Mexico is one of the largest cities in the world, with over 25 million people in the D.F. and surrounding areas. Host to the Tri-annual WWF, the city faces huge challenges everyday.
One key issue here is the lack of available resources: imagine the Aztecs and Mejica culture having their capital in a lake, all traffic and trade was done by boat: nowadays, this huge lake seems to be drained completely... and as a result the city is rapidly sinking away causing buildings to collapse etc... (also note that this is earthquake country).
Anyways, the Mexicans are very very friendly people, with "le sense du service", but also a bit of the "philosophia mañana".
2006-03-19
4th World Water Forum in Mexico
Day 2 of the World Water Forum is coming to an end;
check out the pictures live on flickr
The Mexican forum is well attended with over 12OOO delegates from more than 120 countries. Opening statements by the Prince of Orange and L.Fauchon made a great impression on the participants.
Montezuma has not appeared yet, but this may happen tomorrow.
International media have largely focused on the publication of WWAP and Unesco's World Water Development report #2 which heavily underlines the urgency already expressed at the opening of the Forum: we all bear a collective responsibility in bringing more and better water to more people.
Tomorrow, March 19th is crucial day where the Right to Water will be debated:
suerte!
check out the pictures live on flickr
The Mexican forum is well attended with over 12OOO delegates from more than 120 countries. Opening statements by the Prince of Orange and L.Fauchon made a great impression on the participants.
Montezuma has not appeared yet, but this may happen tomorrow.
International media have largely focused on the publication of WWAP and Unesco's World Water Development report #2 which heavily underlines the urgency already expressed at the opening of the Forum: we all bear a collective responsibility in bringing more and better water to more people.
Tomorrow, March 19th is crucial day where the Right to Water will be debated:
suerte!
2006-03-11
World Water Forum IV in Mexico
U.N. Reports a Fifth of World Lacks Clean Drinking Water Despite Abundant Supplies
March 10, 2006
NAIROBI, Kenya — Mismanagement, limited resources and environmental damage have combined to deny 1.1 billion people access to safe water, a U.N. report said Thursday.
Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the hardest-hit areas, where ecological degradation, poor water management and a burgeoning population have led to water shortages exacerbating poverty, disease and drought, the report said.
The report was compiled by 24 U.N. agencies, who say it is the most comprehensive assessment to date of the planet's freshwater supplies.
Globally, diarrheal diseases and malaria kill around 3.1 million people a year. The U.N. said 1.6 million could be saved if they had safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene.
The report estimated that hundreds of millions of dollars in lost productivity and health care costs are lost each year because of poor water and sanitation. Meeting the U.N. Millennium Development Goal of halving the number of people without a steady supply of clean water by 2015 would save $7 billion annually, the report said.
Water pollution in China alone cost the country $1.7 billion in lost industrial income in 1992, the last year for which figures were available in the report.
In Kenya and elsewhere in East Africa, where drought is creating a hunger crisis, better water management could also save lives, the U.N. said.
"Good governance would certainly reduce the impact of drought," said Salif Diop, head of the water unit in the early warning and assessment division of the U.N. Environment Program. "Deforestation, overgrazing, not managing lakes; all those are factors that aggravate drought."
Water use has increased six-fold in the last century, double the rate of population growth, the report said. More water is needed for food production, which must grow by 55 percent to meet food needs by 2030. But private investment in water services is declining and financial resources for the water sector are stagnating, the report found.
The 584-page report, to be presented at the Fourth World Water Forum in Mexico City next week, says better water management by local authorities, the private sector and civil society -- not just by governments -- is critical.
"Good governance is essential for managing our increasingly stretched supplies of freshwater and indispensable for tackling poverty," said Koichiro Matsuura, director general of the U.N. educational and cultural body, UNESCO.
Source: Associated Press
March 10, 2006
NAIROBI, Kenya — Mismanagement, limited resources and environmental damage have combined to deny 1.1 billion people access to safe water, a U.N. report said Thursday.
Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the hardest-hit areas, where ecological degradation, poor water management and a burgeoning population have led to water shortages exacerbating poverty, disease and drought, the report said.
The report was compiled by 24 U.N. agencies, who say it is the most comprehensive assessment to date of the planet's freshwater supplies.
Globally, diarrheal diseases and malaria kill around 3.1 million people a year. The U.N. said 1.6 million could be saved if they had safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene.
The report estimated that hundreds of millions of dollars in lost productivity and health care costs are lost each year because of poor water and sanitation. Meeting the U.N. Millennium Development Goal of halving the number of people without a steady supply of clean water by 2015 would save $7 billion annually, the report said.
