape Verde said pricing schedules must reflect consumption levels. The US underscored the importance of: participation of women and poor people in determining funding priorities; cost recovery to improve investment efficiency; coordination of funding efforts for water at the national level and among donors; and adequate protection of intellectual property rights in access to and transfer of technology. Argentina stressed the need to include the polluter pays principle. Ghana proposed focusing on public education on health and economic aspects of water and the link between population growth and water resource depletion.
The Netherlands proposed noting that water should be used as a catalyst for regional cooperation rather than conflict. Nigeria said recommendations on finance mobilization should indicate the need for basin resource management. To a list of basic needs that must be met, Spain added flood and drought control and Peru added food security. A Water Club representative called for greater stakeholder involvement in the design stage of projects. A civil society representative of Dakar emphasized mobilization of human resources and local knowledge.
Case studies were presented on: water and sanitation provision in low-income settlements in Buenos Aires; watershed agencies in France; the Asian Technical and Research Network; water management, performance and challenges in OECD countries; World Bank financing strategies in water supply and sanitation; European Community water policies in the context of development cooperation; GEF efforts to address international waters problems; and public-private collaboration on water supply in Gdansk, Poland.
On the second day of the workshop, participants heard additional presentations of case studies on: the Senegal Valley integrated basin management project; involvement of Morocco's farmers in irrigation; FAO perspectives on water and food security; a water concessions model in Aguascalientes, Mexico; sustainable development and drinking water provision in Casablanca; and strategic sanitation planning in Kumasi, Ghana.
Delegates were presented with and discussed an amended version of the workshop's draft recommendations based on the comments made on the first day. Lebanon preferred to delete references to "regional" consultations and emergency funds from text on natural disaster preparedness. Regarding Colombia's proposal to establish a funding mechanism, the Chair noted that the Steering Committee agreed not to recommend such a mechanism but to rely on existing institutions. Egypt proposed that the introduction note that strategies for sustainable water management should be guided by Chapter 18 of Agenda 21 and the Programme for Further Implementation of Agenda 21, rather than by the Harare expert meeting's conclusions. The US added programmes to improve the status of women and the poor and increase their meaningful participation in decision making. Australia added the need for a comprehensive, integrated, strategic approach to water management. The GEF proposed adding a section on developing appropriate financing models and mechanisms.
GLOBAL WATER PARTNERSHIP/WORLD WATER COUNCIL WORKSHOP: In this workshop, chaired by Ismael Serageldin (World Bank), participants exchanged experiences in water management and development networks. An overview was provided of the World Water Council (WWC), a new membership organization set up as an advocacy water policy think-tank comprised of public, private, intergovernmental, international and non-governmental organizations. The GWP was described as a comprehensive global framework that builds on past lessons and fosters global cooperation. Members of regional partnerships under the GWP made statements about ongoing capacity building, awareness raising and information exchange activities in their regions. Discussions highlighted the complexity of water problems and the limitations of existing measures and underscored the importance of policy frameworks to support technological solutions. It was noted that incorporation of research in similar water partnerships and programmes is essential and the use of future scenarios to guide present actions should be considered. Concerns were raised about tendencies to focus on scarcity as the main water crisis while neglecting problems of poor water management and about the proliferation of regional coordination activities. Participants reiterated that water problems will only be managed once societies learn to live with existing resources and plan better for the future. WWC and GWP were called upon to give attention to aspects of efficient use of existing resources and linkages between water and energy as well as other sectors. The Chair closed the workshop with a call for a shift in paradigms governing short- and long-term practices.
INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF BASIN ORGANIZATIONS WORKSHOP: At this workshop, chaired by Juan Manuel Aragones Beltran (INBO), presentations were made on, inter alia: French experiences with river basin agencies; funding of basin organizations; user participation in local authorities; civil society participation in international river management; and the conclusions of the recent Bonn conference on international rivers management. Participants called on the international community to facilitate dialogue between all stakeholders and interest groups.
The workshop recommended the establishment of legal frameworks that take into account the scale of river basins and aquifers, stakeholder participation, long-term water resources master plans and their prioritized investment programmes, and the mobilization of appropriate financial resources. Stakeholder participation may be organized through river basin committees and councils. The workshop also recommended the application of basin water charges and said water charges should be progressive to allow adaptation to the different situations of each country. They called for the mobilization of bilateral and multilateral development aid as well as the integration of user participation in international conventions for transboundary rivers while respecting sovereignty.
The one-and-a-half day Ministerial session commenced on Friday morning, 20 March with an address by Federico Mayor, Director General of UNESCO. He noted that since its inception, UNESCO has included water resources management in its programmes. Observing that in the past, management and harnessing of water resources have not been compatible with sustainable development, he noted the gradual emergence of integrated water resources management as part of a comprehensive approach that is necessary in the future.
Jacques Chirac, President of the French Republic, highlighted degradation of rivers and lakes, desertification, water-related diseases, lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation, and water-related conflicts as serious problems facing humanity, and emphasized that it is time to act to address them. He called for pragmatism, the establishment of deadlines and timeframes, and an end to waste. He stressed that calls for international cooperation do not threaten national sovereignty but strive for joint management of shared heritage. He proposed the establishment of an international water academy under the aegis of an existing institution through which all stakeholders can exchange water management experiences. He called for political will to implement and ensure follow-up of the conference's action plan.
Following these addresses, more than 120 speakers, including Ministers, high-level officials and representatives of international organizations, delivered statements. Several delegates highlighted national experiences and efforts to address water problems, including: flood control plans (BANGLADESH); legislative developments to coordinate water use and head off the consequences of climate change (COTE D'IVOIRE); a programme to introduce water points to villages and enable villagers to participate in management (GABON); use of irrigation to meet national food grain demand (INDIA); the use of recycled water in irrigation (JORDAN); long-term efforts to contend with growing water scarcity (MOROCCO); the use of watershed pilot projects to determine effects of various management systems and use of appropriate technologies (PERU); work on management technology, environmental protection and legislation in the Mekong basin (VIETNAM); implementation of intensified sanitation programmes and a decentralized system for drinking water services (VENEZUELA); adoption of a federal water code and establishment of federal and regional management units (the RUSSIAN FEDERATION); and the creation of a central agency to gather and coordinate data on water resources management (THAILAND).
A number of speakers, including BOLIVIA, SWEDEN, ETHIOPIA, the NETHERLANDS, GERMANY, the FRENCH COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT and the CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (CBD), reiterated the need for integrated approaches to water management. SRI LANKA reiterated the need for effective coordination of environment and water policies. Several countries emphasized that water is an economic asset. BELGIUM and HAITI stressed the need to consider not solely the economic but also the social aspects of water resources protection. ZIMBABWE highlighted the need for balance between economic policies to combat water wastage and ensuring equitable access by communities to water resources, and underscored the importance of subsidies in water provision to rural communities. TURKEY highlighted irrigation as one of the largest users of water and asked delegates to consider the appropriateness of agricultural subsidies.
