Houston's Mayor White addresses Global Forum on Water

HOUSTON, April 2, 2004 -- Houston's Mayor Bill White on Friday addressed guests attending the FotoFest Rice University Global Forum on Water during the Gala Dinner held at Williams Tower in Houston.

The mayor commented on the future of water in Houston, and introduced Malcolm S. Morris, Chairman of Stewart Information Services and Chairman, Living Water International, who welcomed guests as Gala sponsor.

The event bridges two days of public discussions at Rice University by leading experts on water from around the world. The experts are convening for Houston's first Global Forum on Water.

"Mayor White - in a short amount of time - has exhibited an excellent understanding of the flooding and water issues facing Houston," says environmental attorney, Jim Blackburn, who will address the Forum regarding water issues facing Houston. "It's about time that we had leadership with regard to water issues that our so profound here."

Designed to inform and stimulate new thinking and policies on water, the Global Forum on Water is being held during FotoFest's Biennial, citywide celebration of Water, March 12-April 12. During two days of the Forum at Rice University, April 2-3, experts on science, technology, art, the environment and public policy were scheduled to speak on water-related issues facing our city and the world today.

"It is incredible that in the world today, over 1.2 billion people still lack access to clean safe drinking water," says Morris, who helped found Living Water International in 1990.

Living Water is a Houston area Christian volunteer organization that trains, consults and equips underserved communities worldwide to provide water for their communities. Living Water's integrated efforts and drilling programs have resulted in clean drinking water being provided to almost two million people every day.

The Global Forum on Water was held in cooperation with Rice University's Center for the Study of Environment and Society, the Environmental & Energy Systems Institute, and the Shell Center for Sustainable Development.

FotoFest is the nation's largest, international photo festival, now in its twentieth year. The 2004 Biennial is dedicated to water. The four-week, citywide event is hosting photographic exhibitions in over 100 public spaces in Houston, including film and video screenings on water, a workshop, portfolio reviews for artists and a fine print auction. Over 200,000 people are expected to attend.

Related websites: www.fotofest.org, www.ruf.rice.edu/~cses/water.html, www.water.cc