Water pollution in China alone cost the country $1.7 billion in lost industrial income in 1992, the last year for which figures were available in the report.
In Kenya and elsewhere in East Africa, where drought is creating a hunger crisis, better water management could also save lives, the U.N. said.
"Good governance would certainly reduce the impact of drought," said Salif Diop, head of the water unit in the early warning and assessment division of the U.N. Environment Program. "Deforestation, overgrazing, not managing lakes; all those are factors that aggravate drought."
Water use has increased six-fold in the last century, double the rate of population growth, the report said. More water is needed for food production, which must grow by 55 percent to meet food needs by 2030. But private investment in water services is declining and financial resources for the water sector are stagnating, the report found.
The 584-page report, to be presented at the Fourth World Water Forum in Mexico City next week, says better water management by local authorities, the private sector and civil society -- not just by governments -- is critical.
"Good governance is essential for managing our increasingly stretched supplies of freshwater and indispensable for tackling poverty," said Koichiro Matsuura, director general of the U.N. educational and cultural body, UNESCO.
Source: Associated Press
2006-01-04
New Year's Resolutions
to start off 2006 in the happiest way possible, visit FLYLADY.net that will change your home and your life:
How to Declutter
Taking 15 minutes each day to declutter an area, using the 27-Fling Boogie, and clearing your hotspots are among some of the most powerful tools you can use to create a more peaceful home. Remember: You cannot organize clutter - you can only organize the things you love!
2005-12-22
Brussel Vlaams (?)
Vandaag in de FNAC van de CITY2 in Brussel Centrum
aan de kassa gekomen, moe geïrriteerd van het vele slentervolk, tskokvol cadeau's;
je bent al fier dat je je "ronde" hebt afgewerkt en haast jaloers op de Kerstman die tenminste rendieren tot zijner edele beschikking heeft:
een al even vermoeide kassierster kijkt me dwars en bijna ongelovig aan:
Listening to: Arsenal - Oustides (*****/*****), toch gekocht hoewel de FNAC te duur was...
aan de kassa gekomen, moe geïrriteerd van het vele slentervolk, tskokvol cadeau's;
je bent al fier dat je je "ronde" hebt afgewerkt en haast jaloers op de Kerstman die tenminste rendieren tot zijner edele beschikking heeft:
een al even vermoeide kassierster kijkt me dwars en bijna ongelovig aan:
zij: -oui?
ik: -goedenavond
zij pakt mijn gerief en zwiert me een paar zakken toe en begint driftig te "scannen"
(ik ben ervan overtuigd dat ze géén profiel opmaakt van haar klanten, en toch denk ik dat elke klant bij de kassa op zijn minst naar waarde wil worden geschat omwille van de uitgekiemde koopstrategie die hij/net succesvol beëindigde waardoor hij niet als de zoveelste consu-mens wil worden behandeld...)
zij: - deux cents cing euros et vingt cents...
ik: - dank u; kan ik met bancontact betalen?
zij: - oui, insérez votre carte...
ik: - hier?
zij: - oui, là....
(ik druk mijn code in... terwijl zij mijn waardevolle cadeau's zonder pinken bijéén smijt in een paar lelijke zakken)
zij: - bonsoir
ikke: - merci'kes hé, bedankt en nog een Zalig Kerstfeest
(ik storm woest buiten, op zoek naar de manager, want voor een dikke 10.000 oude knarren zou je toch iets of wat meer service verwachten...)
-- Brussel hé, tweetaligheid troef, vooral als het altijd van dezelfde kant moet komen -- volgend jaar beter? wij hopen het in elk geval met heel onze meertaligheid...
Listening to: Arsenal - Oustides (*****/*****), toch gekocht hoewel de FNAC te duur was...
2005-12-12
ozone pollution 2005
Dutch scientists are putting together remarkable maps showing pollution over Europe and other regions of the globe.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4512464.stm
In Flanders, a lot we suffer ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4512464.stm
In Flanders, a lot we suffer ...
2005-12-11
Hooverphonic AB 2005-12-10: ich ben droevik
Hooverphonic's concert was amazing. Great set, great acoustics, great band.
Minor irritating events that un-thrilled our party: concert was a bit too short, and sounded a bit to sterophonic-sterotyped. If you were in for an improvising jam, you'd better go see Prince... Geike has a great voice, and is endearingly timid and shy; but with the great band and support from the audience, she could at least have adressed us in Dutch... More Photos here
the same goes for Madonna's latest song "Sorry" in which she translates the word into 88 languages: Sorry, Lo siento, je suis désolé(e) and then "ich ben droevik" - a disgrace to the Dutch language. a bit more research would've been greatly appreciated.