AUSTRALIA recommended improving economic instruments for efficient management. ITALY highlighted the need for adequate pricing systems. GREECE said costs must be paid by users with due consideration to the strengths and weaknesses of different groups. MEXICO said prices must be rationalized with environmental and social criteria. The PHILIPPINES noted its use of water pricing that combines full cost recovery with consideration of capacity to pay, consistent with the view of water as an economic good. ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS stated that the costs of water maintenance must be borne by consumers on the basis of the user pays principle. The INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WATER DISTRIBUTORS said populations are generally prepared to pay the right prices for quality service if they are properly informed and involved in decision making. PORTUGAL underscored the importance of taking into account the costs of water based on national circumstances and within an international framework. The NETHERLANDS stated that a successful water resources management strategy will require: a balance of needs; protection and conservation of water resources that take into account the varied degrees of resources; streamlining; and proper management. THIRD WORLD ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT (ENDA) said water should not be treated merely as a commodity and that its growing commercialization should be called into question.
Many speakers stressed the need to strengthen cooperation. UNESCO called for increased cooperation from UN agencies. INDONESIA called for solidarity in tackling problems of unequal access to water resources. GERMANY called for increased cooperation from the private sector. PANAMA expressed concern with the prioritization of industry over freshwater provision for local populations and called for solidarity in dealing with the human aspects of water management. The CZECH REPUBLIC said solutions to water problems require national, international and global cooperation to address all the socio-economic and political aspects. The COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES EAUX called on governments to create an enabling environment to foster cooperation.
MAURITANIA stated that water problems are a constraint to sustainable development and pose considerable potential for conflict. TUNISIA said water should be a source of cooperation and partnership rather than conflict. NORWAY said a proactive approach is fundamental to conflict prevention and resolution in transboundary watershed areas. BELGIUM, GHANA and GREECE underscored the importance of regional cooperation in managing joint hydrological resources. UGANDA and TANZANIA called upon the international community to support efforts by riparian States of the Nile basin to develop and adopt an integrated water management programme.
GERMANY noted the results of the recent Petersberg Declaration on the transboundary movement of water resources and said that this can serve as a starting point for regional cooperation. BURKINA FASO highlighted the importance of implementing the recent Ouagadougou Declaration on freshwater management, which calls for commitments to: implement national integrated management plans; develop a regional cooperation framework; establish a framework for dialogue between riparian States; and mobilize financial resources. SENEGAL noted its adoption of the Ouagadougou Declaration and called for combined management and fair sharing of water resources. PORTUGAL called on governments to ratify the Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses as it provides a reference point in the definition of a framework to govern water use. The RAMSAR CONVENTION recommended that the international community fully utilize the potential of the Convention in the preservation of water resources and noted that Parties to the Convention have called for a water protocol in light of growing water problems. The US emphasized that solutions to water problems must primarily be found at the local and national levels.
Numerous speakers addressed financial matters related to water management. CHINA, BENIN and HUNGARY called upon developed countries to provide new and additional financial resources and transfer technology to developing countries. LUXEMBOURG called on the international community to muster fresh public and private financial resources. UNED-UK said financial investments in water resource management must be doubled if the recommendations of the conference's action programme are to be achieved, and called on the CSD to develop the capacity to monitor levels of financial commitment. COLOMBIA and BOLIVIA called for the establishment of a financial mechanism to guarantee funds for developing countries for sustainable water use and management. The US said a new financial mechanism is not necessary and would divert attention from water needs into a new institutional bureaucracy. He emphasized bilateral efforts and continuing contributions to existing financial institutions.
The EUROPEAN COMMUNITY promoted more effective donor cooperation and use of existing resources. The UK emphasized the importance of international partnerships and expressed its commitment to increase expenditure and bilateral support for water projects in developing countries. The WORLD BANK pledged its commitment to provide half of the US$60-80 billion it predicted would be necessary over the next decade to carry out the recommendations of the action programme, and called for the adoption of the polluter pays principle.
WWF warned against overemphasizing financial issues in the water debate. The BAREFOOT COLLEGE called for an international code of conduct for international donors. MEED noted that inappropriate water management practices are caused by inadequate project design rather than a lack of financial resources. The INTERNATIONAL WATER SECRETARIAT called for promotion of innovative financial tools that build capacity and give women equal opportunity in business. DENMARK said equity considerations must be included and balanced with proposed financial schemes. BRAZIL noted that equity considerations cannot be adequately addressed in the market system, and said international assistance should be used to leverage national action. IRAN noted the unfulfilled promises of past regional and international water conferences, notably with regard to finance, technology and capacity building.
AUSTRALIA called for facilitation of private sector contributions. ETHIOPIA called for increased involvement of the private sector, regional and international cooperation and financial assistance and capacity building. BURUNDI, COLOMBIA, GHANA and others called for improved coordination of funding of water management efforts. The WHO called for increased investment in improving sanitary conditions. PAKISTAN supported the commission on large dams and expressed hope that its work will lead to further investments in the water sector.
The REPUBLIC OF KOREA underscored the role of technology transfer in preserving developing countries' water base, particularly publicly-funded technologies. The CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION called on developed countries to facilitate access to technology and know-how. IFOAM-MEDITERRANÉE said that, in assisting third world countries, "elitist" technologies ill-suited to their needs continue to be used. The PHILIPPINES called for a free exchange of information technology to improve international actions for water protection. UNESCO noted that global water problems cannot be solved by technology alone, and highlighted its activities to strengthen the participation of all stakeholders.
Other speakers, including ALGERIA, NORWAY, EGYPT, HAITI, MEXICO, LEBANON, PANAMA, PERU, the PHILIPPINES, ARGENTINA, TUNISIA, the MAGHREB-MACHRECK ALLIANCE FOR WATER and UNICEF, emphasized the importance of stakeholder involvement in water management. The participation of particular groups were highlighted: local governments and farmers (REPUBLIC OF KOREA); local communities (IRELAND, NIGER and the BAREFOOT COLLEGE); women (SWEDEN, DENMARK, the US, MEXICO and the WATER SOLIDARITY PROGRAMME); business (the PHILIPPINES); and poor people (SWEDEN and DENMARK). The HYDRO CONSEIL highlighted the significant role of private informal providers, such as those who drill village wells or carry water to remote neighborhoods.
Several speakers, including SWEDEN, CANADA and EGYPT, underscored the importance of partnerships to achieve sustainable freshwater use. SUEZ-LYONNAISE DES EAUX and COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES EAUX highlighted public-private partnerships in supplying water. The REPUBLIC OF KOREA, the ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES and the WORLD FEDERATION OF CITIES called for partnerships with local authorities. The COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES EAUX said involvement of industry can only be considered in close cooperation with public authorities. WATERAID said water problems are political rather than technical and are related to poverty, and urged governments to foster partnerships with civil society in addressing poor peoples' needs.
