The Water for Peace programme aims to promote cooperation and conflict resolution throughout the world's transboundary river basins. Through this programme, Green Cross is working with governments, local authorities and civil society to remove the obstacles to integrated and cooperative water management, and resolve related conflicts, in six important international basins across the world: the Parana La Plata, the Jordan, the Volga, the Okavango, the Volta and the Danube. This effort is also illustrated by GCI's current efforts to help protect limited water resources - including groundwater - from pollution in Israel and Palestine. In 2006, Green Cross International's global work on water won Mikhail Gorbachev the prestigious UNEP "Champion of the Earth" Award.
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Expo Zaragossa 2008: Gorbachev Highlights GCI Water Activities |
GCI Founding President Mikhail Gorbachev speaking at Expo Zaragossa 2008 with Expoagua Zaragoza 2008 President, Roque Gistau and GCI President Alexander Likhotal.
Mikhail Gorbachev, the founder of Green Cross International, celebrated the launch of the new book "Water for Peace" at a conference in Spain in front of a full capacity audience. The book is part of the "Water Words" series and highlights the work of Green Cross International in the field of water conflict prevention.
In addition to the preface written by Mr. Gorbachev, the book is a compilation of seven essays with contributions from Shimon Peres, current President of Israel; Stavros Dimas, European Commissioner for the Environment ; Loic Fauchon, President of the World Water Council; Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme;; Michel Rocard, member of the European Parliament ex-Prime Minister of France; and Mahmoud Abu Zeid, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of Egypt.
To launch the book and promote the acquisition of universal knowledge, solutions, best practices, and recommendations on water, Mr. Gorbachev attended the conference held at the Huesca Congress Centre in Spain. During his presentation of the book, Mr Gorbachev stressed the importance of water in ensuring global peace, citing the Nile Basin and the current conflict in the Middle East as examples and suggested establishing a World Agency for Water to address the issue of limited water resources. He went further to say: "Environmental Security has to be raised by all countries, but it is necessary an organization that promotes it, that is, the global problems need global solutions." The need for a global solution is even more necessary when considering the world's population is estimated to grow to 9 million by 2050, thus requiring solutions based on good water management, cooperation and safe technologies. T
The book addresses the importance of universal water access for development, and the role of conflict mediation surrounding water to prevent world conflicts. The book, a collaboration of Green Cross International and Green Cross Spain, explores the connection between natural resource and social and economical degradation, while emphasizing global environmental security. The aim of the book, according to Mr. Gorbachev, "is to raise awareness of the connection between water, poverty and security and inspire action at both the local and global levels."
To read Mikhail Gorbachev's contribution to "Water for Peace - Peace for Water," click here.
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