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International Conference
Water : Values & Rights
May 2 – 4, 2005 Ramallah, Palestine
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Introduction
From 2-4 May 2005, the International and Scientific Conference on “Water: Values and Rights” took place at the Best Eastern Hotel in Ramallah. This Conference was organized by Palestine Academy for Science and Technology and the Palestinian Water Authority and co-sponsored by UNDP.In his speech, on the 22nd March 2005 addressing World Water Day, which marked the beginning of the UN Water Decade, the United Nations Secretary General described Water as “a source for life” confirming that the world needs to respond much better in making water not a resource of conflict but instead forging it as a catalyst for cooperation. This speech comes while people in many countries around the world are facing serious problems ranging from shortage of the potable water to the inadequate distribution and monopoly of water resources that certainly have adverse consequences on all aspects of life, including in Palestine. It was stressed during the conference that despite all efforts and investments during the last ten years, the per capita consumption of the Palestinian consumer community has not increased in some areas and has actually dropped.
What we need in our region is to develop a new water mentality by which water use is prioritized as vested human rights and is managed in an economical and ecological sustainable manner instead of being handled as solely a political issue and commercial commodity.
Decision makers should therefore facilitate and support the role of science, technology and innovation not only within each country but also among countries by strengthening scientific cooperation, especially for issues of cross-border effects.
This event was the first initiative in the framework of the United Nations Water Decade 2005-2015: Water for Life in Palestine and aimed to provide scientists, researchers, experts, decision-makers and those interested from the private and public sectors with a platform to introduce the latest in the state of the art in the diverse fields of water resource management and rights.
It was the first international and scientific conference in its kind to take place in Palestine and turned out to be a great success. Over two hundred local and international participants, scientists, researchers, water and legal experts and decision makers and more than 50 papers were presented focusing on water resources management, wastewater management, water rights and international law, strategic planning and regional cooperation. The Conference was praised the relevance and quality of the presentations, the expertise of both speakers and participants, and its excellent organization.
For the recommendations that resulted from the Conference, please see the Joint Statement
Conference Topics:
1- Water Resource Management
- Water demand forecasting
- Watershed management
- Water management- control of leakage and regulation
- Natural water resources management and regional cooperation
- Rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge
- Water Tariff and Networking
- Water pipe lines and networks rehabilitation
- Water resources integrated management
- Groundwater flow and contamination management
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Rainwater management and climatic changes
- Water conservation and socio-economic impacts
- Scope of Water use and water services
- Coastal aquifer management
2- Wastewater Treatment
- Wastewater treatment and reuse
- Municipal and Rural wastewater treatment techniques
- Water pollution: costs and threats to society
- Maintenance of Water service
- Industrial water treatment
3- International Water Law and Rights: Policies and Agreements
- The future basis for water cooperation and agreements in the region
- Water in Palestine: Past, Present and Future.
- Water conflict and water rights
- Regional cooperation on water resources
4- Water: Developmental and Strategic Planning
- Long term monitoring for well and springs
- Water resource policies and regulations
- Water budget for the Middle East Region
- Environmental impact and assessment
5- Water: Socio-economic Impacts
- Socially acceptable and sustainable water and wastewater options
- Socio-economic issues
- Water quality and its impact on public health
6- Water and Wastewater Technology.
- GIS and remote sensing application
- Promoting remote sensing in hydrology
- Electronic management and information technology related to water
- Hydrological modeling and simulation
- Membrane based technologies
- Thermal technologies
- Desalination using renewable energy sources
Conference Organization
Palestine Academy for Science and Technology
Palestinian Water Authority
Organizing Committee:
- Ayman Al Haj Daoud, Palestine Academy for Science and Technology, Palestine
- Mahmoud El Shiekh, Palestine Academy for Science and Technology, Palestine
- Hazim Kitaneh, Palestinian Water Authority, Palestine
- Ribhi El Shiekh, Palestinian Water Authority, Palestine
- Nabil Shahin, University of Karlsruhe, Germany
- Nasr Rayyes, National Committee for Humanitarian International Law, Palestine
Scientific and Expert Committee:
- Abd Elrahman Al Tamimi, Palestinian Hydrology Group
- Alfred Abd Rabbo, Betlehem University
- Anan Jayyousi, An Najah National University
- Amjad Ilawi, water House
- Amer Merei, Al-Quds University
- Karen Assaf, Arab Scientific Institute for Research and Transfer of technology (ASIR)
- Manar Al-Fayad , University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
- Rashed Al-Sa’ed , Birzeit University
- Taher Naseredeen, Palestinian Water Authority
- Wasim Ali, University of Karlsruhe
- Yousif Abu Mayla, Al Azhar University
- Yousif Awayes, Palestinian Water Authority
- Zaher Kuhail, Islamic University of Gaza