The importance of capacity building and information on water resources were also highlighted. UNDP called for capacity building for the sustainable development of water resources and the aquatic environment. LUXEMBOURG called on the international community to step up capacity for scientific and technical know-how. MEXICO called for increased coordination of information systems and, with CHILE, for the development of institutional capacities for training. ACADEMI DE L'EAU called for pilot projects on sustainable water management to enable the dissemination of best practices. PAKISTAN called for the exchange of experiences between developed and developing countries on sound means of water management. POLAND expressed support for national and international programmes that promote human resources development, formation of joint programmes on sustainable development and on appropriate means of financing water schemes as well as exchange of information and experiences on water management.
FINLAND supported efforts to improve knowledge, assessments and capacity. ITALY stressed the need for an accurate database of information on water resources. The WMO called for a reversal of the deterioration of the hydrological knowledge network. TANZANIA proposed the establishment of hydro-informatic systems for information dissemination and a global water week dedicated to public awareness. The REGIONAL CENTER FOR POTABLE WATER (CREPA) noted the importance of public involvement and access to information on water development and management. IRELAND called for continued commitment to improving knowledge of water resources and making accurate assessments of demand and activities likely to threaten supplies. IRAN called for well-defined objectives and performance indicators. ENDA, the BAREFOOT COLLEGE and the CBD called for the recognition and utilization of local knowledge and practices. LEBANON, EGYPT, ITALY, NICARAGUA, SUDAN and ARGENTINA supported President Chirac's proposal for the establishment of an international water academy.
Following the Ministerial statements, delegates adopted by acclamation the Priority Action Programme and the Ministerial Declaration, which will be submitted as working documents and will provide input for further discussion of freshwater issues at CSD-6 in April.
Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director of UNEP, stated that the scientific and technological means to avert a pending water crisis are available, but collective political will and leadership to act innovatively and decisively must be demonstrated. He noted the potential eruption of conflicts over water in many parts of the world and called on the international community to elevate the issue of water quality for peace policy. He stated that UNEP, in close cooperation with all relevant institutions, must systematically identify solutions to water problems by: inventorying freshwater resources and identifying hot spots for conflict over water; assessing key priority freshwater issues; and developing innovative economic, legal, financial and institutional instruments for sustainable use and greater public awareness, education and participation. He emphasized the need to develop a holistic approach to water and sanitation activities, to make more efficient use of existing and innovative financial resources, and to forge partnerships to protect and conserve freshwater resources.
Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary General, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, said the comprehensive assessment of water resources indicates that present uses of water are unsustainable and that conflicts in water use are bound to increase. He underscored the need for: integrated management of water to encourage the establishment of institutional, regulatory and participatory frameworks; access to effective production systems; focus on human needs; and mobilization of necessary financial resources. He urged the conference to heed the call for an enhanced international dialogue between stakeholders and all interest groups.
Cielito Habito, Chair of the CSD, stated that the conference served to further the global dialogue on strategic freshwater resources. He noted the political commitments expressed during the conference and underscored the need for a collaborative approach to water management. He emphasized the global nature of water that transcends national, social, religious and ethnic borders and called for increased partnerships among nations, civil society and public and private sector organizations. He said the problem of water is not only a resource problem but also a "people problem" that must be solved collectively and requires integration of efforts. He called for a redefinition of the concept of security to encompass environmental security. He recalled the challenges raised by President Chirac to seek means of translating the stated commitments into programmes of action.
French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin said water would become a major challenge in the coming years, with its social, technical and economic aspects having a growing impact on national policy making. He noted that civil society would play an increasing and decisive role in managing water and paid tribute to their success in introducing sustainable development into water policy. He affirmed two principles discussed at the conference, the first being that good water management must take place at the level of the hydrographic basin, implying international cooperation in areas where, up to now, States had not been successful. The second principle holds that water management must be conducted as close as possible to the users, with the participation of civil society, notably women. User involvement would encourage them to share expectations and accept constraints and limits.
On water costs, Jospin said the conference had considered polluter-pays and user-pays approaches and these approaches could serve as incentives to help change behavior. Conference participants had abandoned the previous notion that water is a "gift from the heavens" and free of charge. He said this economic approach should not be confused with a purely commercial or market approach to supply and demand, and called for a balanced approach to user contributions toward costs. He noted the surprising conclusion that those countries most exposed to water scarcity often lack knowledge of their own water resources, and he affirmed the importance of training together with technology transfer and knowledge. He also underlined the importance of education and changes in consumer behavior.
PROGRAMME FOR PRIORITY ACTIONS
The recommendations finalized in the three expert workshops were compiled into a Programme for Priority Actions, which was adopted during the Ministerial session on Saturday, 21 March. Following is a summary of the Programme.
IMPROVING KNOWLEDGE OF WATER RESOURCES AND USES FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT
ESTABLISHING AND IMPROVING INTEGRATED SYSTEMS FOR MONITORING WATER RESOURCES, THEIR USES AND ECOSYSTEMS: This section states that a high priority should be given to the strengthening or establishment of local, national or international integrated water information systems in order to mobilize information for water resource and ecosystem management, water use regulation and protection against point or non-point source pollution, and prevention of crisis situations. A better assessment of water resources, their different uses and their efficiency is essential.
Strengthening and establishment of integrated information systems: Integrated information systems should be developed on various scales, from local to global. They should be structured as long-term monitoring systems, particularly at the level of large river and lake basins, and aquifers. Governments are responsible for their sustainability and must also ensure improvements in quantity and quality of information.
Development of data exchange: Priority should be given to the national and international standardization of definitions, development of user-friendly formats, and access to and exchange of information.
STRENGTHENING REGIONAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMES FOR ACQUIRING FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE OF WATER RESOURCES AND THEIR USES:
Understanding major trends and their impact: In order to improve research capacities, international scientific, institutional and technical cooperation should be strengthened to develop concepts along with indicators and common methodologies, particularly with regard to the characterization of:
reliable and "usable" resources on the basis of rational demand management;
different consumptive or non-consumptive water uses in basins, their evolution and efficiency;
point and non-point pollution sources;
the condition of aquatic ecosystems, rivers, lakes, wetlands and groundwater;
eutrophication and biological degradation of rivers, lakes and reservoirs;
extreme meteorological and hydrological events;
economic and social values of ecosystem functions;
modification of watercourse flow regimes and functioning of aquifer systems caused by infrastructures, withdrawals and discharges; and
changes in land use and soil degradation, biological diversity and living aquatic and terrestrial resources.
Due to women's role in utilizing and conserving water resources, their knowledge and experience should be considered as a component of any sustainable water management programme. Information systems should rely on data that reflects the role of women. The users of water-related information must be associated with data collection.
Prospective studies should be carried out on water resource availability and changes in water demand to assist in identifying potential water crises. It is particularly important to be able to assess the interaction between inland freshwater resource management and other major environmental issues and to make a connection between water, health, sufficient nourishment and poverty.
Facilitating regional and international cooperation to improve knowledge: To improve knowledge, it is necessary to reinforce regional and global programmes, that will rely, whenever possible, on national programmes. Considering their geographic coverage and their aim, some should be financially supported, while others call for cooperation. The section lists some ongoing international programmes.
