Friday, July 2, 2010

New Activist Briefing Kit on Dam Standards 10 Years After the WCD

Apologies for cross-posting…

Dear friends and colleagues,

The most comprehensive guidelines for large dams that protect the rights of river-dependent communities were outlined by the World Commission on Dams (WCD) in 2000.

Ten years later, International Rivers is happy to announce a new briefing kit for activists and allies, “Protecting Rivers and Rights: The World Commission on Dams Recommendations in Action,” as part of our WCD+10 activities to move the dams debate forward. The purpose of this publication is to provide activists with concrete examples of where and how the WCD principles have been (or in some cases, failed to be) applied. The briefing kit explores six broad principles covered by the WCD, which encompass basic values of human rights and sustainable development that are essential to minimizing the negative impacts of large dams on people and the planet.

The briefing kit contains:
-    International and national laws and policies that incorporate key principles;
-    Case studies of where principles have been applied or ignored, including photographs; and
-    Quotes from industry and institutions that will hopefully provide additional fodder for your campaigns.

In answer to the question, Has the WCD been implemented since 2000? We answer: Its principles have, but we must do more and in more places.

You can download this report on our website or email me for a copy: www.internationalrivers.org/en/node/5593
You can view our other WCD+10 activities and join our new Dam Standards list here: www.internationalrivers.org/en/node/5565

Feel free to send us any questions and comments, especially with case studies and examples that you are familiar and that may not be covered in this kit. We are currently translating this publication into Spanish. If you are interested in getting this translated into other languages, or have the capacity to do so, please let us know.

Thanks for all you do.

Four our rivers and rights,
Katy Yan
International Rivers
katy@internationalrivers.org

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