Melody for Dialogue: Water Blog

A visit to Masdar City: The President of Melody for Dialogue,...

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:27:45 -0500

A visit to Masdar City:

The President of Melody for Dialogue, Mehri Madarshahi, recently had the fortunate opportunity to visit Masdar City outside of Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. It is an emerging clean technology hub that positions companies in a constant innovative environment inspiring creativity and sustainable growth. It offers renewable energy to help the eco system in a place to work and live. All building materials in this city are from eco-friendly products and the only means of transportation are the specially designed cars electric with no drivers. Melody will have the possibility to organize its M. E regional meeting in collaboration with Masdar City in 2013. An invitation for a speaker to participate in the NY Forum has been sent to Masdar by the President.

More press coverage from our water conference in Ota.

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:14:32 -0500

More press coverage from our water conference in Ota.

Executive Summary and Conclusions from our Water Conference in Ota, Nigeria

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:25:50 -0500

Executive Summary and Conclusions from our Water Conference in Ota, Nigeria:

We are pleased to present the final document from our 2 day water conference in Ota. Please read through the document and let us know your thoughts.

Some great press coverage from our regional meeting in Ota, Nigeria

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:35:40 -0500

Some great press coverage from our regional meeting in Ota, Nigeria:

Click on the link above to read the story about our meeting

Ara’s band is now warming up! Looking forward to the...

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:24:58 -0500

Ara’s band is now warming up! Looking forward to the performance!

Mr Peter Akari takes the stage now after a hearty lunch. He is...

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:14:34 -0500

Mr Peter Akari takes the stage now after a hearty lunch. He is the chief Water Policy Officer, African Water Facility, African Development Bank in Tunis (Tunisia).

Dr. Abou Amani now takes the stage. He is the Senior...

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:54:46 -0500

Dr. Abou Amani now takes the stage. He is the Senior Water Science Programme Specialist, Regional Hydrologist for Africa, UNESCO

Professor Lekan Oyebande, Chair of the Technical Committee,...

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:31:45 -0500

Professor Lekan Oyebande, Chair of the Technical Committee, Global Water Partnership in West Africa GWP/WA, giving a comprehensive presentation on water policy, science, and general commentary on the state of water in Africa.

Brief clip of former Nigerian President Obasanjo speaking to our...

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:42:24 -0500

Brief clip of former Nigerian President Obasanjo speaking to our Water conference in partnership with the Africa Leadership Forum in Ota, Nigeria.

Video of Amelia, a local secondary school student reciting a...

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:33:20 -0500

Video of Amelia, a local secondary school student reciting a poem about water.

Dr. Grace Ongile takes the stage now to discuss issues...

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:15:09 -0500

Dr. Grace Ongile takes the stage now to discuss issues surrounding women and water.

Dr. Stephen Donkor (Chair of UN Water Africa) on the stage now.

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:56:59 -0500

Dr. Stephen Donkor (Chair of UN Water Africa) on the stage now.

Dr. Hans d’Orville from UNESCO is now on stage speaking...

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:29:33 -0500

Dr. Hans d’Orville from UNESCO is now on stage speaking about water challenges in Africa.

Theme of the speech: water as the epicenter for sustainability and peace.

now speaking: mehri madarshahi, president of the melody for...

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:10:55 -0500

now speaking: mehri madarshahi, president of the melody for dialogue among civilizations. #water4africa

now speaking: ayo aderinwale, president of the africa leadership...

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:01:38 -0500

now speaking: ayo aderinwale, president of the africa leadership forum

The stage is set at the #water4africa meeting.

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:55:00 -0500

The stage is set at the #water4africa meeting.

Starting the water conference in Lagos Nigeria

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:44:25 -0500

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NEW YORK KEYNOTE SPEAKER CONFIRMED!

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:13:14 -0500

(Photo copyright Bil Zelman)

We are pleased to announce that Alexandra Cousteau of Blue Legacy will be keynoting our concert on March 22, 2012 and our conference on March 23, 2012!

We invite you to join us for both events.

The concert on the theme of water will take place on March 22, 2012 on the occasion of World Water Day at Merkin Hall in Lincoln Center.

