Below is another update from World Rivers Day chair
Mark Angelo, in the lead up to our seventh annual
World Rivers Day, slated for September 25th, 2011.
Greetings River Advocates,
Preparations are being made for World Rivers Day on
September 25th and some exciting events are beginning
to emerge for 2011!
Please let us know about any Rivers Day activities you may
be planning in your area and we'll acknowledge them in
future updates (a brief summary of the event along with
contact information can be sent to Tom_Saare@bcit.ca).
Below is a small sampling of festivities from around the
world that are in the planning stages and many, many
more events will be included in future updates. We hope
you'll consider organizing a Rivers Day event of your own
and globally, millions of people are expected to participate.
Thousands of events around the world are anticipated to
take place. Just a few examples;
In Burnaby, BC, a massive celebration will take place to
celebrate the inspiring restoration of Guichon Creek, an
urban stream that only a few decades ago was severely
degraded (contact Tom_Saare@bcit.ca)
A major paddle trip is planned down the mighty Fraser
River from Yale to Hope, BC. A flotilla of canoes, kayaks
and rafts will take part in a unique paddle experience (info@hopemountain.org)
while in New Westminster, the Fraser River Discovery Centre will
unveil an exciting new display on the "Heart of the Fraser" as
part of their World Rivers Day celebrations (info@fraserriverdiscovery.org).
In Brisbane, Australia, the International River Symposium
will unfold along with the announcement of this
year's Riverprize recipient (Natalie@riverfoundation.org.au).
In Newfoundland, Canada, an exciting river celebration
along the Exploits River is planned (davebarker366@hotmail.com).
Across Europe, on rivers such as the Danube, the Rhine
and the Douro (along with other great waterways),
Uniworld River Cruises will coordinatean array of Rivers Day
celebrations and acknowledgements (stischer@uniworld.com).
In western Canada's Howe Sound, local events will celebrate
the ecological resurgence of the area culminating in a plan to
restore fish stocks in Britannia Creek, a stream that was once
a toxic hot-spot but has bounced back following efforts to
address long standing pollution concerns (tobe@shaw.ca)
Numerous events are in the planning stages across the
United States as well as Africa, and South America.
Details will be forthcoming in future updates.
Visit our Web site at: www.worldriversday.bcit.ca
to find out more about World Rivers Day, We can help
your promotions via our website, as well as emails like
this one.
World Rivers Day is based on the incredible success of
BC Rivers Day in British Columbia, Canada over the
past 31 years.
Promoting River Stewardship
World Rivers Day is a celebration of the world's
waterways. It highlights the many values of rivers
and strives to increase public awareness and
hopefully encourage the improved stewardship of
rivers around the world. Rivers in every country
face an array of threats, and only our active
involvement will ensure their health in the years
ahead.
Join the Celebration!
World Rivers Day organizers encourage all of you
to come out and participate. In particular, consider
starting a Rivers Day event of your own, which
might range from a stream cleanup to a community
riverside celebration. And if you create an event, be
sure to tell us about it! We'll keep you posted in
the months ahead as new Rivers Day activities are
announced.
International Partners
World Rivers Day is intended to compliment
the broader efforts of the United Nations
Water For Life Decade initiative and we look forward
to working closely with them in the months ahead to
promote this event and encourage new participants.
In launching World Rivers Day, we also greatly
appreciated the support of the United Nations
University and the International Network on Water,
Environment, and Health.
Special thanks to our World Rivers Day sponsors:
- HSBC
- Rivers Institute at BCIT and the
visionary commitment of its founding
supporter, Mr. Rudy North
- United Nations Water For Life Decade,
Canada initiative
- United Nations Water for Life Decade; 2005 - 2015.
To find out more about water issues, and how
to get involved with World Rivers Day, visit the
Web sites below for more information.
World Rivers Day Web Site:
http://www.worldriversday.bcit.ca/
Rivers Institute at BCIT:
www.riversinstitute.ca
BC Rivers Day Web Site:
http://www.riversday.bcit.ca/
United Nations "Water For Life Decade"
http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade /
Yours truly,
Mark Angelo,
-- Chair, World Rivers Day
United Nations Water for Life, Canada initiative
-- Chair, Rivers Institute at BCIT