Minor irritating events that un-thrilled our party: concert was a bit too short, and sounded a bit to sterophonic-sterotyped. If you were in for an improvising jam, you'd better go see Prince... Geike has a great voice, and is endearingly timid and shy; but with the great band and support from the audience, she could at least have adressed us in Dutch... More Photos here
the same goes for Madonna's latest song "Sorry" in which she translates the word into 88 languages: Sorry, Lo siento, je suis désolé(e) and then "ich ben droevik" - a disgrace to the Dutch language. a bit more research would've been greatly appreciated.
2005-12-09
Darwin's Nightmare: IUCN reaction
Addendum to earlier post. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature reacts to the Oscar Nomination for Darwin's Nightmare (download their letter here)
IUCN feels strongly about the false accusations...
Now, what is your view on this?
IUCN feels strongly about the false accusations...
Now, what is your view on this?
Global Warming
The Montreal Meeting on Global Warming, Climate change generates a massive flow of reports illustrating the effects of industrialisation and population growth. Some key elements are now admitted by most scientifics, based on empirical evidence from over the past decades. No one today can deny the increased "weather disasters" such as flooding, an exceptionally heavy hurricane season, heat and cold waves are the result of massive alterations in the earth's atmosphere; below some articles....
12/06/2005 (Source: Water Tech News Watch)
In Europe, more deaths and illnesses because of the climate
Europe - The effects of global warming upon human health have been noticeable in recent years, reported Maria Neira and Roberto Bertollini -- directors of the World Health Organization''s global and European Health and Environment Departments, respectively -- at the United Nations climate change conference in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The European heatwave of 2003 cost more than 35,000 lives, while major floods in Europe between 1995 and 2004 directly affected 2.5 million people. Higher average temperatures have also encouraged the spread of Lyme disease, the parasitic disease leishmaniasis (transmitted by dogs) and tick-borne encephalitis into northern Europe and mountainous regions where they''ve never appeared before. Allergies are now more widespread because high-pollen season lasts ten days longer, on average, than it did 30 years ago.
12/07/2005
Climate: The Inuit charge the USA
Arctic Region - At an international climate change conference being held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the Inuit people of the Arctic formally accused the government of the United States of violating human rights by refusing to cap greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. "Climate change is destroying our environment and eroding our culture," said Sheila Watt-Cloutier, head of the Circumpolar Inuit Conference, who has appealed to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The traditional hunting-based economy of the Inuit is suffering from the melting of polar icecaps and permafrost and a resulting decrease in seal and polar bear populations. Scientists have warned that the Arctic is warming twice as fast as other parts of the globe and that the glaciers may vanish by 2100 unless the rate of global warming is reduced.
12/06/2005 (Source: Water Tech News Watch)
In Europe, more deaths and illnesses because of the climate
Europe - The effects of global warming upon human health have been noticeable in recent years, reported Maria Neira and Roberto Bertollini -- directors of the World Health Organization''s global and European Health and Environment Departments, respectively -- at the United Nations climate change conference in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The European heatwave of 2003 cost more than 35,000 lives, while major floods in Europe between 1995 and 2004 directly affected 2.5 million people. Higher average temperatures have also encouraged the spread of Lyme disease, the parasitic disease leishmaniasis (transmitted by dogs) and tick-borne encephalitis into northern Europe and mountainous regions where they''ve never appeared before. Allergies are now more widespread because high-pollen season lasts ten days longer, on average, than it did 30 years ago.
12/07/2005
Climate: The Inuit charge the USA
Arctic Region - At an international climate change conference being held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the Inuit people of the Arctic formally accused the government of the United States of violating human rights by refusing to cap greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. "Climate change is destroying our environment and eroding our culture," said Sheila Watt-Cloutier, head of the Circumpolar Inuit Conference, who has appealed to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The traditional hunting-based economy of the Inuit is suffering from the melting of polar icecaps and permafrost and a resulting decrease in seal and polar bear populations. Scientists have warned that the Arctic is warming twice as fast as other parts of the globe and that the glaciers may vanish by 2100 unless the rate of global warming is reduced.
2005-12-08
EU domains on Sale
Starting December 7th, 2005 EU domains are up for reservation during the "Sunrise Period".
! Note: you can only make reservations if you're a trademark holder or institution with enough credentials to claim yours. The public at large will have to wait until March 2006 to try to get their favourite spot.
