Initiative for Right View (IRV) in collaboration with Bhairab River Area Water Partnership (BHRAWP) with support from Bangladesh Water Partnership organized a Workshop on “Creating Awareness among the Youth in Bhiarab River Basin on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and its principles” at 9.30 am on 24 November, 2009 at Conference Room of Khulna Divisional Museum to operationalise Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the South-west region of Bangladesh and mainstream the youth in integrated water resources management. The chief guest of the workshop was Prof. Dr. Purnendu Gain, Pro Vice Chancellor, Khulna University Prof. Dr. Dilip Kumar Datta, Head, Environmental Science Discipline Khulna University, Engr (Ms) Reba Paul, Executive Secretary, BWP, Advocate Firoz Ahmed, Divisional Coordinator, Bangladesh Environment Movement,Dr. Kh. Azharul Haq, Executive Committee (EC) Member, BWP and Ex-Managing Director, DWASA and Engr (Ms) Reba Paul, Executive Secretary, BWP were present as special guest.

More than 50 students from KhulnaUniversity and other educational institutions were present in that program.

I herewith attached a pic of the program whereGreeting from IRV, Khulna, Bangladesh,

I like to share with you that Initiative for Right View (IRV) in collaboration with Bhairab River Area Water Partnership (BHRAWP) with support from Bangladesh Water Partnership organized a Workshop on “Creating Awareness among the Youth in Bhiarab River Basin on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and its principles” at 9.30 am on 24 November, 2009 at Conference Room of Khulna Divisional Museum to operationalise Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the South-west region of Bangladesh and mainstream the youth in integrated water resources management. The chief guest of the workshop was Prof. Dr. Purnendu Gain, Pro Vice Chancellor, Khulna University Prof. Dr. Dilip Kumar Datta, Head, Environmental Science Discipline Khulna University, Engr (Ms) Reba Paul, Executive Secretary, BWP, Advocate Firoz Ahmed, Divisional Coordinator, Bangladesh Environment Movement,Dr. Kh. Azharul Haq, Executive Committee (EC) Member, BWP and Ex-Managing Director, DWASA and Engr (Ms) Reba Paul, Executive Secretary, BWP were present as special guest.

More than 50 students from KhulnaUniversity and other educational institutions were present in that program.

INDIGENOUS knowledge should be emphasized to preserve biodiversity of the country, especially of the southwestern region, observed speakers in a workshop in the Khulna city on Wednesday.

The Initiative for Right View and the Policy Research for Development Alternative organized the workshop on 'Biodiversity and Water' at NGO Forum conference room. Civic group leaders, green activists, NGO personnel, local government representatives and journalists took part in the workshop where Mujahidul Islam Prince of Policy Research for Development Alternative presented the keynote paper.

Chaired by advocate Firoz Ahmed, the workshop was also addressed by Professor Shafiqul Islam of Pani Committee, Dumuria upazila parishad vice-chairman Md Monirul Islam of NGO Forum, Palash Boral of Policy Research for Development Alternative and Quazi Zaved Khalid Pasha of IRV, among others.

A total of 230 and big rivers are flowing through the country and of them 54 big and medium rivers came from India, the keynote paper said, adding that flow of water of 48 rivers, out of 54, is manipulated by India.

The paper alleged that due to the setting up of Farakka dam by India in violation of the international rule, Bangladesh faces scarcity of water during the dry season, problems in waterway transport and increasing salinity.

As a result, different kinds of water and land species have become endangered and are facing the threat of being extinct while the biodiversity is being seriously hampered, the paper said, adding that due to water crunch during the dry season in the Sundarban, a number of species there are acing to be extinct.

The speakers observed that water and biodiversity were very closely related and one could not be thought of in the absence of the other and different varieties of species are being extinct in the southwest of the country for want of usable water.

They gave a call to stop use of chemical poisons and fertiliser in agriculture, to stop excessive use of ground water, to preserve seeds in the farmers' households, proper management of both agricultural and non-agricultural lands for preserving biodiversity.

Giving a call to put emphasis on indigenous knowledge to preserve biodiversity, the speakers urged the government and different non-governmental organizations to ensure effective public participation in taking and implementing any project in any area of the country.

Migration of climate refugees to rich countries demanded

Speakers at a rally on Saturday demanded necessary measures for migration of the country’s climate refugees into developed countries.

