Expo Zaragoza 2008 :: News

Conclusion of 93 days of encounters with water

The Water Tribune held its closing ceremony bringing to an end the largest ever meeting about water. These were 13 weeks of proposals about and solutions to the water crisis.

On the Expo Zaragoza 2008 Conference Centre stage there were four columns – the four elements – framing a large disc of light symbolising the Water Tribune. This stage set seemed to symbolise the role that was given to the Tribune: that of a grand encounter featuring experts and thinkers based around one matter – water crises, requiring urgent solution. The fact is that for over 90 days, 10 Thematic Weeks were held featuring the participation of more than 400 speakers and 2,000 experts; there were 110 Agora sessions with the presence of hundreds of citizens and 300 speakers; and there were hours of parallel events and screenings of films related to water.

The closing ceremony was attended by many dignitaries, social representatives, coordinators of the Thematic Weeks and many of the experts who have contributed to the legacy of the first International Exposition devoted to Water and Sustainable Development. Journalists Manuel Campo Vidal and Elisabeth Anglarill were the masters of ceremonies who paved way for each of the participants.

Juan Alberto Belloch (mayor of Zaragoza) remembered that the Water Tribune was born two years ago to search out alternatives – not to create a forum for complaints. He acknowledged the success of this initiative from the conclusions that have come out of it and he showed hope as the Zaragoza Charter promotes new international legal regulations to guarantee good management of water and to create a World Water Agency. In his opinion, the “Zaragoza method” has been employed throughout the three months – this is none other than the idea of “confronting matters through reflection”. Special mention and thanks were given to the participating countries by Emilio Fernández Castaño (commissioner of Expo Zaragoza 2008, who acted as the representative of the Spanish Government during the international show).

In his turn, Jerónimo Blasco (director of Operations and Content in the Expo) remembered that the path to themed expositions was laid in Zaragoza and that the Water Tribune had meant the chance to work in depth on the subject of water. “We have managed to hold the greatest conference about water on Earth and it has left an unprecedented written legacy”.

One of the most eagerly awaited appearances was that of Eduardo Mestre (director of the Water Tribune) who picked up on the meaning of the initiative: “The Expo has managed to move from a slogan to a topic” with different viewpoints and opinions but with a common purpose – water. Mestre considers there is a risk that peace will be lost over the sharing out of water and feels we need to talk about the human right to water, reformulating governance and having civil participation. In the Water Tribune, he spoke about experiences and solutions with two core points: innovation and successful experiences. He trusts that the current experience can defeat the challenges of water and believes “the best is yet to come because we can avoid conflicts over water”.

Among the representatives from the institutions were Marcelino Iglesias (president of the Government of Aragon) and Marta Morén (managing director of water). The former encouraged “the international community to take up the legacy of the Water Tribune because we are confronted with a problem of social justice”, while the latter underlined the quality of the participation of the experts brought together over these three months.

Roque Gistau (president of the Expoagua Company) demonstrated his satisfaction with this unprecedented meeting between experts that was the Water Tribune. The solutions proposed form part of the “blue box” together with the legacy which will be summed up in the Zaragoza Charter, the document to be presented in the International Exposition’s closing ceremony and which will be presented to the Spanish Government and the United Nations. Roque Gistau handed over part of this legacy to Vicente Loscertales (Secretary General of the BIE) so that he can also give voice to it.

Sustainable cinema prizes

During the closing ceremony of the Water Tribune, the prizes for the I Water and Sustainable Development Short Film Competition were presented. The public award went to the animated short “The Earth is ill” by Javier Fernández Fañanas. The piece that will participate in the “Water and Cinema” encounter within the framework of the V World Water Forum in Istanbul in March 2009 is “Sebastian”, a film by Néstor Fernández.

The closing ceremony came to an end with a version of “Mediterráneo” – composed by Joan Manuel Serrat and performed by Carmen París.