NETWORKING WATER DOCUMENTATION SYSTEMS: The following activities should be promoted:
collection of easily understood information and wide dissemination to all stakeholders in order to promote professional training, disseminate new knowledge and enhance public awareness;
creation of interlinked and widely disseminated systems for exchanging institutional, economic and technical documentation and baseline information; and
development of compatible references, protocols for computerized exchange of documentation and multilingual approaches, and management of the network and training of documentation specialists.
PROMOTING HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING
An introduction notes that the two key topics in this section are the integrated management of water resources and services for the supply and use of resources, including sanitation. The section builds on the Harare experts group view that an integrated approach requires a significant reinforcement of institutional and human capacities at both national and local levels in a complementary manner and with the involvement of civil society. There is a call for strong political will and long-term financial commitment to make the recommended actions effective and durable.
INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING:
Role of public authorities: The importance of supporting integrated and multi-year projects for the establishment and improvement of administrative, financial and technical frameworks is underlined, in order to improve management of the water sector. Taking account of specific needs, capacities and cultures, projects should address:
legislation and regulations for integrated water management and enforcement;
management agencies with well-defined responsibilities and financial resources;
institutions and procedures to enable participation by local authorities, users and civil society, including women, nomadic people and the poor, in decision-making and project specification;
detailed studies for long-term water development at the river basin or aquifer level; and
elaboration of multi-year priority national investment programmes, taking account of user-pay systems and the polluter pays principle.
Role of Local Authorities: Objectives with regard to the devolution of water supply and sanitation responsibilities to local authorities include: improving decision-making capacity for local managers; facilitating exchange of experience between managing agencies; improving economic and technical service efficiency; and promoting local initiatives.
Participation of civil society: Requirements for public and civil society participation in planning, design and funding are: access to and dissemination of information; training of decision makers, including village leaders and NGOs; promoting initiatives within advocacy groups; and full involvement of women and children's awareness raising. It is recommended that a significant share of ODA for large infrastructure, equipment and institutional reform be allocated to these activities.
Implementation of management tools for transboundary freshwater bodies: Referring to Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration and the UNGASS Programme for Further Implementation of Agenda 21, riparian States are encouraged to cooperate on transboundary water matters, taking account of the interests of the States concerned. To this end, it is considered desirable to: promote information exchange between riparian countries; develop dialogue, including at the level of relevant international institutions when appropriate; and define priority actions of common interest. The section also calls for enhanced action by bilateral and multilateral donor institutions, and invites the GEF to take account of the Priority Action Programme under relevant focal areas.
Collection and dissemination of economic information: Countries undertake to strengthen studies on costs of different water uses, performance monitoring, and national and regional indicators. Monitoring mechanisms should be developed on an appropriate scale.
HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT: Multidisciplinary and multisectoral training and information provision for water professionals and users are identified as prerequisites for optimum water use and cost-effectiveness.
Vocational training for professionals: There are calls for a significant increase in funding, in-service vocational training funded by public and private employers, particular attention to the training of women, priority ODA funding for regional training focal points, and the possible establishment of specialized technical and managerial training institutions. Networks for training trainers and developing materials are also proposed. Implementation of integrated water resources management is said to require appropriate high-level training and high priority is attached to training least qualified staff to improve operating conditions, maintenance and administration.
Research and transfer of technology: There is a call for the development of national and regional research programmes linked to higher education, and the exchange of know-how and technology, taking account of indigenous technologies. The responsibility of the international community in this regard is underlined.
Awareness, information and education of users: Water management is described as an increasing responsibility of users and local populations, who should be made more aware of issues relating to wastage control, the economic, social and cultural values of water, disease prevention, soil erosion and environmental protection. This will require a global transdisciplinary approach with strengthened actions to enable women's participation.
DEFINING STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT AND IDENTIFYING APPROPRIATE MEANS OF FINANCING
FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SUB-NATIONAL, NATIONAL AND REGIONAL STRATEGIES: This section states that: countries that have not yet formulated sub-national or national strategies for the water sector should be encouraged to do so; regional strategies should be developed as necessary; existing strategies should be evaluated and updated regularly; and implementation of these strategies should meet requirements for integrated water resources management and include adaptation and modernization of institutional, legislative and regulatory frameworks, improvement of knowledge of resources and uses, and training in service management and equipment maintenance. Instruments to support the use of water as a catalyst for regional cooperation could be emphasized.
MOBILIZATION OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER RESOURCES:
Mobilization of national and local resources: Water planning and management must be considered within a socio-economic development framework while recognizing the vital role of water in fulfilling basic human needs. Incentives to improve water resources use and protection, pricing and financial, as appropriate, should be developed. Ways and means to facilitate a gradual transition toward full cost recovery should be explored and should be transparent. Subsidies for specific groups, particularly poor people, might be considered in some countries.
Appropriate frameworks should be established to:
enable the sustainable mobilization of private or public funds to finance water supply and sanitation networks;
facilitate access to credit and encourage micro-credit development;
provide, as needed, public or private investors with appropriate risk guarantee schemes for the financing of investments;
set up, to the extent possible, user pays pricing systems that cover direct or indirect costs of services with costs billed to users who can afford to pay;
manage, as needed, the transition toward recovery of, at a minimum, operational maintenance and replacement costs and watershed costs, with, as necessary, an intermediate phase in which these could be partly covered by public funds;
apply efficiently the polluter pays principle; and
take into account costs related to acquisition of knowledge, surface and groundwater protection and development, ecosystem preservation and management, among others.
Mobilization of external resources: Bilateral and multilateral donors should assist countries in formulating and implementing integrated water resources management strategies, consistent with defined priorities. Evidence that existing resources are used optimally will help mobilize additional financial resources from national and international sources, both public and private. Joint action and co-financing of multilateral and bilateral donors should be emphasized.
Use of innovative mechanisms: Due consideration should be given to greater private sector involvement, innovative models for local water resources management and use of market mechanisms where appropriate.
Mobilization of local human resources and knowledge stemming from different cultures: Local human resources should be mobilized and the population's diversified know-how utilized.
PRIORITIES FOR ODA: Bilateral and multilateral donors should first concentrate concessional financing on enabling activities and programmes intended to improve the enabling environment in order to meet basic priority needs, building on ongoing activities. Among these:
meeting basic needs, with special consideration for gender and equality issues;
organization of integrated monitoring systems and databases to improve information on resources, use and pollution;
implementation of institutional, administrative and economic reforms;
vocational and in-service training;
facilitation of public-private partnerships;
sustainable management of water-related ecosystems;
research, training and capacity building;
natural disaster preparedness; and
efficiency of irrigation.