The people of poor and developing countries like Bangladesh are suffering most for adverse impacts of climate change, although rich nations are responsible for climate change, they said at the rally held on the premises of Khulna Press Club.

Khulna-based non-governmental organisations Initiative for Right View, Samaj Progoti Sangstha, Rupayan, Paribartan-Khulna, Muktir Alo, Pathikrit and Humanity Watch in cooperation with ActionAid arranged the rally ahead of climate change summit scheduled to be held at Copenhagen in Denmark December 17-18.

Earlier, a procession was brought out from ShaheedHadisPark and it ended at Khulna Press Club. More than 200 people from Dacope and Koyra upazilas in Khulna and Shyamnagar upazila in Satkhira, who were affected by adverse impacts of climate change, took part in the procession apart from human rights activists and civic group leaders.

Chaired by Professor Zafar Imam, the rally was also addressed by Khulna mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque, civic group leader Firoz Ahmed, Khulna Nagarik Forum chairperson Sheikh Abdul Quayum, Kazi Zaved Khalid Pasha of IRV, Hasan Mehedi of Humanity Watch, Debashish Roy, Rabin Munda and Asmot Sana.

At the rally, the speakers put forward 11-point demands, including giving international status to climate refugees, compensation for Bangladesh by rich countries for adverse impacts of climate change, steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by rich countries, repair and reconstruction of the damaged embankments in coastal region and implementation of coastal embankment management policy.

They also demanded handover of clean technologies by developed countries to developing countries like Bangladesh so that they can cope with the changed scenario in view of climate change, invention of salinity and disaster-tolerant seeds and agricultural technology and providing seagoing people with necessary equipment to save their lives.
The speakers also said Bangladesh is facing natural disasters frequently in recent years due to adverse impacts of climate change and the coastal people are the worst sufferers.

They urged the prime minister to arrange a cabinet meeting at any place of Aila- affected areas in the region to meet their demands and mitigate the impacts of climate change caused by global warming.

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS IN SOUTHWEST COASTAL REGION

Compensation sought from rich countries

It is noticing in the world on the adverse impact of climate change. Although most of the industrially-developed countries are responsible for climate change, it is much deteriorating of the poor countries. An intense concern has been laid by the specialist that if this trend of climate change continues then one out of seven people would be victim of this circumstance within 2050 years in Bangladesh.

United Nations Climate Change Summit kicks off in Copenhagen, Denmark. on 7-18th December, Copenhagen in Denmark. As the part of Campaign for Climate justice a discussion meeting and display of Choreography was organized in local UnitedNationChildrenPark in Khulna organized by SPS, Initiative for Right View (IRV), Rupayan, Poribatan-Khulna, Moktir Alo, Prothikrito, Humanity watch, in cooperation with Action Aid.

Khulna City Corporation (KCC) mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque was present as Chief Guest. Among the especial Guests KCC panel Mayor Ajmal Ahmed Tapan, civic group leader Ad. Firoz Ahmed, Councilor Sk. Ali Akbar tipu and Ms Ellie Van Houtte community activist of Washington DC was present. Among the organizer Alamgir Islam Lablu of SPS, Khalid Hossain, Executive Director, Rupayan delivered speeches. The program was chaired by Professor Zafar Imam.Total Program was moderated by Kazi Zaved Khalid Joy and Lablu of IRV.

SPEAKERS at discussion demanded compensation from rich nations for adverse impacts of climate change on the environment of the country and livelihood of people. The people of poor and developing countries like Bangladesh are suffering most for adverse impacts of climate change although rich and industrialized nations are responsible for climate change caused by global warming, they said at the rally on 'excessive carbon emissions by rich countries and adverse impacts on poor countries.

The speakers demanded migration of climate change refugees to developed countries, effective measures by these countries to mitigate impacts of greenhouse gas emissions, repair and reconstruction of damaged embankments in coastal region and implementation of coastal embankment management policy. They also demanded transfer of technologies by developed countries to developing countries like Bangladesh so that they can cope with the changed scenario in view of climate change.

The people of coastal zone are most vulnerable due to climate change, they added. Necessary equipment should be provided to seagoing people so that they can save their lives, they said.

After the discussion a cultural group displayed Choreography on the climate change and its effects.