2003/2004 Report

PRESIDENT'S REPORT ON WATER WATCH ACTIVITIES 2003/2004

The year 2003 was the international year for freshwater. Many events were held, including the World Water Forum (WWF) in Kyoto & Osaka, Japan. However, NGOs were unhappy and viewed the WWF as an event largely organized and sponsored by MNCs, governments and industry. Hence, many NGOs got together and organized their onw People?s World Water Forum in Florence, Italy. WWP was fortunate in that it attended both forums, something not many can claam to have been able to do. Within our national boundaries, there were also many water events being held. Most significantly, the Malaysian Water Partnership (MWP) and MyCapNet, two avenues proposed for water stakeholders to meet and solve water problems, and plan strategies were set up. Throughout the year, WWP participated in many water events, either being invited to present a paper or as panelist. These are listed below. Most memoarable was the fact that we published our second book titled ?Learning About Water ? A Training Manual? and managed to secure funding from Ford Foundation for the 3rd successive year , funding for 2004 from PBAPP Sdn Bhd, cooperation with Global Environment Centre and Danida, and cooperation with Lions Club (Northern Peninsular Malaysia Region). WWP has also commissioned Cecil Rajenda, a renowned Malaysian poet (who is by profession a lawyer) to write the poem ?Aquarian Connection?. The poem is now spreading all over the world, mostly in the form of pamplets and booklets published by NGOs. As President, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Y.Bhg Dato? Dr Anwar Fazal, our long time adviser and dedicated life member for all that he has done to make WWP what it is today. I am also greatly indebted to all my committee members who have sacrificed their precious time and slogged unstintingly for the sake of WWP and for the larger picture of water conservation. To all those who have helped WWP in one way or another, and whom I have failed to mention, I apologise. Many anonymous people have in fact contributed by merely informing WWP of activities that are threatening our water sources. To these friends, I say ?Terima Kasih? and do continue to inform and support us. Many projects are now lined uo for 2004 and as President, I appeal to all members to take a more active stand. Please come forward to contribute as committee members. WWP needs new blood. Thank you.

WWP ACTIVITIES IN 2003/2004

2003:

(1) WWP was invited by Pipa Tree (NGO in Bangalore, India) to present a paper at the meeting ?The Ecology of Water ? Cultural and Practical Considerations?, Bangalore, India, February 6-9, 2003. Prof. Chan presented the paper titled ?Creating Water Saving Societies: The Key to Peaceful Water Resources Management in the 21st Century.? (2) WWP was invited by ERA to present a keynote paper at the National Seminar ? ?Civil Society Discussion on the Commodification and Privatisation of Water Resources in the WTO Environment?, 8 March 2003, Sheraton Subang Hotel, Subang Jaya. Prof. Chan presented the paper titled ?The Impact of Privatisation on the Poor?. (3) WWP was invited by UNEP (Japan) to participate in the ?World Water Forum 3 ? Session on ?Dynamic Solutions for Meeting the Urban Water Challenge?, Kyoto and Osaka, March 16-19, 2003. Prof Chan pesented a paper titled ?Dynamic Solutions for Managing Water Resources in Urban Areas in the 21st Century: The Role of Water NGOs?. (4) WWP was invited by The 1st People?s World Water Forum & Municipal Council of Florence to participate in the ?1st People?s World Water Forum ? An Alternative Agenda: the Right to Water for All?, Florence, 21?22 March 2003. Prof Chan presented a paper titled ?Privatisation of Water Resources: Experiences from Malaysia?. (5) WWP launched its newly published book ?Learning About Water ? A Training Manual?. Opening Speech at the launch was given by YAB Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon Chief Minister of Penang, 5 June 2003 in conjunction with World Environment Day, at the Caring Society Complex, Penang. ProfChan also gave a Speech on the contents of the new book and the role of Water Watch Penang in helping to manage Water Resources in Penang in the 21st Century. (6) WWP participated at the Friends of Botanic Gardens annual exhibition and fair at the Botanic Gardens, Penang on 7th June. WWP were given a booth to exhibit its water education projects, conservation messages, pamplets, posters, etc. WWP also carried out a Water Guessing Game whereby prizes were given out to winners. WWP members who volunteered to man the booth were Prof. Chan, Sheila Chang, Datin Anwar Fazal and Jennifer Kim. (7) WWP participated at the USM School of Technology Environmental Exhibition during USM?s 2003 Convocation at the Penang main Campus, 7-10th August. WWP were given a booth to exhibit its water education projects, conservation messages, pamplets, posters, etc. WWP also carried out a Water Guessing Game and Prof. Chan was invited to be a judge at some of the competitions. Prizes were given out to winners. WWP members who volunteered to man the booth were Prof. Chan, Sheila Chang, Wong Chai Fah and Ting Phooi Ling. (8) WWP was represented by Prof. Chan in the National Dialog on Effective Water Governance in Malaysia, 29-30 September 2003, Kuala Lumpur. Organised by Malaysian Water Partnership (MyWP) and Drainage & Irrigation Department Malaysia. WWP was invited to write the paper titled NGOs and Community Participation in Water Management in Malaysia. The Paper was summarized (with a few other papers) and presented by Dr Low Kwai Sim. (9) WWP again applied for the Ford Conservation and Environmental Grant 2003. WWP?s programme, jointly written by Khor Hung Teik and Prof. Chan, was successful in getting RM12,000.00 to produce a water conservation VDC. Prof. Chan represnted WWP to receive the award at a ceremony in KL on 12th December.

2004:

(10) WWP was represented by Prof. Chan and Sheila Chang at the International NGO Conference ?People?s World Water Forum?, India International Center, New Delhi, 12-14 Januari 2004. This was organised by People?s World Water Forum, a conglomeration of NGOs all over the world. Prof. Chan was partly sponsored by Alliance for a responsible and United World while Sheila Chang paid her own passage. Prof. Chan presented a talk on Key Issues in Water Conservation? (11) WWP also took part in the ?World Social Forum? in Mumbai, from 4-22 Januari 2004.. Organised by World Social Forum Mumbai. Prof. Chan and Sheila Chang were WWP?s representatives. Prof Chan took part in the session on water & presented a paper titled ?World Citizens Assembly on Water ? Linking Alliances?. (12) World Water Day 2004 - WWP held talks with Lions Club (Northern Region) and PBAPP Sdn Bhd (between January ? end Febraury 2004) for as joint celebration of World Water Day 2004, to be held on 21st March 2004 at the Botanic Gardens in Penang. Both Lions Club and PBAPP Sdn Bhd agreed to take part and fund the event. (13) PBAPP Sdn Bhd Funding - WWP has been holding talks with PBAPP Sdn Bhd over water education and conservation projects throughout the year 2003 and early 2004. Finally, on 9 February 2004, we received a check of RM25,000.00 from PBAPP Sdn Bhd. This amount will go towards funding several of our projects with PBAPP Sdn Bhd for the year 2004. Part of the funds will go towards the World Water Day 2004 celebrations.