Reports from yesterday claim Tens of thousands of demands for registration coming in. the Top 10 list of keywords called for were: sex (of course), hotel, travel, jobs, hotels, casino, poker, golf, business, shopping, porn, music...
Keywords... that matter; or a reflection of our present state of consumption...
I can think of another list: politics, government, union, solidarity, democracy, citizen, peace, ...
! Note: you can only make reservations if you're a trademark holder or institution with enough credentials to claim yours. The public at large will have to wait until March 2006 to try to get their favourite spot.
Reports from yesterday claim Tens of thousands of demands for registration coming in. the Top 10 list of keywords called for were: sex (of course), hotel, travel, jobs, hotels, casino, poker, golf, business, shopping, porn, music...
Keywords... that matter; or a reflection of our present state of consumption...
I can think of another list: politics, government, union, solidarity, democracy, citizen, peace, ...
Darwin's Nightmare
This documentary should be on everyone's "to watch - seriously" list. aexplores the African Continent's worst dreams, - Heart of Darkness -style.
Reading: P. Roth: the Plot Against America
Listening to: Led Zeppelin: How The West Was Won [LIVE]
Thinking:
Last picture: EU Domains on sale
Reading: P. Roth: the Plot Against America
Listening to: Led Zeppelin: How The West Was Won [LIVE]
Thinking:
California's water system might have been invented by a Soviet bureaucrat on an LSD trip.
Peter Passel, New York Times, February 27, 1991
Last picture: EU Domains on sale
2005-11-21
Vitaly Samoshko wint Publieksprijs Klara 2005
In Gent heeft het radionet Klara van de openbare omroep enkele prijzen uitgedeeld. Dat gebeurde in het kader van de eerste Staten-Generaal van de klassieke muziek in Vlaanderen, een ontmoeting van klassieke musici, componisten, concertorganisatoren en beleidsmakers.
Toon Daems (53) uit Schoten won als eerste laureaat de Klara-Compositieprijs 2005, die naar aanleiding van 75 jaar radio was uitgeschreven.
De opdracht: een nieuwe compositie voor pianotrio schrijven als hommage aan Mozart. De Klara-Carrièreprijs, een soort Lifetime Achievement Award, ging naar Huelgas Ensembledirigent en -stichter Paul Van Nevel, die met respect voor de authentieke partituur de Vlaamse polyfonie nieuw leven inblies.
Voor de jaarlijkse Klara-muziekprijzen waren veertig cd’s genomineerd.
Het Jef Neve Trio won de jazzprijs met It’s Gone, Stefan Winter haalde het in de categorie wereldmuziek met Cuadernos de Mexico, drie cd’s met veldopnames van volksmuziek uit Mexico gebracht door zestien verschillende solisten en groepen.
Als beste klassieke cd van het voorbije seizoen kwam een opname van Vivaldi’s Orlando Furioso door het Ensemble Matheus uit de bus.
Luisteraars van de muziekzender konden via de website of de post ook stemmen voor twee publieksprijzen.
Die voor de beste Vlaamse productie ging naar het ensemble Zefiro Torna voor hun cd El Noi de la Mare, kerstliederen uit middeleeuwen en renaissance.
De Oekraïense pianist Vitaly Samoshko (winnaar Koningin Elisabeth-wedstrijd 1999) ging aan de haal met de publieksprijs voor beste internationale cd 2005 voor Etudes voor piano van Alexander Scriabin.
Toon Daems (53) uit Schoten won als eerste laureaat de Klara-Compositieprijs 2005, die naar aanleiding van 75 jaar radio was uitgeschreven.
De opdracht: een nieuwe compositie voor pianotrio schrijven als hommage aan Mozart. De Klara-Carrièreprijs, een soort Lifetime Achievement Award, ging naar Huelgas Ensembledirigent en -stichter Paul Van Nevel, die met respect voor de authentieke partituur de Vlaamse polyfonie nieuw leven inblies.
Voor de jaarlijkse Klara-muziekprijzen waren veertig cd’s genomineerd.
Het Jef Neve Trio won de jazzprijs met It’s Gone, Stefan Winter haalde het in de categorie wereldmuziek met Cuadernos de Mexico, drie cd’s met veldopnames van volksmuziek uit Mexico gebracht door zestien verschillende solisten en groepen.
Als beste klassieke cd van het voorbije seizoen kwam een opname van Vivaldi’s Orlando Furioso door het Ensemble Matheus uit de bus.
Luisteraars van de muziekzender konden via de website of de post ook stemmen voor twee publieksprijzen.
