Dear Parliamentarians,
It is only a week until we meet for the live event of the 2010 European Science Parliament -- some of us physically in Aachen, some of us virtually here on this platform -- and I would like to introduce myself as the facilitator for your thematic group 'Water, Science and Politics'. The purpose of this thematic working group is to meet, share and debate -- and after lively, constructive and informed discussions to end up with an agreement on our view on the subject for the Aachen Declaration. We will be supported by expert's keynotes presentations, and our progress will be continually shared with others through the live blogging team.
As we only have a few hours together it is important to try and make some common ground on which to start our debates. It will help to create a common starting point if you make sure you have read the study that was written especially for us http://www.science-parliament.eu/sites/default/files/ESP-Baseline-Study.pdf, particularly the few pages that deal with water and politics.
You might also find the following links useful:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_stress
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_crisis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_conflicts
Please find and contribute your own sources of information, a range of diverse perspectives will make very rich discussions.
Please also just spend some time reading through the existing threads in this forum, reflecting on what your thoughts and feelings are about the subject - just because no-one else has written about it doesn't mean that it isn't a great idea, and just because somebody has written about it doesn't mean you can't add your thoughts!
And finally, as it is World Water Day on 22nd March, you may want to look at http://www.worldwaterday.org/
That is all for now. If you have any questions please contact me -- either through a direct message here on the forum or by writing to moderator@science-parliament.eu. Otherwise safe travels and I very much look forward to meeting you in Aachen.
Sophie
Moderator of Water, Science and Politics Thematic Group
