SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF EUROPE 19TH European Congress
The theme of this year’s congress, “Soroptimists go for water” is a highly topical issue.
Tackling the current global water crisis signifies working to preserve an invaluable local heritage in each and every country. By adopting this theme, European Soroptimists continue to strive for Peace. Indeed, how can we build peace if natural resources are being degraded to the point of scarcity? It is impossible to achieve sustainable social and economic development without a well thought out strategy for addressing ecological issues. Lack of safe drinking water is a key element, already underlying various areas of conflict.
It is women who bear the brunt of the problem of water shortage. And women must be fully involved in the management of this vital resource.
The SI congress in Amsterdam demonstrates the determination of European Federation Soroptimists to take on this challenge. The high quality speakers and ensuing discussions will surely serve to enhance our awareness of the scale of the problem.
Monique Riviere
SI/E Federation President
2005-2007
Posts
2 comments:
The congress was great and thanks for this article. We will continue to help solve the water problems in the world.
Mariet
SI/E President
I am glad to hear of your success and would like you to know that there are people approaching water issues from many angles, including political and economic.
We approach the problem from a political and profit base for we have found that if we can also generate political mileage along with revenue then the solution ends up having a life of its own.
For example, I am presenting a three-component project that involves creating water from the moisture in air, finance (including micro), and an advanced method of distributing education and media. By connecting the three projects together we can offset the cost of creating water to solve issues like Cholera, too much salt or chemicals in the water or lack of minerals by providing remote:
o ATM banking for cost effective distribution of funds and lower financial charges
o Access to internet programming (education programs, movies, music etc ) over very low band width lines
o Business services for micro finance entrepreneurs
o Small Business or job opportunities.
Places like Kenya and India benefit from programs like yours and ours because the infrastructure is lacking and it is very difficult to ask someone to give up their land for the benefit of others.
Your solution is probably the most economic and long term as compared to ours which focuses on being able to deliver water immediately – just plug it in – but given the situation in refugee camps and some of the current disasters ours is effective right away because you literally do just turn on the devices and they are portable.
I look forward to seeing more of your success stories and maybe we can share one of our future successes with you for my associate is working in the Philippines right now and I hope to be in Kenya again soon.
All the best.
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