Water waste: '... to engage in reducing their footprint plastic by simple gestures' C.Barreau

The oceans and the seas are polluted by millions of tons of waste. Mainly composed of plastic, they are nature and size very various: cigarette butts, plastic bags, cotton swabs, plastic packaging... They are dispersed by currents, storms and cyclones everywhere in the world and form of "continents of waste. Disrupting all of the littoral of the planet and ecosystems causing dramatic consequences both for the environment and the species, the European Commission wished to draw attention to this issue, in accordance with the Rio commitments, aimed at reducing the impact of pollution on marine ecosystems.

A few figures
-70 to 80% of the waste found in the sea and on the coast are of terrestrial origin
-60-95% of the debris found at the bottom of the seas mostly plastic waste, packaging: bags, bottles...
-There were 712 waste per 100 m from Beach,
-Between the water surface and 200 metres deep, can be counted 150 million of debris to the North Sea, 50 million for the Bay of Biscay, 300 million for the Mediterranean basin.

Interview with Cristina bar 'Chargée de mission, aquatic waste' within the association Surfrider, partner of SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT.
-According to you, what is the most effective solution to combat the proliferation of aquatic waste?
The most effective solution to combat the proliferation of waste is awareness by citizens of the impact of their actions on the marine environment and their willingness to engage in reducing their footprint plastic by simple gestures. By changing some of their habits of consumption, by disseminating good practices and mobilizing to combat water waste, citizens can influence on institutions for a better taking into account of water waste in the regulations but also on industrial production. Of course, should also a genuine commitment of Governments and industry to be able to carry out this fight.
Today, it is not possible to clean the ocean. The best solution remains to reduce the generation of waste at source.

-80% of waste from land, is your "mainstream" awareness work has had real consequences on the reduction of releases?
It is 18 years Surfrider to fight against the proliferation of waste water by attracting the attention of the public, industry and institutions given the extent of this pollution. The ocean Initiatives with our educational tools, we sensitized hundreds of people around the world to the problem of waste water through cleaning of beaches, lakes and rivers. By participating in ocean initiatives, people are aware of the pollution of the oceans and are committed to reduce their waste production and to enter appropriate value chains the waste they produce.
Even if there is a decrease in releases, there are still many way to go. There are still so many people achieve... we think particularly to those who are not aware that their daily actions can have an impact on the oceans even if they live hundreds of miles from the coast. During our operations in the field we had occasion to note that young are very aware of the problem of waste water and are also the best spokesman for the message that we wish to pass. We base so much hope to the younger generation to drastically reduce the introduction of waste in the oceans.

-How do you get publishing 2012 the ocean Initiatives and our partnership?
In 2012, the ocean Initiatives have experienced unprecedented success. 50,000 volunteers around the world have been alerted at 1230 cleaning of beaches, lakes and rivers. The operations took place in 44 countries and 5 continents. We have collected more than 2,500 m³ of waste which is approximately 28 school buses full of waste. It is very important and necessary that all of the actors in our society is committed to our coasts. Share his involvement, through the financial areas, communication and mobilization, and thanks to the commitment of its employees, the Lyonnaise des eaux is part of these occupational structures investing in protecting environmental and participating actively in the success of the ocean Initiatives.

Water and World Economic Forum: the roles of government leadership, partnership and collaboration

The recent session in Davos in Switzerland on "Pathways to a sustainable future" was an excellent opportunity to meet the Minister Edna Molewa of South Africa once again, our highest Government ally in the water resources group.

 

The discussion focused on several aspects of sustainability in addition to water, including access to energy and health (vaccination). When talking about water, we arrived at a clear conclusion - when as important as those faced by the world today challenges the collaboration within the strategies set by Governments is essential. The crucial first step, of course, is to agree on urgent challenges require collaboration. Encouragingly, there is a growing consensus.