ANNEX - PROMOTION OF PARTNERSHIP AND DIALOGUE
An annex to the Programme states that all public authorities, public and private companies and NGOs involved in the water sector are invited to engage in a permanent dialogue with all users and beneficiaries. This dialogue requires sharing all relevant information with stakeholders and discussions on objectives and implementation modalities. Transfer mechanisms of know-how, knowledge, technology and all relevant information for improving efficiency and fostering development of services will be promoted through institutional or business partnerships, among others. All actors will support, as appropriate, sharing and dissemination of experience and exchange of information.
In the Ministerial Declaration of the International Conference on Water and Sustainable Development, Ministers and Heads of Delegations state that they: are convinced that freshwater has mutually linked and supportive social, economic and environmental values and is essential to sustainable development; are guided by the conclusions of UNCED and UNGASS; recall previous deliberations on water by the international community; note the ongoing preparatory process for CSD-6, including contributions from recent expert group meetings; express concern over a number of issues which pose serious threats to social and economic development; are concerned that constraints on access to water could become a major limiting factor in sustainable development; and are determined to take advantage of the opportunities to tackle these problems by promoting local and national systems for managing the sustainable use of water resources based on an integrated approach that links development with protection of the natural environment, participation of all actors and interested parties, and recognition of the social and economic values of water.
The Declaration also underlines the importance of: water resources in satisfying basic human needs, the preservation of ecosystems and for social and economic development; protecting ecosystems to maintain and rehabilitate natural hydrological cycles; water for future prosperity and stability and its recognition as a catalyst for regional cooperation; improving knowledge and understanding of water resources; strengthening institutions, in particular local institutions, and improving training and awareness of professionals and users; promoting the development, management, use and protection of water by public and private partnerships based on participatory decision-making processes; and international cooperation in achieving these objectives at national, regional and global levels.
The Declaration: calls upon the international community, public authorities at every level and civil society to give priority to providing safe drinking water and sanitation to all; calls on the international community to take into account the Harare expert meeting's outcomes and develop a statement of principles to be applied in developing and implementing local and national water management systems and international cooperation to support them; and commits support for the implementation of the following guidelines, where appropriate, and in the framework of national and local strategies, taking into account each country's specific situation:
promote the integration of all aspects of the development, management and protection of water resources by developing plans that set out to satisfy basic needs and promote efficient and equitable allocation of water resources, protection of ecosystems and maintenance of the hydrological cycle. Shared vision between riparian countries is important for the effective development, management and protection of transboundary water resources. Relevant international conventions can make a contribution to the integration of their special interest in sustainable water use.
mobilize adequate financial resources from public and private sectors, and as an important part of this task, enhance the effective use of available resources. Provisions for progressive recovery of direct service costs and overheads, while safeguarding low-income users, should be encouraged. ODA should complement and focus programmes designed for creating enabling frameworks for the sustainable development, management and protection of water.
improve knowledge, training and information exchange by encouraging increased transfer of technology and expertise, development of monitoring and information systems related to water resources and their uses, and support programmes for vocational and continuous training. In parallel, people living in poverty and disadvantaged groups, indigenous communities, youth, local authorities, leaders of local communities and NGOs should be enabled to be more involved in the decision making process. Women should be enabled to participate fully in project definition and implementation.
The Declaration: highlights the importance of following up the guidance contained in the Programme of Priority Actions and submits it for consideration at CSD-6; calls on relevant international institutions to follow-up the actions derived from the recommendations contained in the Declaration and the Programme of Priority Actions; stresses the need to ensure that the problems of achieving sustainable development, management and protection, and equitable use of freshwater resources are kept under review, to improve coordination between UN agencies and other international organizations, and to ensure periodic consideration, within the UN system and in particular the CSD, of the proposed priorities of governments for action, and to emphasize the role of UNEP in the field of environment; and emphasize the need for continuous political commitment and broad-based public support to ensure the achievement of sustainable development, management and protection, and equitable use of freshwater resources and the importance of civil society to support this commitment.
Sustainable Developments is a publication of the
International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
(firstname.lastname@example.org), publishers of the Earth Negotiations
Bulletin ï¿½. This issue is written and edited by Angela
Churie (CHURIE@ce.kth.se), Peter Doran (email@example.com-
net.com), Tiffany Prather (firstname.lastname@example.org) and Kira
Schmidt (email@example.com). French translation by Mongi
Gadhoum (Mongi.Gadhoum@enb.intl.tn). The Managing Editor of
Sustainable Developments is Langston James "Kimo" Goree VI
(firstname.lastname@example.org). Funding for coverage of this meeting has
been provided by the French Ministry for Development
Cooperation through ACCT/IEPF and by the Swedish
International Development Agency (SIDA) through the Global
Water Partnership. The authors can be contacted at their
electronic mail addresses and at tel: +1-212-644-0204 and
by fax: +1-212-644-0206. IISD can be contacted at 161
Portage Avenue East, 6th Floor, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0Y4,
Canada; tel: +1-204-958-7700. The opinions expressed in the
Sustainable Developments are those of the authors and do
not necessarily reflect the views of IISD and other
funders. Excerpts from Sustainable Developments may be used
in other publications with appropriate academic citation.
Electronic versions of Sustainable Developments are sent to
e-mail distribution lists (ASCII and PDF format) and can be
found on the Linkages WWW-server at
(http://www.iisd.ca/). For further information on
Sustainable Developments, including requests to provide
reporting services, contact the Managing Editor at


When learning a new language there are many different components that go into being able to speak, read, write, and listen to that new language. Many languages have different alphabets, sentence structure, word endings, and word origins. All languages are spoken differently and therefore can be very difficult for a new learner to communicate with a native speaker. You must carefully learn the alphabet, the different words and phrases, the spelling of the new words, and the correct pronunciation of each word before being able to say you have mastered the new language you are learning.
If you are an English speaker and are trying to learn a new language you may find yourself asking the question which is easier to learn Turkish or Russian? There are many factors that go into answering this question and the answer may vary from person to person based on their past experiences with language. For the majority of people the answer to the question would most likely be Russian. Since Russian is an Indo-European language it is more closely related to English than Turkish. Turkish is not an Indo-European language and therefore the structure of words and sentences can vary greatly when compared to English. While that is an easy answer and may not be accurate to all people trying to learn the language it may help to describe each language briefly and the differences that each language has when compared to English.
The structure of the Turkish language is much different than other languages, especially English and therefore learning how to use proper sentence structure can be very challenging. Turkish uses Latin script for their alphabet. While this can be difficult to learn, it may be easier to speak because each letter has only one sound. Unlike English, whose letters and vowels can be pronounced many different ways, the letters in the Turkish language cannot. If you are able to learn the pronunciation of each letter you may be able to easily speak the language if you are reading it off of a page. Understanding what the words mean and comprehending what someone is saying to you is a larger challenge.
There are many suffixes added to each word and therefore it may be difficult to find the root of each word. This can cause confusion when trying to look up a word in the dictionary to decipher the meaning. The word order in the Turkish language is different than the English word order. For example, in the Turkish language the verb ends each sentence, which is opposite of the English language. The most difficult part of learning Turkish is most likely the sentence structure, grammar and word order.
