A Milestone in the History of Dams and Development World Commission on Dams to Release Report Nelson Mandela to Inaugurate Global Launch in London November 16 Marks End of WCD New Beginning for Partners
CAPE TOWN, October 13 -- Against expectations, an unprecedented global experiment to transform development controversies of the past into consensus for the future has completed its work, with unanimous agreement, in a very short time frame, and under budget.
During the IUCN/World Conservation Congress in Amman, Jordan, the World Commission on Dams today announced that it has concluded two years of comprehensive global assessments, peer reviews, impartial outreach, and rigorous independent analysis involving nearly 1000 people and covering hundreds of large dams to bring clarity and understanding to water and energy resource development decisions around the world.
It further announced that it has researched, written, edited and has sent to the publisher its Final Report, which now has been unanimously endorsed by a unique group of 12 diverse and experienced Commissioners, representing public, private and civil society perspectives of the dams and development debate.
Finally, it announced the global launch of that Final Report -- Dams & Development: A New Framework for Decision-Making -- with Nelson Mandela, IUCN Director-General Maritta Koch-Weser, World Bank President Jim Wolfensohn, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson and HRH Prince William of Orange in Cabot Hall, London on the 16th of November 2000. It then disbands, and, through regional presentations of its work in Bangkok, New Delhi, New York, Sao Paulo, Washington and Cape Town, passes the torch to its many partners for implementation, analysis and action.
"Just as our journey ends, the real work begins," said WCD Chair Kader Asmal. "We have fulfilled our mandate. We have carried out an ambitious work programme to help governments meet the needs of their thirsty constituents without exhausting the waters that sustain us all. We have learned hard lessons from the past, listened to voices hitherto unheard, and offered a new framework for decision making: globalisation from below."
There were some who did not believe the World Commission on Dams would meet more than once, much less nine times on five continents. In two years it drew upon:
* More than 900submissions on experiences with large dams from 79 countries;
* A survey of 125 dams in 56 countries in a broad, 'family portrait' of dams as a whole;
> * Four consultations held in Sri Lanka, Egypt, Brazil and Vietnamwhich gave voice to individual views about dams and attracted 1,400 participants from 59 countries;
* Seventeen thematic reviews by 130 writers in 25 countries;
* Input from 68 organisations from 34 countries represented on the WCD Forum who monitor the Commission's work and activities;
* Ten case studies in five regions that provide and in-depth study and analysis about how dams were built in their national, temporal and natural context.
"While the Commission itself is mortal, our product should not be," said Asmal. "Our Report is a milestone in the in the history of dams and development. It builds upon the work of others in the past and hopes to guide, shape and inform the future of decision making for our most precious resource, water."
________________________________________________________________________
World Commission on Dams Secretariat
PO Box 16002, Vlaeberg, Cape Town. 8018 South Africa
* +27 21 426-4000 Fax: + 27 21 426 0036 >
E-mail contact: jworkman@dams.org/
Home Page: http://www.dams.org