OSAKA -- Water is everyone's business, and so it is perhaps only natural that preparations for the Third World Water Forum -- which starts later this month in the Kansai region -- include activities to raise awareness and get the public more involved.
During the March 16-23 conference, 33 themes -- ranging from floods and the relationship between water and poverty, to financing water infrastructure -- will be discussed at some 350 sessions in the cities of Kyoto, Osaka and Otsu, Shiga Prefecture. A ministerial session will be held the final two days.
In the runup to the event, some 25,000 opinions have been solicited from individuals and organizations over the Internet in an effort to help people most affected by water-related problems and to ensure their voices are reflected in the discussions.