Die voor de beste Vlaamse productie ging naar het ensemble Zefiro Torna voor hun cd El Noi de la Mare, kerstliederen uit middeleeuwen en renaissance.
De Oekraïense pianist Vitaly Samoshko (winnaar Koningin Elisabeth-wedstrijd 1999) ging aan de haal met de publieksprijs voor beste internationale cd 2005 voor Etudes voor piano van Alexander Scriabin.
2005-11-17
AquaFed - The International Federation of Private Water Operators
"AquaFed is an association set up to connect international organisations with private sector providers of water and sanitation services.
Aquafed brings together over 200 water service providers operating in 38 countries worldwide."
Aquafed brings together over 200 water service providers operating in 38 countries worldwide."
2005-11-16
Camille & Thomas
Camille turned 1 year old on November 4, 2005. It's been an incredible ride together with Mama and all our friends and families. Becoming a parent, changes not only your sleep schedule, your behaviour, but your mind... and your insight, your care and caring and also your "stewardship" responsibility.
Camille: thanks for making me want to be a better man/dad/friend!
Camille: thanks for making me want to be a better man/dad/friend!
"Stercus accidit" (shit happens)
Reading: The Plot Against America - P.Roth;
Stopped reading:
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susan Clarke:
finished reading: the Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson:
Listening to: Millionaire (*/*****), Latest by Franz Ferdinand (**/*****), Admiral Freebee (****/*****), Uri Cane Bach Goldberg Variations (*****/*****)
Thinking: "Stercus accidit" (shit happens)
Last picture: Set of Pictures compiled: 1 year in Review: Camille 2004 - 2005
Stopped reading:
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susan Clarke:
bored after 150+ pages, decided to put the book away. A part from the nice cover - a white crow on a black background - there's not much to say about this BORING book
finished reading: the Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson:
after 2+ years of reading, finally completed the 3-vol. opus M. by former SF writer Stephenson turned guru of the 18th century. Will thoroughly miss Jack Cock-eyed Shaftoe and Eliza Countess de la Zeur, but Newton, Leibniz and their companions of the Royal Society even more. A thrilling ride, a fantastic story and great insights in the birth of banking and the intertwined rise of science and alchemy... A must-read for any real Renaissance-(wo)man, a fantastic primer on the revolutions of the Sciences...
Listening to: Millionaire (*/*****), Latest by Franz Ferdinand (**/*****), Admiral Freebee (****/*****), Uri Cane Bach Goldberg Variations (*****/*****)
Thinking: "Stercus accidit" (shit happens)
Last picture: Set of Pictures compiled: 1 year in Review: Camille 2004 - 2005
2005-09-29
Bike to work or not?
Over the past years I've taken the habit of ditching the car more and more often, and to jump on my run-down bike for the short trips (from/to work in Paris until last year- around downtown Brussels from this year).
appearantly, I wasn't the only one wondering if this was/is a healthy activity, sucking up exhaust fumes at 20km/h and what's more "biking the risk of getting hit by monster traffic"...
GRIST has an interesting discussion and concludes that "biking wins over all mechanized transport".
So .. get out there, you bums, get some exercize: but be prudent and make sure your brakes work, you wear a protective helmet and fluorescent jacket, ankle straps to keep your trousers from getting snatched by the chain.... yakayakayakayaka....
In my opinion: it's great to de-stress, but the risks are important, but then again, not all of us have showers at the office...
appearantly, I wasn't the only one wondering if this was/is a healthy activity, sucking up exhaust fumes at 20km/h and what's more "biking the risk of getting hit by monster traffic"...
GRIST has an interesting discussion and concludes that "biking wins over all mechanized transport".
So .. get out there, you bums, get some exercize: but be prudent and make sure your brakes work, you wear a protective helmet and fluorescent jacket, ankle straps to keep your trousers from getting snatched by the chain.... yakayakayakayaka....
In my opinion: it's great to de-stress, but the risks are important, but then again, not all of us have showers at the office...
2005-09-22
Brussel Blogt
Brussel is een collectief blog rijker... en houdt dus grote kuis... go check it out
Thinking: Une grand-mère qui meurt, c'est une bibliothèque qui brûle.
Travelling: Stockholm, Paris, Barcelona
Last picture:
2005-07-27
Moleskin veneration
This is Moleskinerie, a blog dedicated to the proposition that not all notebooks are created equal....
We are not afraid !
Post a picture of yourself with the message "we are not afraid"!
show them terrorists what you've got!
show them terrorists what you've got!
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