The conference, entitled Water: The Global Challenge For Our Future will be hosted by New York University’s Center for Global Affairs on 15 Barclay Street.

If you are interested in attending either, please contact anoush@melodydialogue.org. For more information on Melody for Dialogue Among Civilizations or our previous work, please visit http://www.melodydialogue.org

To read more about Alexandra Cousteau and her activities, please click the Read More link below.

Alexandra Cousteau is committed to helping people understand and value their everyday relationship with water. Alexandra works as a filmmaker and advocate to engage people in conversations about the interconnectivity of our water resources.

Representing the third generation of her family to explore water issues, Alexandra was named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer in 2008. She currently serves on the prestigious Young Global Leaders Council of the World Economic Forum; the Board of Directors of the Global Water Challenge, Mother Nature Network, and EarthEcho; and the Leadership Council for the Waterkeeper Alliance.

In 2009, Alexandra joined the Discovery Channel line-up, co-hosting “Blue August” with her brother Philippe, Jr. and serving as a Chief Correspondent on Water Issues for Discoveryʼs Planet Green. She has been honored as an “Earth Trustee” by the UN, named a “Principle Voice” by CNN International, and regularly delivers testimony on critical policy issues before the U.S. Congress.

In 2010, Alexandra and her brother Philippe were named to Vanity Fairʼs coveted “Next” list. Her work regularly earns global recognition including the University of California Irvineʼs Human Security Award, the Arava Instituteʼs Peace Building and Environmental Stewardship Award, and special screenings at the National Press Club, the Royal Ontario Museum, and the Smithsonian Institute. She is regularly featured in publications ranging from Glamour and Elle to National Geographic and Scientific American and was named a “Fun Fearless Phenom” along with Tyra Banks by Cosmopolitan magazine.

Alexandraʼs work continues and evolves her familyʼs legacy as explorers, storytellers and environmental advocates. Her grandfather Jacques Yves-Cousteau opened the worldʼs eyes to the wonders of the ocean, while the work of her father Philippe Cousteau, Sr. and mother Jan helped us understand our relationship to the natural world. Alexandraʼs unique multi-platform storytelling approach and dedication to community champions, brings our relationship with water-in all of its forms - home to each of us, regardless of culture or geography.

Alexandra is a graduate of Georgetown University. She and her husband Fritz Neumeyer recently welcomed their first daughter (and the first member of the fourth generation of Cousteau) into their Washington, DC home.

About Blue Legacy

In 2008, Alexandra joined “dot-com” entrepreneur Jonathan Smith to launch the non-profit Blue Legacy project. Blue Legacy helps people understand and value their everyday relationship with water. The organization produces visual and interactive storytelling inspired by expeditions around the globe to engage people in critical conversations about the health, quality and quantity of our water resources.

The Mission of Blue Legacy

Blue Legacy focuses on restoring natural water systems, preserving fragile water treasures and empowering everyday people to change our water future one community at a time.

To date, Blue Legacy has produced more than 80 “conversation-starting films” covering interconnected water issues on five continents and more than 90 communities. The Blue Legacy “waterfront conversations” program helps young filmmakers and conservation scientists engage coastal communities on water issues by providing technology and mobile film screening equipment in emerging countries. Blue Legacyʼs extensive media library delivers HD footage and award-winning photography free of charge to hundreds of classrooms, educational publishers, non-profits and members of the press working on conservation issues. And when not in the field or collaborating on conservation projects, both Alexandra and Jonathan regularly serve as keynote speakers and workshop presenters on a variety of topics related to conservation, water issues, community engagement and emerging trends in sustainable business.

Banner Advertising the Poster Presentation at the African Regional Meeting

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:14:00 -0400

This is a banner inviting people to submit posters surrounding the themes of the African Regional Meeting on the theme of Water: The Regional Challenge for our Future. These posters are meant to raise awareness around the core themes of climate change, water sustainability, watershed management, water conservation and reuse, among many others.

US Looking to Mexico For Water Resources

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:09:45 -0400

US Looking to Mexico For Water Resources:

Interesting article on the shifting focus from desalinization plants to importing water.

http://bit.ly/oKcSsh