Ahead of the meeting of this year, more than 1,000 international experts had to classify the larger priorities among 50 global risks. The global water crisis came second, ahead of other urgent issues as imbalance tax column, food shortages (which, as I have shown in other posts, is closely linked to the overexploitation of water and scarcity) and threats of weapons of mass destruction.

Rating of the world's problems is not the same thing to solve them. But it highlights a growing recognition of the central role water plays in all economic activities. But what is the solution? In my opinion, innovative and disruptive of the partnerships are essential.

To make a material difference on the crisis of water, innovative partnerships need three things, each of which I believe are in the public-private partnership that we develop through the 2030 water resources group:

Firstly, it is essential to establish a clear understanding and deep knowledge of the problem. So that global in scope, the water crisis is manifested in intensely local way. The resource group starts helping Governments to analyse and understand the gap between the withdrawals and the sustainable freshwater supply in specific watersheds. Specifically, it is to work on the amount of water can be saved compared to the actual deficit in power.Secondly, ensure us that the approach that we adopt is tirelessly, factual and analytical. The purpose is to help Governments to implement a forensic understanding of the challenges of local water to drive sustainable economic growth plans. It is to provide a cost of the levers able to curve the gap and give advice on relevant approaches to the locality that measure how much US cents of investment per meter cube of water is saved.Third, innovative partnerships require the right partners, innovative. While Governments are the ultimate intendant of the national water resources, there are limits to what they can achieve without the support of other stakeholders who have a role to play. The 2030 Water Resources Group made a concerted effort to mobilize knowledge and influence throughout the public and private sector, academia and civil society. It combines international bodies such as the World Economic Forum and International Finance Corporation, world Governments, major non-governmental organizations and other business leaders apart from Nestlé, including Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.

Partnerships in particular require a political direction and a framework for providing effective solutions. We were particularly happy and proud in this regard that our group included Edna Molewa, Minister of the South African water and Environmental Affairs - and one of the first leaders to understand the gravity and the complexity of the issue of water. Minister Molewa was instrumental in establishing the network of partners strategic water South Africa, a partnership between the Government of South Africa and the water resources dealing with critical issues of water in the region where demand should increase by 52%.

I've blogged about previously, the results show just how powerful this collaboration possible. Through a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach, we are continuing to best learning practices catalogue not only specific countries such as the India, the Mexico and China, but also specific to different river basins.

Only by bridging of the sectors and comprising public, private and civil society can address a challenge as complex as that of the water crisis.

As always, I'm keen to hear your thoughts - particularly around how we can strengthen the collaboration between different types of stakeholders.

The disturbing consequences of our thirst for biofuels

“Now that the United States is using 40% of its crop to make biofuel, it is not surprising that tortilla prices have doubled in Guatemala… Just three years ago, one quetzal – about 15 cents – bought eight tortillas; today it buys only four.” This startling development, set out and explored in great detail in the International Herald Tribune on Monday, illustrates one of the main unintended consequences of the huge increases in biofuel incentives, subsidies, mandates and other regulations. I urge readers to take a look at the article.

As regular readers of my blog will know, this is a topic close to my heart. I believe, however, that this message is worth repeating, as some governments and organisations are still in denial. At least partly in order to avoid an unpleasant truth, the re-designed method to estimate the number of people going hungry to bed, no longer captures “the effects of food price and other economic shocks” (Source: FAO, the State of Food Insecurity in the World, Rome, September 2012).

But food prices do matter in the real world of the hungry. As the article states, “the average Guatemalan is now hungrier because of biofuel development,” This is an unacceptable state of affairs and action needs to be taken. I hope readers of this blog agree with me?

Free Webinar: “Your Website Doesn’t Matter: Why Email Still Rules Fundraising”

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota.  If she gets your emails -- and likes them -- she'll write you a bigger check

That’s the title of a free, upcoming webinar sponsored by the online do-gooders at Care2. Intrigued? You should be.

