This year I am working as an intern for the Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ as an intern.  My work serves the Wider Church Ministry team and the Justice & Witness team of the Conference and focuses on water justice issues.

Since September,  I have done slideshow presentations on the Zabriko project at Sumpter Elementary 5th Grade, JGEMS 7th grade class, the Fall Gathering in Beaverton, Zion UCC, The Dalles UCC, the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law Colloquium on environmental governance in Wuhan, China, Washougal Methodist, 1st Congregational Salem, Bethel Congregational, West High School World Literature class, West Salem High School students for change, JGEMS Parent Teacher Committee, and a Willamette University Faculty Colloquium,  I am scheduled to do a presentation at 1st Congregational Vancouver, Hillsdale UCC, the CPC Women's Cluster Meeting at Condon, and the CPC Women's Group Board meeting in Boise, ID .

I have also preached at Zion UCC, The Dalles UCC, twice at Washougal Methodist, 1st Congregational Salem, and Bethel Congregational.  I am scheduled to preach at Hillsdale UCC.

Its been busy!!!

Kenya

--"We are so happy about the dam," says Jenifer, a young mother in Akiriamet, the Pokot District, where a sand dam has been constructed with the help of Church World Service and local partner Yang?at. "Before, the adults would go for days without bathing," Jenifer adds. "Now we can use a whole five liters (about 1 1/3 gallons) to bathe. The water is so close we can keep chickens and do laundry. Also, if people travel by and ask for water, now we can give them a drink and be generous."

"To you this project may seem simple," she says,"but to us it has changed the way we do things dramatically."

The majority of Pokot tribespeople are semi-nomadic pastoralists, dependent on water and pasture for their animals. Availability of water is the difference between wealth and ruin, life or death.

During droughts, the search for water and pasture has historically led to conflicts. The Yang'at-guided sand dam projects in West Pokot are designed to prevent those problems by creating a source of good water closer to home.

The Akiriamet sand dam is the sixth sub-surface dam that Church World Service and Yang'at have completed in the region, in addition to a similar project across the border in Uganda.

Sub-surface sand dams are a simple but effective water solution for arid or semi-arid areas. A concrete and masonry dam is built across a seasonal stream and extended under the surface of the bed where it slows the flow of the water and collects sand against the upstream side. The slow moving water sinks into the sand deposits, which act as a natural filter and reservoir. During the dry season when the water ceases to flow, shallow wells are dug in the sand to draw out the stored water. A sand dam can provide clean water for a thousand or more people, as well as for livestock and gardens.

Recent blog posting http://aefpix.blogspot.com/ regarding 1st Congregational UCC Salem's partner in Haiti: the Peasant Movement of Papay (MPP)

5 March 2009

Positively Green:

Haiti

Yes Haiti.

The Mouvman Peyizan Papay (MPP) or Peasant Movement of Papay is the oldest and largest cooperative movement  in Haiti. With 60,000 members , the 35 year-old collective is situated inthe central plateau. The mission of MPP is to educate and provide soundeconomic alternatives to the people of Haiti, while promotingenvironmental, sustainable, and renewable agriculture and genderequality. No individuals may join MPP only collectives.

Here, Kopa BwaFerye is a 50 acre sugar cane cooperative formed by former Haitians who labored in the bateys in the Dominican Republic. Pooling their land resources, the cooperative model empowered the former farmers in servitude by offering them an economic model based on cooperation as means to self-reliance. Sugar cane ispressed for syrup while its by-products are used for heating and fuelfor animals.

Stiffer portions are used to stoke the cooking fire, while the animals eat the pulp as they provide the energy for the press.

Agronomist Chavannes Jean-Baptiste is the founder of MPP. In 2005, he was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for his work in sustainable agriculture. Despite the changing political climate, deforestation and violence, Chavannes Jean-Baptiste and MPP have championed the cause in providing economic self reliance while promoting renewable and sustainable agriculture.

Madame Frederic is one of three women who form the KOPA Mache Lakay, or the home market cooperative. Peanuts are double roasted, ground, then jarred and sold to markets in their region.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. The deforestation of this island nation has resulted in numerous hazardous environmental repercussions vital to the survival of it's inhabitants. It is the through the vision of individuals like Chavannes Jean-Baptiste that solutions to our global environmental crisis depends.

Faith UCC in Indianapolis just completed their FIRST Drink Water for Life lenten observance.  They raised $3400!

NPR Story: Bottled Water Sales Flatten During Recession

by Nancy Eve Cohen

Morning Edition, April 15, 2009 · After years of double-digit increases, bottled water sales have stopped rising. Industry analysts say the economy is driving the change, but they also say environmentalists may be having an effect.

Decades ago, when people were thirsty, they looked for a water fountain or turned on the tap.

