Alexandria, Va., Feb. 28, 2003 -- The Water Environment Federation (WEF) will commemorate World Water Day 2003 by sponsoring a symposium and reception on March 20, 2003,3:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m., in the House Committee on Science, 2325 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C.
Co-sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Federal Water Quality Association (FWQA), the event's theme is "Water has no Borders." The Symposium will also highlight the 2003 International Year of Freshwater, summarize the developments at the 2003 World Water Forum (which will be occurring that week in Kyoto, Japan), and feature a "Water for the Future" panel discussion by Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) Laureates from the United States.
WEF Incoming President, Lawrence P. Jaworski will introduce the Symposium's guest speaker, The Honorable Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), Chair of the House Committee on Science. UNEP's Brennan Van Dyke, Regional Director for the North America office, will follow with comments on the World Water Forum and the International Year of Freshwater and highlight the release of two new UNEP publications, Atlas of International Water Agreements and Vital Water Graphics - an Overview of the State of the World's Fresh and Marine Waters.
The Symposium will culminate with Geoffrey Grubbs, U.S. EPA Office of Science and Technology Director, leading the "Water for the Future" panel discussion, which will feature U.S. SJWP Laureates, Steven Tinnen (OK), Brett De Poister (PA), Kelly Schmeidt (MN), 2000 International SJWP winner Ashley Mulroy (WV), Brenda Goguen (VA) and 2002 International SJWP winner, Katherine Holt (VA).
The future leaders will offer their perspective on how to best meet the challenges and draw attention to issues in preserving the global water environment. A reception will immediately follow the panel discussion.
The Stockholm Junior Water Prize is the most prestigious international youth award for a water science research project. Its purpose is to increase students' interest in water-related issues and research, and to sensitize them -as future leaders -to global water challenges. HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden is the patron of the Prize and ITT Industries is the international sponsor. WEF and its Member Associations sponsor the U.S. competition with support from ITT Industries and the Coca-Cola Company.
World Water Day is officially recognized each year on March 22. The goal is to inspire worldwide political and community action and encourage greater global understanding of the need for more responsible water use and conservation. The United Nations General Assembly has also proclaimed 2003 as the International Year of Freshwater to increase awareness of the importance of sustainable freshwater use, management and protection.
For more information about World Water Day 2003 and the 2003 International Year of Freshwater, please visit www.waterday2003.org and/or www.wateryear2003.org.
Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with members from varied disciplines who work toward the WEF vision of preservation and enhancement of the global water environment. The WEF network includes water quality professionals from
79 Member Associations in 32 countries including the Federal Water Quality Association in the Washington D.C. area.
The Mission of the United Nations Environment Programme is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