Just like learning any language the Russian language has many factors that any new learner of the language must know. The first thing learners must know is that Russian is a Cyrillic language and uses thirty three different letters. While it does have more letters in the alphabet than English, it is similar to Turkish in the fact that each letter represents one sound. Learners do not have to guess if it is a long vowel or a short vowel because there is a one to one correspondence between letters and sounds. Many Russian verbs are similar to English verbs making the language easier to learn than Turkish. The words tend to be a little longer in Russian but are similar to the pronunciation of English words.
While sentence structure is very important in the Turkish language, there are many ways to say the same thing in the Russian language. The rules for sentence structure in Russia are far more lenient than in the Turkish language. Just like any language, Russian has a lot of rules for grammar, however there are only a small number of exceptions that learners need to be aware of. This make conjugating verbs and other grammar rules much easier to learn and remember over time.
When you are trying to answer the question which language is easier to learn Turkish or Russian it can be broken down into many parts. In terms of reading and writing, Russian for most people would be easier because there are far less grammar rules to follow, which makes writing sentences and short phrases much easier. In terms of speaking Turkish and Russian are very similar because while they both use an alphabet that is different from the English language, their letter all correspond to only one sound. Therefore, speaking and listening in Russian and Turkish would be very similar. The only difference for speaking and listening to a Turkish and Russian learner would be one’s preference for the language and willingness to learn it.
Another factor that may arise when you find yourself asking which language is more difficult to learn Turkish or Russian may be what you are most interested in. For example, if you have a lot of friends who speak Turkish it would most likely be easier for you to speak Turkish because you have been exposed to the language in the past. If you have experiences with another language prior to learning it you will most likely have an easier time learning it than another person who has never heard it before. Another factor that may influence your opinion about which is harder to learn Turkish or Russian would be if you have any future travel plans to visit a country that speaks either language. If you are interested in traveling to any country that speaks either of these languages you will have more motivation to learn that language. For instance, if you are planning to visit Russia next year you have more interest and more motivation to learn the key phrases and vocabulary words that you would need to use in Russia. You would most likely practice the language frequently in order to make sure you were prepared.
There are many factors that may influence a person’s answer to the question which is harder to learn Turkish or Russian. Factors that you need to be aware of include the connection between each language and the English language, the sentence structure, and verb tenses, the alphabet, pronunciation, past experiences with the language, and motivation. Either way it would benefit all people to learn another language and get out in the world and use it!


Hectometre is metric length unit, symbol: [hm]. Definition of 1 hectometre =100 m. . Compared to metre, hectometre is bigger unit.
• 1 [hm] = (exactly) `100` [m]
• 1 [m] = (exactly) `1/(100)` [hm] = 0.01 [hm]
Multiply convert of hectometre to common length units:[hm]
Length units sort by name in ABC order
SI prefix chart and conversion. http://conversion.org/si-prefi...


English Versions of Song & Aria Texts
The linked English versions of various sung texts mostly have been made to use in program notes I have written. But, first off, let me state that I am not fluent in any language other than English. My versions have depended on literal translations of others and online translation tools for the meaning of the words. What I have attempted is to take the literal and translate it into poetry, usually as free verse, but sometimes also using the rhyme schemes of the original poetry.
For all texts/translations/versifications of the following go to http://sites.google.com/site/edwardlein/Home/translations, or click on the individual title:
•Berlioz / Gautier : Les nuits d'ete
•Conti: Il mio bel foco
•La llorona (The Weeping Woman) (Folk song)
•Mozart/Metastasio: L'amerò, sarò costante
•Poulenc/Apollinaire: Voyage à Paris
•Poulenc/Vilmorin: Mazurka (English version only)
•Puccini: Donde lieta uscì
•Puccini: Chi bel il sogno di Doretta
•Ravel / Klingsor: Shéhérazade
•Santoliquido: 'I canti della sera'
•Verdi / Piave: La donna è mobile


Paris, the French capital of fashion and city of light, is fundamentally characterized by an architectural style called the Haussmannian style. What are the characteristics of this style ?
A bit of history …
In the middle of the 19th century, the center of Paris had the same structure as it did in the Middle Ages. Paris was dirty, crowded and filled with disease !
The population has doubled since 1815, the traffic issues and hygiene in the old over-populated districts favorise the cholera epidemic.
Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte III, Napoléon Bonaparte’s nephew, was the 1st elected president in 1848. He decided to modernise Paris after seeing how the Industrial Revolution transformed London with public parks and a complete sewage system. He lived in exile there for 12 years. To pursue his ambitious project for a hearthier Paris, he appointed Baron Haussmann as the Prefect of Paris in 1853.
Paris, needed light, air, clean water and good sanitation. By Napoleon III
The new Paris
The first task was to create a sort of city under Paris that would process water waste and bring potable water into the city. Haussmann expanded the area of Paris in order to accomodate the growing population. Therefore, he divided the capital into 20 different neighborhoods that still exist now (also called arrondissement). In 1854, hundreds of old buildings were torn down and thousands of new buildings were erected ( representing today almost 60% of the buildings of the Capital). In addition, Haussmann redesigned 80 km of new avenues connecting the central points of the city, and parks were created. Along those avenues, buildings were required to be the same height and in the similar style, and to be faced with cream-colored stone, creating the signature look of Paris boulevards. Finally, Paris’ transformation improved the quality of life in the capital, it had exemplary effects on other major cities such as Bucharest, Buenos Aires….
The Haussmannian style is very easily recognizable by key elements that characterize it.
Haussmannian buildings are constructed of massive cut stone blocks and, above a ground floor and basement, typically have:
- A “between” floor, with load-bearing walls and high ceiling
- A second floor with a wrought iron balcony and elaborate cut stonework around the windows. This floor was known as the étage noble (noble floor due to the absence of elevator) and has the highest ceilings and most elegant rooms in the building.
- Third and fourth floors, sometimes without a balcony and with less decorative stonework.
- A fifth floor with a single, plain balcony.
- A mansard roof with attic rooms lit by dormer windows. This was the chambre de bonne (maid’s room). Today with the elevator, they have gained in value as they offer the best view on the typical parisian roofs.
Each block had to form a unified whole and features such as balconies often continue in alignment the length of a block.
Finally, the interior of a Haussmannian building reflects the stylish elegance of the exterior. The apartments are spacious (200 to 300 m²), light and airy with high ceilings and several reception rooms. Their typical design incorporates ornate moldings, herringbone parquet floors, marble fireplaces, double doors and floor-length windows. This is the classic image of a Parisian apartment.


COVID-19 pandemic shines 'harsh light' on rising obesity in young people as NHS launches 15 clinics to tackle issue
Fifteen clinics designed to tackle obesity in children are to be opened following recent figures showing obesity in young people rising.
Tuesday 16 November 2021 19:01, UK
The pandemic has "shone a harsh light" on the issue of rising obesity in young people, the chief of NHS England has said.
