Information on the Celebration of World Water Day, 2005, in Turkey

General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI)
Ankara, Turkey, 22 Dec 04

http://www.dsi.gov.tr

Information on the Celebration of World Day of Water (WDW), 22 March 2005, in Turkey

On the occasion of the World Day of Water 2005 (WDW’2005) official celebrations on 22 March 2005, the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI), main organisation responsible for the water resources development in the Country, has organised some events to improve public awareness on water and its importance for the life.

As being the starting date of the International Decade for Action, the WDW’2005 has been celebrated in the Country in a manner of trying to raise the awareness about the UN Millenium Development Goals.

With respect to the official celebration for WDW’2005 in the Country, a comission consisting from various disciplines was established by DSI at the beginning of the work for evaluating the needed actions, and the jury members were determined to select the winners of the various competitions. It is pleasing to inform herewith that the Office of International Hydrological Affairs, in which the WMO-related hydrological activities are dealt with also, has been fully engaged at each stage of the process from the beginning.

In order to attract more attention of the people, DSI has organized some competitions of poster, drawing, composition and photograph. Some brief information in this respect is the following:

o A poster competition was held on the theme of the WDW’2005, “Water for Life”. The first three posters, among 82 participations, selected by the jury were awarded. The first one is officially produced and widely distributed around the Country. A copy of winning poster is attached to this letter.
o The highlight of the celebrations is a drawing and composition competition held on among the 8th class students of all primary schools at national level. This activity was successfully managed by DSI in the full collaboration with the Education Ministry. The number of drawing and composition competitors was 76 and 85 respectively, of which the first three have been awarded.
o There was also a photograph competition which took the attention of 68 amateurs.

Opening ceremony has been organized by DSI on the occasion of the WWD-2005, with the participation of the higher levels of the State.

Following the opening ceremony organized to commemorate WDW’2005, and the speech by Dr. M.Hilmi GÜLER, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Prof. Dr. Veysel EROĞLU, the Director General of State Hydraulic Works (DSI), and other prominent and high level officials, the winners of each competitions were awarded. The ceremony was widely covered by television channels, as well as by the daily newspapers. Meanwhile, an exhibition of the selected works (posters, drawings, photographs and compositions) was opened at the headquarters of DSI, which was visited by the many people from the water community.

A documentary film on the theme of “Water for Life” was prepared by DSI. The film was reserved to be broadcast by the TV stations. In order to enable the nationwide awareness in the issue of local and global water problems, this material was also distributed to all DSI’s regional offices who are responsible to use it for their local activities of WDW’2005.

Besides, regarding to the theme of WDW’2005, “Water for Life”, DSI produced a brochure explaining the importance of water-related development programs in a sustainable manner. Together with this material, booklets on the issue of erosion and environment, which have been prepared specifically for this occasion, were distributed to the audience.

More information and details about the activities can be available from the WEB page of http://www.dsi.gov.tr .

Meanwhile, considering that WATER is the common theme of World Meteorological Day and World Day of Water, in 2005, DSI has collaborated with the State Meteorological Affairs, the Permanent Representative of WMO. In this context, a representative of DSI has joined to the panel organized by the General Directorate of State Meteorological Affairs in the framework of the celebration program for World Meteorological Day. In the panel, explaining of the World Day of Water and its theme, DSI representative has given some information about the water-related projects of DSI and its future prospects. In the exhibition organized for the World Meteorological Day, the DSI’s activities in observing, planning and management of the water resources in The Country was demonstrated.

On the other hand, the Water Establishment, as an NGO based in İstanbul, who is dealing with the national and global water issues, has organized a Panel discussion with the title of “The Effects of Climate Change on the National Resources of Water and Energy”. The papers of the Panel discussion in Turkish are distributed at the WEB Site of http://www.dunyasugunu.org. The Panel has attracted many people from the society,

Contact: Hamza OZGULER <hamza.ozguler@dsi.gov.tr>