22 March 2000
A Passionate Debate Over Dams You Can Take Part In…Without Taking Your Clothes Off
WCD session at The World Water Forum

Over the past 18 months the World Commission on Dams has demonstrated repeatedly that, rather than cause colourful standoffs during opening ceremonies, we can move forward through the controversy over dams. We can break the impasse through open discourse that includes all parties, and goes beyond dams to the core of development.

For example, what happens when you lock individuals representing all sides of the debate over the building and operation of large dams in the same room?

Find out: Monday 20 March 09:00-12:30 in the Nile and Niger Hall, the WCD hosts a Special Subject Session, "Water & Dams: Challenging Times," followed after lunch by a press conference at 14:00 in the Press Center Wupper Room.

You can hear, question and challenge these articulate and forceful leaders for and against dams make their cases in this controversial issue, such as:

"Development of our hydropower resources, initially through foreign investments, made Norway one of the richest countries of the world per capita. We wish to share that experience with other countries rich in hydropower resources…it gives great satisfaction to see the impacts on economic developments in remote villages in developing countries catalyzed by the construction of a nearby hydropower project."
Kjell Heggelund, Statkraft, a state-owned power producer

Vs.

"There was a clear failure on the part of the Philippine government and the dam builders to respect the rights of the Ibaloy people to their ancestral land and resources and their right to self-determination. The government's own constitutional provisions and other laws, as well as international conventions on indigenous people were violated."
Jacqueline Cariño, Cordillera People's Alliance, Philippines

Vs.

"Although we are supported in our view that dams are the most important means of making surface water available at the time of demand by the thousands of dams that function well, we are aware of non-structural means of providing the necessary water or to reduce the demand."
Hein Engel, fmr. Chair, Netherlands Committee on Large Dams

Vs.

"Sixty million displaced, 20% freshwater species endangered, land flooded, billions spent. Dams have failed. The world must rein in the dam builders. How do we do it?"
Patrick McCully, International Rivers Network

Vs.

The projections of the 'Water for Food' vision outlined Friday calls for 17 percent more water for agriculture. Yet the need for sustainable agricultural development will be highlighted by John Hennessy, Hon. President of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage

After raising these questions and issues about dams, the Chair and two members from the World Commission on Water will show the relevance of their own Vision to the dams debate. These panelists are: Peter Rogers, Professor of Environmental Engineering, Harvard; Yolanda Kakabadse, President of the IUCN; Ismail Serageldin, Chairman of the World Commission on Water.

Chaired by Minister Kader Asmal, the independent World Commission on Dams, was established jointly by government, business and civil society in 1998 to review the effectiveness of dams and to develop criteria and guidelines for dams and their alternatives. The Commission has successfully completed its data gathering activities, and is moving into the final stage of drafting its recommendations, a stage that has increased relevance to the use and development of water in every nation.

Like our five presenters in the special session, the World Commission on Dams is comprised of people from all backgrounds and fields - academia, industry, government agencies, professional organisations and environmental and social NGOs.

This two-part forum, a microcosm of how the World Commission on Dams works, is seeking to break the stalemate over how, where and whether dams can be a tool in sustainable development. We're not afraid of controversy; we embrace it. And we manage to reach consensus through conversation…not costumes.