Caitlin Corner-Dolloff of the group Corporate Accountability International is running a taste test at the University of Hartford to convince students that there's not much difference between bottled water and tap water.

Bottled Water Critics

Criticism of bottled water was first sparked a couple of years ago when concern about dependence on fossil fuels coincided with a rise in bottled water consumption.  Environmentalists have been calling for people to give up the bottle ever since, and for states to increase recycling. Now the entire bottled water market is down 1 percent.

"Anecdotally, we believe that consumers last year increasingly drank more tap water," says Gary Hemphill, who tracks sales for the Beverage Marketing Corporation.He says the sale of most nonalcoholic beverages fell last year because of the economy.  But he says that with water, there may be another issue: "The secondary reason — perhaps a little bit more difficult to measure, but nonetheless probably a factor — are environmental questions."

Bottles Under Fire

Attack on the bottle isn't only coming from environmentalists. Bottled water competitors, like Brita, which sells water filters, launched an ad campaign knocking the bottle.  NPR aired one this month: The ad says "Brita — providing water filtration solutions to help reduce bottled water waste."

But bottled water is still selling. Americans spent more than $11 billion on it last year. Kim Jeffrey, CEO of Nestle Waters North America, which owns Poland Spring and other brands, says that if environmental concerns are influencing sales, they're not having much of an impact.

"The problems we're seeing right now are very much attributable to the economic downturn, not to the fact that people are leaving bottled water in droves — because it's just not happening," he says.

The Plastic Tally

At Geissler's Supermarket in East Windsor, Conn., some people are buying two cases, or 48 bottles, a week. Other customers are cutting back. "I used to buy a case once in a while, but I don't anymore," says Linda Lamarre, a special education consultant who's now down to a couple of bottles a week. She says she's watching her pennies.  Lenny Whitten, a plumber, used to buy a case a week, but now fills the same bottle with tap water over and over. He says he does it because he doesn't want to fill up landfills with plastic that doesn't decompose.

Jeffrey of Nestle Waters says his company is trying to use less plastic resin. A one-half liter of Poland Spring used to be made from 14 1/2 grams.  "Today it's less than 12 1/2 grams," he says. "That move down saved us about 65 million pounds of resin a year and had about a 10 percent reduction in our greenhouse gas emissions. But the fact that the bottle's still there suggests we have more work to do, and that's in the area of recycling." Jeffrey says there should be curbside recycling for everyone. But bottled water critics still want fewer bottles.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NEWS FROM THE World Business Council for Sustainable Development

WATER PROJECT
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

New Version of Global Water Tool Out Now! 
-------------------------------------------------- 
Geneva, 27 March 2009 -  The WBCSD has updated its Global Water Tool
(developed by its member CH2M HILL) with more recent water datasets, due
to its successful uptake since its launch in August 2007. 
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzM2NjY


Istanbul Shows That Water Is Everybody's Business 
-------------------------------------------------- 
Geneva, 26 March 2009 -  The huge amount of attention given to water
issues at the 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul this past week
highlights the importance of finding water solutions to the critical
challenges ahead, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development
said today.
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzM4NTI


Business Calls on Istanbul Forum to Raise Political Profile of Water 
-------------------------------------------------- 
Istanbul, 12 March 2009 -  The 5th World Water Forum to be held in
Istanbul is an opportunity to raise significantly the political profile
of water and highlight its interconnection with other global challenges
including climate change, food, energy and the current financial crisis.
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzM2Njc


Business Takes Lead on Water by Joining the Water Footprint Network 
-------------------------------------------------- 
Geneva, 16 October 2008 -  Seven global groups, including the World
Business Council for Sustainable Development, joined forces today to set
up the Water Footprint Network, with the aim of working towards a common
approach to water footprint measurement, accounting and reporting.
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzIwMDI



+++++++++++
PUBLICATION
+++++++++++

Link Water, Energy and Climate in Global Talks, Business Urges 
-------------------------------------------------- 
Istanbul, 19 March 2009 -  Business leaders from some of the world's
biggest companies today called for water, energy and climate change to
be linked in global negotiations, such as the international climate
talks due to culminate in Copenhagen in December.
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzM3NTM



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CASE STUDIES AND COMPANIES IN THE NEWS
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

GE, Singapore to set up water research facility 
-------------------------------------------------- 
AFP, 19 March 2009 -  US conglomerate General Electric (GE) and a
Singapore university said Thursday they will invest 100 million US
dollars in a research facility aimed at helping solve the world's water
problems.
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzM3NjE


IBM Wants to Make a Big Splash in Water Management 
-------------------------------------------------- 
GreenBiz.com, 16 March 2009 -  IBM is launching a new line of services
and research, called Strategic Water Information Management solutions,
as part of the firm's Smarter Planet initiative and the company's
growing efforts to work with utilities, government agencies and
businesses in managing water consumption.
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzM2NzI


