Source - International News
Climate change: global conference says that water must be included in COP-15 negotiations
14 Sep 09
The participants of the 2009 World Water Week in Stockholm urged that water must be included in the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-15) negotiations in Copenhagen in December 2009. WaterCube.tv interviewed about 100 people including Stockholm Water Prize Winner Dr Bindishwar Pathak.
SODIS under fire: studies pour cold water on solar disinfection
14 Sep 09
The much-lauded method of disinfecting water in plastic bottles using only sunlight might not work as well as previously thought and might even be dangerous, new research suggests. The Swiss Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS) Reference Center admits the technique has its weaknesses but that it is safe and should not be discouraged unless an alternate supply of safe drinking water is available.
Virtual water: food products should carry ‘water footprint’ information, says UK report
05 Aug 09
Food and drink products in the UK should carry a new label to give consumers more information about their “water footprint” – the hidden amount of water used in the manufacturing process – say two health and food lobby groups. An international water ecolabel is on the agenda of Alliance for Water Stewardship, launched in March 2009.
Right to water: PLoS editorial promotes it, Californians to get it
05 Aug 09
The editors of the open access journal PLoS Medicine have added their voice to those who are demanding that access to water should be framed as a human right. Meanwhile, California is set to become the first US state to pass legislation on the right to clean water for basic human needs.
Faith in Water: meeting leads to new partnerships between religions and UN agencies
05 Aug 09
UN agencies and the World Bank have invited faith organisations to become partners in their water and sanitation activities. This was one of the results of a Faith in Water meeting that brought together for the first time religious groups, international water agencies and water innovators. It focussed in particular on water, sanitation and hygiene promotion (WASH) in schools.
Water crisis: Google brings water data to life
26 Jun 09
A new Google web application, Fusion Tables, helps visualise complex water data. It was used to show the correlation of death by water-related illness, wealth and safe drinking water availability.
Rotavirus vaccination : World Health Organization move boosts fight against fatal diarrhoea
19 Jun 09
WHO has recommended that a vaccine which can prevent a diarrhoea-causing virus should be included in national immunisation programmes worldwide.
USA: Water for the World Act aims to provide 100 million people with safe water and sanitation by 2015
19 May 09
On 22 April 2009, Earth Day, Members of the US House of Representatives, Earl Blumenauer and Donald Payne introduced the 2009 Water for the World Act. The bill sets a goal of providing 100 million of the world’s poorest with sustainable drinking water and sanitation by 2015.
Cholera: vaccination or improved sanitation?
18 May 09
With a new, cheaper anti-cholera vaccine about to be released, the debate continues on whether it is better to control the disease through vaccination or by improving sanitation practices.
Diarrhoea: reports claim that inadequate response is risking millions of children's lives
18 May 09
Reports published by two major aid agencies claim that inadequate responses to diarrhoea outbreaks by governments and the international community are placing the lives of million of children at risk.