Figures from the National Child Measurement Programme reveal that obesity levels among four and five-year-olds rose from 9.9% in 2019/20 to 14.4% in 2020/21.
For those aged 10 and 11 in the final year of primary school, obesity prevalence increased from 21% in 2019/20 to 25.5% in 2020/21.
In the UK, one in five children are affected by obesity and in England obesity numbers double from the start of primary school to the end of primary school.
Boys were more likely to be obese and those in poorer areas were twice as likely to be obese as their wealthier counterparts.
"Left unchecked, obesity can have other very serious consequences, ranging from diabetes to cancer," said Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of the NHS in England.
"The pandemic has shone a harsh light on obesity - with many vulnerable young people struggling with weight gain during the pandemic," she added.
Her comments came as the NHS launched a pilot scheme which will see 15 specialist clinics set up to care for severely obese children and their families.
Through the clinics, children up to the age of 18 will have access to dietitians, psychologists, specialist nurses, social workers, youth workers and a children's doctor.
It is estimated that the clinics will serve about 1,000 children a year with the possibility for further expansion if the clinics prove to be successful.
Ms Pritchard said: "This early intervention scheme aims to prevent children and young people enduring a lifetime of ill-health."
Caroline Cerny, lead at the Obesity Health Alliance, said: "We need an intense focus on closing the gap between the most and least deprived to ensure every single child has an equal chance to grow up healthy."
She cites a rise in confectionery sales as the heart of the problem, adding: "We need to break the junk food cycle to improve children's health.
"Next we need the government to take stronger action to improve everyday food and drink with a levy on food companies to incentivise them to improve."
Boris Johnson publicly shared this concern following his experience with COVID.
Last year, he launched the government's anti-obesity strategy that included plans for a ban on TV and online adverts for food high in fat, sugar and salt before 9pm and ending deals such as buy-one-get-one-free on unhealthy food.


I live in an older home, and most of the walls are covered in lead-based paint. I am concerned that my son might be in danger of lead poisoning. What are some of the symptoms of lead poisoning, and how do I get him tested? – Laurie
Lead poisoning can cause many symptoms, including irritability, headaches, weight loss, nausea, constipation, abdominal pain, fatigue, and muscle weakness. However, many kids with lead poisoning don't show any signs of the illness.
If you're concerned that your son might be at risk for lead poisoning, talk with your doctor. It's important to get your child tested for lead poisoning, as many other illnesses can cause these same symptoms. Your doctor may recommend a blood test that will help to make (or rule out) a diagnosis of lead poisoning.
Younger children are at higher risk for lead exposure, especially those who live in communities where the homes were built before 1978 (particularly those before the 1950s) because the homes may contain lead-based paint. State health department recommendations for lead screening vary depending on a child's age and risk of lead exposure.
Health care providers should follow the state laws for lead screening. If a child lives in a state where there is no lead screening program, children should be screened at 12 and 24 months age (when the highest risk occurs).
Talk to your child's doctor to learn more about lead exposure prevention and how to evaluate your child's risk.


Garrett Harris 6 p.m., April 20
The tawny hues of the black oak tree are just beginning to highlight the slopes of San Diego County's higher mountains. Named for the dark coloring of its bark, especially when wet, the black oak is the only deciduous oak native to the county. Associating with pines, firs, cedars, various evergreen oaks, and occasionally chaparral, the black oak lends a true autumn coloring to popular areas such as the Cuyamaca, Laguna, and Palomar mountains.
More like this:
- Floss Silks, Black Oaks, and Autumn Leaves — Oct. 27, 2010
- Star Jasmine, Black Oak, and Snakes — April 17, 2010
- Locust Trees and Black Oaks — April 22, 2009
- Black Oaks, Floss Silks, and Orionid — Oct. 16, 2008
- Listen to the pitter-patter of falling acorns along Palomar's Fry Creek Trail. — Oct. 28, 1999


By CAROLINE PRADERIO MARCH 7, 2016
Sure, the idea of getting your sugar fix without the calories always seems enticing, but new research suggests that Splenda—an artificial sweetener recently considered safe—may contribute to serious health problems like cancer.
The study, published in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, found that mice fed sucralose daily throughout their lives developed leukemia and other blood cancers. In response to the findings, the Center for Science in the Public Interest—a nutrition watchdog group that assesses the safety of food additives—has now formally recommended that consumers avoid the sweetener. That’s a big deal, considering that until 2013, they’d rated the additive as “safe.”
Though the lab behind the study has been criticized in the past, the CSPI says this new evidence is especially powerful because it was funded without special interests in mind. “For most food additives, the safety studies are conducted by the manufacturers who have financial incentives,” says Lisa Lefferts, MSPH, senior scientist at the CSPI. (Here’s why industry funding in nutrition studies is such a huge problem.)
Granted, the doses of sucralose used in the study were equivalent to someone drinking at least 10 cans of diet soda per day—tough for anyone to do, but not totally out of the realm of possibility if you’re consuming artificial sweeteners from multiple food and drink sources. “And even if you consume less, that doesn’t mean there’s no problem,” Lefferts says. “When something causes cancer at high doses, it generally causes cancer at lower doses, the risk is just smaller.”
But even if you discount this new mouse study, you’ll still find plenty of reasons to skip out on sucralose. A growing body of research shows that artificial sweeteners may actually cause weight gain, not weight loss. One study found drinking diet soda was linked to increased belly fat; in another, each daily can was associated with a 41% jump in obesity risk. Sucralose has even been shown to mess with your blood sugar and insulin levels, causing spikes and dips that could lead to cravings later on.
The bottom line: the scientists at the CSPI firmly believe you should steer clear of sucralose. But that doesn’t mean you should start shoveling spoonfuls of regular table sugar, either.


Yuma Territorial Prison
State Historic Park
The main guard tower at Yuma Territorial Prison
Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park is inside the city of Yuma. The Park is open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM except on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve (when the doors close at 2:00 PM), and the Park is always closed on Christmas Day.
The Yuma Territorial Prison was built in 1876 and was in operation for 33 years. The first 7 inmates were brought in on July 1, 1876 and locked into cells that they had built themselves. In all, 3,069 people (29 women included) served time in this prison. Hardly any of them served out their full sentences because paroles and pardons were pretty easy to come by in those days. Of the 111 who died in the prison, nearly all died of tuberculosis, a common disease in the early years of the West. As county governments were responsible for capital punishment, no executions ever took place here.
The territorial prison had a reputation for being a very nasty place, but evidence shows that it was a model institution for its time and was quite humanely administered (except for the ball-and-chain placed on would-be escapists and the dark cells (the "holes") for rule-breakers). The prison ran an excellent school for the convicts, with a very good library. The prisoners also had regular attention from a doctor and access to a good hospital.
In 1907, there was severe overcrowding and the state set aside land in Florence for a new facility. Convicts were transported to Florence and they built the new prison. The last prisoner left Yuma on September 15, 1909. From 1910 to 1914 the prison was occupied by Yuma Union High School. In the 1920's, a lot of railroad hobos stayed here, and the Depression era saw whole families move in. And for many years before the state saw the value of a historic park here, the local townsfolk used the buildings for free construction materials. Today, there's just the cells, the main gate and a guard tower left, but they're enough to give you glimpse into a convict's life in the late 1800's.
The Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park also has a museum, restrooms and a picnic area on-site.
The cell blocks


What Does Wrap Around Effect Mean?
The wrap around effect refers to the result of an electrostatic charge that is generated when a coating is applied via spraying onto a metallic surface. This effect allows the coating to reach otherwise difficult to reach areas such as edges, corners and crevices, thus providing better corrosion protection.
Corrosionpedia Explains Wrap Around Effect
The wrap around effect is typically observed during air spray gun applications. Air spraying is a painting technique where paint is applied to a surface via an air-pressurized spray gun. Using this method, coatings such as paint, varnish or even ink can be sprayed onto the surface with compressed air.
The air spray gun that is used in this process is composed of an air compressor, a paint receptacle and a nozzle. Pulling the trigger causes the paint to combine with the stream of compressed air, discharging the paint as fine particles or droplets.


Technology in education Essay
Effective Usage of Technology in their classroom Throughout the years, many college students have battled with record courses, especially geography. America and many other countries have experienced a technology growth over the last century; unfortunately, a lot of this rate of growth has not come to the classrooms of many educational institutions today. In answer to this, a growing number of stakeholders now call for instructors to use technology in the classroom, a thought that instructors should adopt. While research shows that technology can enjoy a vital role in their classroom, the instructor must take advantage of the technology in appropriate techniques. By doing this, a teacher creates a classroom that demands respect via stakeholders, fosters a learning environment for individuals and works on students for future achievement. By failing to do this, a teacher creates a setting that makes learning a close to impossibility. According to Lidstone and Stoltman (2006), having less well-equipped technology stands like a barrier to innovative learning in many educational institutions. Lidstone and Stoltman believe while many politicians and educators claim they need to build a community of frequent learners, they do not put the necessary tools set up to achieve this. The authors find this amazing on planet where persons can вЂњGoogleвЂќ nearly everything to learn about it. In addition , the authors fear that even though geographical technology exists, students do not acquire adequate training in geography to be given the technology. In order to build a situation where life long learning will take place, teachers must create a class room environment that encourages the usage of technology, when providing pupils with the important skills and knowledge necessary for success. In several ways, this challenge resembles a balancing act that may show difficult (Lidstone & Stoltman, 2006). Steve Winn (2003), a Lieutenant Colonel in america Army and an associate professor in america Military School, found that technology such as PowerPoint rewards students in most courses, particularly the social savoir, if the tutor uses the technology in the correct manner. Winn motivated teachers to create slides that challenge and engage students in the classroom. Winn said technology will only be helpful if it is shown in a manner that stimulates thought. Winn (2003) aware that too many teachers do not know how to properly use PowerPoint technology within their classroom. The moment this situation takes place, teachers, instead of fostering learning and expansion, actually commence to stunt the 2. According to Winn, numerous things may cause this to happen in many ways: wordy 35mm slides, boring experience, and pointless information mention just a few. In these circumstances, teachers may possibly feel that they are benefiting their very own students, but also in actuality they will hurt all their students. Although Winn pointed out ways overzealous teachers may well hurt their very own students, Amy Pauw (2002) warned professors against turning out to be lazy and attempting to work with technology to replace their educating. She did not feel that teachers should get away from technology, but she thought teachers should certainly use technology to teach in new ways. She gave illustrations such as presenting artwork to students through slides so as to replicate several learning experience which may be impossible to duplicate otherwise. In her programs at a seminary, Pauw takes advantage of technology to design lesson and preserve them for future events. She argued that teachers should take good thing about this part of technology to save time in resulting in the lesson, allowing teachers more hours to research and prepare for the lesson in front of you. When a tutor implements technology in this manner, the classroom encounter enriches trainees. In the end, however , research demonstrates technology are unable to replace solid teaching in the classroom. Paul Witt (2004) carried out research regarding the impact of technology in teacher value and studentsвЂ™ expectations of learning. Witt found that introducing a secondary website into a course does not increase teacher respect or perhaps improve studentsвЂ™ expectations of learning. Witt said this attitude may well occur as a result of several factors: limited Access to the internet, slow down load times, or perhaps the perception that more work will be created for trainees. While many writers based all their findings on a college class, the communication holds superb significance to get grade school teachers. Many people view college students as folks who want to learn new information, nevertheless this does not often hold accurate when speaking about students in grade institution. If several college students end up having technology being utilized in the classroom, It merely requires proves more evident that grade school-teachers must find ways to addresses this issue using their students. Today, technology provides for students in social studies courses to be engaged by all five senses in the classroom. Students in a geography class can see photos, hear music, taste and smell foods or refreshments, and hold objects from around the world. The movement forcing for the use of technology in the classroom is actually a step in the right direction to produce the appropriate learning environment for future years. However , educators must be ready to take this movement to a fresh level, and the process, become willing to increase their workload in some ways. Teachers need to learn how to employ technology, within an effective manner, and they must successfully promote their learners on their use in the classroom. Whilst teachers do that, they must often remain a powerful teacher for every student.
3d Printing AND ITS OWN EFFECT ON The Medical Field Essay
3D printing is gradually making its way in to the mainstream train of idea. Students at a good amount of universities get access to this incredible innovation. For some this exciting technology appear..
A Brief Be aware On Access Control Gain access to Controls Essay
Thus most the respondents think regular change of password is essential however, not manageable which reveal usability problems like inability to generate passwords as much as obligatory.Inglesant and..
A Brief Be aware On Annual Research Time Experience Essay
Annual Research Day Experience
The Annual Research Day time can be an event where several researches are accustomed to educate long term and current nurses.This event facilitates current nurses in ..
A Profession And Professional Development Essay
The guide serves mainly as a specialist development device for all people of the FPS work-force.It generally does not prescribe the road of education requirements or positions which will guarantee suc..
A Strategic ARRANGE FOR The Fbi Essay
In purchase to outline the beginnings of a strategic arrange for the FBI, the planner must start with the identification of objective scope.The FBI utilizes a technique Management Program to "improve ..
Access Control and Data Updationin Cloud Computing Essay
The CSP keeps cloud infrastructures, which pool the bandwidth, space for storage, and CPU power of several cloud servers to supply 24/7 solutions. The CSP primarily provides two solutions: data storag..
Access Of Contemporary Energy Is A COMBINED MIX OF Three Features : Availability, Affordability And Reliability Essay
Access to contemporary energy is a mixture of three features: availability, affordability and dependability (Reddy, 2015). We are able to also measure a share of the world populace with usage of affor..
Achievement Gaps, Gain access to, Quality And Florida's Vpk Program Essay
Achievement Gaps, Gain access to, Quality and Florida's VPK Plan Achievement Gaps Every year in the usa four million eager small children head into a kindergarten classroom with big expectations and d..