Here’s the description of the event:

Your website doesn’t matter and your Facebook friends don’t care! Shocked? Studies show that when it comes to online fundraising only one thing really matters: the quality and size of your email list. Email remains the primary driver of online donations… While we all love our Facebook friends and Twitter followers, nonprofits are raising very little money via social networks. At the end of the day the most reliable way to increase the amount of money your organization raises online is to maintain and grow a high quality email list.

Here at Water Words That Work, LLC, our experience consulting for nonprofit nature protection and pollution control organizations corroborates Care2's claims — the most effective thing an organization can do to raise more money from individuals is to grow your email list and put more of their current members onto your email list. Not only that — we’ve seen a clear and consistent pattern across multiple organizations: If a supporter is on your email list, they will donate more often and in larger amounts, even if they write you a check.

So how do you go about growing your email list? Follow the link below to see who the panelists are and to sign up for Care2's free webinar on the subject:

And while we’re on the topic of email, what tool should you use to manage your (hopefully) donor list and send those emails? Follow the link below to sign up for a terrific email tool that is completely free for most nonprofit organizations:

Water Words That Work’s “Message Blaster”

Environmental Communications Jobs, KY and VA

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Well, the economy can’t be TOO horrible because good organizations are still hiring.

Communications Manager, Water Environment Research Foundation, Alexandria, VA

The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that manages a comprehensive water quality research program related to wastewater, stormwater, and watershed management. WERF stresses collaboration among teams of subscribing members, environmental professionals, scientists and staff. All research is peer reviewed by leading experts and results are disseminated to municipal and industrial entities and the regulatory community.

WERF seeks a highly qualified technical writer responsible for the writing and editing of periodicals, newsletters, e-newsletters, reports, online media and other communication productsThe Communications Manager coordinates editing, and writing of multiple newsletters and journals, corporate brochures, annual reports, conference materials, annual awards program materials, and news releases.

Learn More

Water Resources Program Director, Kentucky Waterways Alliance, Louisville, KY

Kentucky Waterways Alliance (KWA) is a non-profit organization devoted to the protection and restoration of Kentucky’s waterways and their watersheds. The Water Resources Program Director manages the Alliance’s permit review and compliance program and works with the Executive Director on water policy issues and review. The successful candidate would spend a significant portion of their time reviewing water 401/404 permits and documenting mitigation performed.

Learn More

Environmental Communications Job in TX

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota

Does the idea of living along the Texas Gulf Coast appeal to you? In a beach town with access to marshes, deep sea fishing, and reasonable costs of living? If yes, then check out this vacancy for a Coastal Training Coordinator at the Mission Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve.  Job duties are:

Develop and coordinate coastal decision maker workshops. Prepare a strategic and marketing plan. Prepare an implementation strategy and marketing plan. Cooperate with partnering agencies and other reserves participating in this system-wide training program and provide or facilitate technical assistance for decision-maker audiences. Responsible for meeting the program’s performance measures and reporting on those measures. Facilitate meetings of the coastal training program advisory committee. Prepare required semi-annual and annual reports and work plans for the Reserve manager. Periodic evaluations of CTP programs and assist in other types of evaluations to the reserve or the coastal training program. Raise funds to support future program expansion.

Click here to learn more about this environmental communication job.

Job: Environmental Communications Coordinator

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota

The National Audubon Society is looking to hire a communications coordinator for its Mississippi River Delta Restoration Campaign. This position may be located either in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, or Washington, D.C. Here’s the scoop:

The communications coordinator for the Mississippi River Delta Restoration Campaign will play a key role in building nationwide awareness and support for restoration of the Mississippi River Delta on behalf of the National Audubon Society, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the National Wildlife Federation. The coordinator will work closely with other staff members to create and produce content for web and print, conduct media outreach, and distribute key information to campaign staff.

Audubon is looking for candidates with about three years of experience in public relations, journalism or other communications and marketing fields with a demonstrated record of success. To learn more about the position, click this link: Environmental Communication Position.