PepsiCo Touts Water, Energy Savings from 2007 
-------------------------------------------------- 
GreenBiz.com, 7 January 2009 -  In 2007, PepsiCo saved 5 billion liters
of water and nearly 500 million kilowatt hours of electricity compared
to its resource use in 2006. In its fourth sustainability report,
PepsiCo gives some examples of how its operations around the world have
reduced, water, fuel and energy use, as well as spread sustainability
throughout its supply chain.
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzI5Nzc


Wetlands Programme: Mondi 
-------------------------------------------------- 
Geneva, 15 December 2008 -  Some 55% of South Africa's wetlands have
been lost due to poorly managed agriculture and commercial forestry,
mining, urban development, pollution, dam building, erosion and fire.
Given that around 6 million South Africans lack piped drinking water,
they rely on streams and other natural bodies of water, which wetlands
often help to purify and protect.
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzM1MDU


ITT Completes First Rural Drinking Water Safety Project in China 
-------------------------------------------------- 
ChinaCSR, 4 December 2008 -  ITT has donated water treatment equipment
for two rural water treatment plants that are part of a pilot project to
tackle rural drinking water issues in China.
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzI3MzM


Improving sanitation in West Java: GHD 
-------------------------------------------------- 
Geneva, 18 August 2008 -  Many areas of Indonesia lack adequate
sanitation and this is particularly the case in rural areas. Efforts to
address this situation have been increasing over the last few years, and
a change in policy direction by the government of Indonesia has
influenced the approach to the problem. An emphasis on decentralization
of services and a demand-driven response have directed much of the
activity to the communities themselves.
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzExMDM



++++++++++++++++++
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
++++++++++++++++++

Progress Seen in Corporate Water Reporting, But More Improvement Needed:
Study 
-------------------------------------------------- 
GreenBiz.com, 23 March 2009 -  Companies have improved their practices
in reporting water use and its effects, but significant efforts must
still be made to provide greater disclosure and enable better
understanding of the risks and impacts of corporate water needs,
according to a recent report by the Pacific Institute.
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzM4NDU


As climate changes, is water the new oil? 
-------------------------------------------------- 
Reuters, 22 March 2009 -  If water is the new oil, is blue the new
green? Translation: if water is now the kind of precious commodity that
oil became in the 20th century, should delivery of clean water be the
same sort of powerful political force as the environmental movement in
an age of climate change?
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzM4NjM


Businesses Highlight Link Between Climate, Energy and Water Pressures 
-------------------------------------------------- 
GreenBiz.com, 20 March 2009 -  The business community wants solid water,
energy and climate change data and analysis tools from policy makers to
help them manage risks and make smarter strategic decisions, according
to a new report published Thursday.
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzM4NDc


World leaders urged to link water to climate negotiations 
-------------------------------------------------- 
EurActiv.com, 20 March 2009 -  Business leaders attending this week's
World Water Forum called on the international community to acknowledge
the link between water, energy and climate change, encouraging them to
take these up in global climate negotiations that are expected to be
concluded this December in Copenhagen.
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzM4NTE


Water must feature in climate debate - businesses 
-------------------------------------------------- 
ENDS Europe Daily, 20 March 2009 -  Current international talks on a new
global climate treaty should also address the issue of water scarcity,
business leaders said in a report launched at the World Water Forum in
Istanbul on Thursday.
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzM4NDM


From a loo to you: Recycled sewage struggles with yuk factor 
-------------------------------------------------- 
AFP, 19 March 2009 -  One day, when you read on a drink bottle "this
water has been passed by the minister of health," the message may be
open to interpretation in more ways than one.
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzM3NjI


China launches vast water clean-up 
-------------------------------------------------- 
SciDev.net, 17 March 2009 -  A project to improve water quality in China
has been launched by the government, which says it is the largest
expenditure on environmental protection since the founding of the
People's Republic in 1949.
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzM3NTY


Business suffers with world water shortages 
-------------------------------------------------- 
Reuters, 10 March 2009 -  From cotton farms to factories that make
high-tech computer chips, companies face huge risks from droughts like
those searing California and Australia and that recently parched the
U.S. Southeast.
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzM2NDI


The State of Green Business 2009: Water Becomes the New Carbon 
-------------------------------------------------- 
GreenBiz.com, 3 February 2009 -  It has become eco-chic in recent years
to declare that "water will be the oil of the 21st century" - an
essential and limited resource, unevenly distributed around the world,
the growing shortage of which will lead to economic power for water-rich
nations and poverty for the rest, possibly even resource wars between
the haves and have-nots. Given that, how do water-dependent companies
manage in a world where water quality and quantity become a constraint
to doing business?
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzMxOTg


Report Details Risks and Opportunities Facing Water-Dependent Industries

-------------------------------------------------- 
SocialFunds.com, 9 December 2008 -  In a recent report that highlights
critical environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues facing
water-dependent industries, the European Social Investment Forum
(Eurosif) found both risks and opportunities for companies involved in
water supply, water consumption, handling of water during industrial
production, and water technologies.
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzI4MTA


Global Fund Puts Spotlight on Sanitation 
-------------------------------------------------- 
IPS, 18 September 2008 -  The Global Sanitation Fund (GSF), created last
March with a 100-million-dollar target per year, is being billed as a
key financing mechanism aimed at meeting one of the eight U.N.
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzE1ODk



++++++++
SPEECHES
++++++++

Clean Water Opportunities & Challenges 
(Speech by Mike Gambrel, Executive Vice President, Dow Chemical)
-------------------------------------------------- 
"Together, we need to take an integrated approach that goes beyond just
technology but includes water usage, management, delivery,
infrastructure, finance, and education . the entire supply and delivery
chain... And businesses must have the will to create technology
solutions that make money, while including 'clean water' in their CSR
programs" Said Mike Gambrel Executive Vice President at the Dow Chemical
Company.
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzIyMzg


"The trick is re-capture and re-use of energy otherwise wasted" 
(Speech by George David, Chairman, UTC)
-------------------------------------------------- 
"The fact is with technologies and systems already available we could
arrange our planet as a greenfield site to support current living
standards with half or less the input energy we consume today" said
UTC's Chairman, George David, at the 16th Annual Evening with the Stars
of Energy Efficiency.
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzE5Njk


Water for All: A Matter of Good Governance - The OECD Perspective 
(Speech by Angel Gurria, Secretary-General, OECD)
-------------------------------------------------- 
"Managing and securing access to water and sanitation for all is one of
the most challenging items in the world agenda. It requires us to
rethink the governance structure of water to deal with it not only at
the national level, but also globally" said OECD Secretary-General Angel
Gurria at the 13th World Water Congress in Montpellier.
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MzE3NTM



+++++++++++++
EVENTS UPDATE
+++++++++++++

Blue Green & Gold: sustainable water for industry (27-28 April 2009)
--------------------------------------------------  
Water is forcing its way to the top of the agenda in business across the
world: scarcity, environmental protection and consumer choice all fuel
the search for sustainability. This event looks at how to adopt a
company wide policy towards water efficiency, how to find value in
waste, the benefits of engaging with the community and available
financing.
--------------------------------------------------  
http://www.watermeetsindustry.com/

 
International Water Week, Singapore (23-25 June 2009)
--------------------------------------------------  
Singapore International Water Week 2009, aptly themed "Sustainable
Cities - Infrastructure and Technologies for Water", aims to help you
and your organisations do just that - achieve long-term benefits. Here,
you will find sound professional advice and clear business direction
from various market segments to help you overcome tough challenges in
uncertain times. 
--------------------------------------------------  
http://www.siww.com.sg/


Stockholm World Water Week 2008 (16-22 August 2009)
-------------------------------------------------- 
The World Water Week in Stockholm is the leading annual global meeting
place for capacity-building, partnership-building and follow-up on the
implementation of international processes and programmes in water and
development. The theme of the week is " Responding to Global Changes:
Accessing Water for the Common Good" with a Special Focus on
Transboundary Waters
-------------------------------------------------- 
http://www.worldwaterweek.org/


+++++++++++++++++++++++++
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this newsletter is for
information purposes only. The WBCSD does not represent or endorse the
accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other
information.
NOTE: If the URLs in this email are not active hyperlinks, copy and
paste the URL into the address/location box in your browser.
The articles are available on the WBCSD website for 90 days only.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++

+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sign up online to our newsletters at
http://www.wbcsd.org/plugins/mywbcsd/default.asp 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Eva Zabey
Water Project and Ecosystems Focus Area
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
4, chemin de Conches
CH-1231 Conches- Geneva,
Switzerland
T: (+41) 22 839 31 77
F: (+41) 22 839 31 31
Email: zabey@wbcsd.org 


Map your water use! Download our free Global Water Tool:
http://www.wbcsd.org/web/watertool.htm

Assess your impact and dependence on ecosystems! Use the Corporate
Ecosystem Services Review: http://www.wbcsd.org/web/esr.htm 

The third edition of the World Water Development Report (WWDR-3) and a companion case study volume, 'Facing the Challenges', were released to coincide with the opening of the Fifth World Water Forum on 16 March. The triennial World Water Development Report is the United Nations System flagship report on water, a comprehensive review of the state of the world’s freshwater resources. WWDR-3, entitled 'Water in a Changing World' was co-ordinated by the World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP), which is hosted by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The WWDR-3 can be found on the UNESCO WWAP site at http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/wwdr/wwdr3/tableofcontents.shtml.