© UNESCO/Carlos Neto
50 Years of Water Programmes for Sustainable Development
50 Years, 50 Movies on Water
The International Hydrological Programme (IHP) is celebrating half a century of water-related achievements with a series of film screening, entitled “50 Years, 50 Movies on Water”, to take place every 2 weeks from 25 June to 12 November 2015 at the Open UNESCO exhibition space. Each of the screenings focuses on a different water-related challenge and solutions, introduced by an IHP professional or partnering expert, and concludes with a discussion with participants.
The screenings were inaugurated on Thursday, 25 June 2015, with a session focusing on water education. The movies included a video produced by UNESCO-IHE, messages from representatives of the World Youth Parliament for Water who were supported by UNESCO during the 7th World Water Forum and prize-winners of the video contest “Give me one minute of water” organized by the UNESCO Center Basque Country, Spain. Finally, a short animation film to raise awareness on the importance of using soap for handwashing prepared by the UNESCO Venice Office was screened.
The second session of this initiative took place on 9 July 2015 and addressed Water and Human Settlements of the Future. The event counted with the special participation of Mr Abou Amani, UNESCO Regional Hydrologist for Africa, who underscored the importance of raising awareness and disseminating UNESCO‘s achievements in the field of water during the past 50 years. The projected films included Urban development and water resources, Invisible Needness and International Year for Water Cooperation, produced by the UNESCO Water Family.
In all, 50 movies on freshwater and water-related challenges reflecting IHP programmes and actions will be screened, articulated around the programme’s six Thematic Areas:
- Water-related Disasters and Hydrological Changes;
- Groundwater in a Changing Environment;
- Addressing Water Scarcity and Quality;
- Water and Human Settlements of the Future;
- Ecohydrology, Engineering Harmony for a Sustainable World;
- Water Education, Key for Water Security.
The “50 years, 50 films” events are taking place every other Thursday in the Open UNESCO exhibition space, near the Fontenoy main entrance of UNESCO Headquartersin Paris, France. Additional screenings will be organized around the world in Field Offices and on the occasion of international events, such as the Stockholm World Water Week, on 23-28 August 2015.
Other IHP initiatives in the framework of the 50th anniversary celebrations include the publication of the 50 Years Anniversary Book in will present past achievements and visions for IHP’s future.
