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The Water of Life |
Challenges & Opportunities in the 21st Century |
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| October 24, 2008 - October 26, 2008 |
| Rhinebeck Campus: Rhinebeck, NY (US) |
Tuition: $325 (does not include accommodations or commuter fee)
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| Course: SM08-5702-382 |
| Tuition discounts are not available.
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We are facing a profound crisis with our freshwater resources all over the world, including here in North
America.
Omega Institute is dedicated to finding lasting solutions to this urgent problem. A key component of this weekend’s program is the grand opening celebration of the Omega Center for Sustainable Living, the centerpiece of which is an Eco Machine™, an energy-efficient, self-sustaining wastewater treatment and educational center,
designed by ecological engineer John Todd, one of the invited faculty members presenting at this conference.
The world’s population of 6 billion people now uses 4 billion gallons of water every day. It is projected that by 2010 (only two years from now), more than 2.5 billion people will lack access to safe drinking water and at least 30 percent of the population in China, India, the Middle East, and the United States will face severe water stress. The World Water Council projects that by 2025, from one-quarter to one-third of the world’s population will
suffer severe water scarcity. The situation may become so dire that the vice president of the World Bank stated, “The wars of the 21st century will be about water.”
How have we reached this predicament? What can be done about it? Pollution, increasing population and industrial demands, destruction of the rain forests, climate change, drought, and over-pumping of ground water are all responsible for the deterioration of water quality and its increasing scarcity. But the underlying reason for the
water crisis is our lack of understanding and accord on all levels of government, from local zoning regulations to worldwide policies regarding the ownership and distribution of freshwater.
This conference, featuring some of the leading environmental speakers and organizations in North America,
explores the worldwide crisis of freshwater scarcity and what we can all do to restore and protect this precious resource. It is open to all who are concerned about our freshwater resources, and is especially of interest to
policymakers, environmental activists, corporate executives, elected officials, students, and teachers.
Faculty
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, chief prosecuting attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper, and president of Waterkeeper Alliance. He was recently named one of Time magazine’s “Heroes for the Planet” for his success in helping Riverkeeper lead the fight to restore the Hudson River.
John Todd is one of the pioneers in the emerging field of ecological design and engineering. Developer of the Eco Machine™, Todd was named one of the 20th Century’s top 35 inventors by the Lemelson-MIT Program for Invention and Innovation. He was named a “Hero of the Earth” by Time magazine in 1999. toddecological.com
Maude Barlow is the national chairperson of the Council of Canadians, Canada’s largest public advocacy organization, and the founder of the Blue Planet Project, working internationally for public access to freshwater. She is the recipient of the 2005 Right Livelihood Award (known as the “Alternative Nobel”), is the author or coauthor of 16 books, and is working on a new book about the global fight for the right to water titled Blue Covenant.
Additional faculty and organizations will also be joining the conference; check back for updates.
Scholarships are available.
Now in its 18th year, E/The Environmental Magazine is a bimonthly clearinghouse of information, news, and resources for people concerned about the environment who want to know what they can do to make a difference. A 13-time Independent Press Awards winner and nominee, E/The Environmental Magazine reports on current and emerging issues on subjects such as air and water quality; forests and waterways; biotechnology; oceans and fisheries; climate change; human population growth impacts; recycling and re-use; endangered wildlife; toxic health threats; food safety; and energy issues. emagazine.com
This Water of Life conference celebrates the grand opening of the new Omega Center for Sustainable Living (OCSL). The OCSL is a significant undertaking for Omega, the nation, and even the world. It is self-sustaining, using geothermal systems for heating and cooling, as well as solar and photovoltaic power. It includes a laboratory, water garden, constructed wetland, and classroom for visitors—students, teachers, activists, corporate executives, government officials—to learn how each of us has a role to play in creating a future that ties our well-being to the health of the natural world.
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