Water & Future
In 2008 and 2009, we held two successful conferences on Water Conservation for Beijing’s future. The conferences were a collaboration between CANGO and the MSOD Program of Pepperdine University.
Through the conference, a network of individuals and organizations was formed to carry out the activities agreed at the conference, and to make a positive impact on the future of water in Beijing.
Below is a translation of a report posted on www.cango.org on the 2008 conference and report on the 2009 conference.
Moving forward to 2010, a third conference will be held from March 28 – 31 in Beijing, with the topic “Water: Building Our Capabilities”. Its purpose is to strengthen the capacity and capability of the trans-organizational water network.
More information on the 2010 conference can be found here, and we look forward to your participation in this conference.
To register for the conference, please send in your details using the online Registration Form.
To help fund and support the conference and activities of this network, please proceed to the Donate section.
Translated from:
http://www.cango.org/newweb/Shownews_page1.asp?ArticleID=652
Water resources is very closely linked to all our lives. In this year's government work report, Premier Wen Jia Bao has frequently brought up water conservation and that water is both the source of our lives and is closely linked to the everyday lives of the common people. It is well known that Beijing's water resources crisis is becoming more serious day by day. This has attracted the community and attention of people from all walks of life. According to information from Beijing's Tax Bureau, Beijing's per person water resource is not even 300 cubic meters, and is only 1/8 of China's per person water resource and 1/30 of the global water standard. This is far below the international water shortage lower limit of 1000 cubic meters, and is the area of largest shortage of water resources. CANGO and Pepperdine University will be cooperating for 3 years on this topic of water conservation, and this conference was a start to the collaboration.
This conference was managed by Pepperdine University's Masters students, and was split into 5 segments: Reviewing the Past, Analysing the Present Challenges, Imagining the Future, Finding Common Targets, Planning for Action. Each segment included small group discussions and large group sharings. Participants had lively discussions that focused on the topic of water conservation throughout these segments. Through the discussion, everyone mutually agreed on the following targets: Spring will no longer have sandstorms, Summer will no longer have days like a sauna, water will flow continuously in autumn, snow will be evern cleaner in winter, and Beijing will be recognised in the international society for being a place of easy/comfortable living. Conference participants used articles, short phrases etc. to express their imagination of the ideal future.
Participants put forth the following proposals:
1. Systemic, comprehensive, incremental inspection of Beijing's water resource to develop a report for submission to relevant government decision making departments, as references for policy formulation
2. Start a consultation hotline, online interactions and case studies
3. Build a website to increase youth awareness and concern of the water resources movement
4. Develop environmental studies curriculum in schools, and through the lessons and training, increase the student's enthusiasm for recycling, and so that they can influence their family to be more environmentally friendly
With this foundation, participants discussed and developed practical and feasible action plans:
1. Put up a column on water conservation on the CANGO website
2. Set up a mailing list for conference participants to share information
3. In April, organization representatives to go to Hebei Province to start reservoir inspection activities
Conference participants felt that they gained a lot, and hope to participate in the next conference. Participants also expressed their wishes for everyone to stand together and to contribute their own efforts for water conservation in Beijing.