Marseille, water capital in March 2012

“A forum of solutions and commitments”, this is the declared ambition of the 6^th World Water Forum which will be held at the Parc Chanot next March. Martine Vassal, World Water Forum International Committee bureau member and President of the new “Roots and Citizenship” commission, one of four preparatory processes for the event, confirms that:   
“The aim of this event is very ambitious as it puts forward twelve priorities for action and three objectives for success. If we even manage to achieve even 10% of these priorities, it will already be a step forward. Beyond this, our goal is to hand on the torch to the 7^th Forum which will take place in Daegu (South Korea) in 2015.”

While some 140 ministerial delegations, 800 speakers and 20,000 to 25,000 participants from over 180 different countries are expected to come to Marseille, the Forum marks a culmination in a process which has seen more than 2,000 people (more than 150 working groups) from the world of water on five continents engaged in a preparatory process over the last 3 years through four commissions (political, thematic, regional and roots and citizenship).

“This new commission is open to civil society and involves all sectors of activity, including those which are not professional people working in the water sector because this cause concern us all”, says it’s President.

Following France’s selection in June 2009 to organise the 6^th World Water Forum, the city of Marseille and the World Water Council (international NGO presided over by Loïc Fauchon with its international committee secretariat based in Marseille), have set up a platform of solutions, open to all and designed for the long term. 
Other items on the agenda include a road map to reach concrete commitments by Friday 16^th March and a strengthening of the political process (initiated by the Istanbul Pact for Water in March 2009 during the 5^th Forum) through contributions and commitments from members of Parliament and local and regional authorities from around the world.  
 
The general public has not been forgotten as there will be a “Solutions Village” based at the centre of the Parc Chanot complex with free entry to schools on the Tuesday 13^th and Thursday 15^th March and open to the general public on Wednesday 14^th March. There will also be an area reserved for businesses.

With three months to go, preparations are speeding up to receive the influx of visitors in the best possible conditions. City centre hotels are ready as are those at Marseille-Provence Airport, Aix-en-Provence, La Ciotat, Aubagne, even Salon, Avignon or Toulon. 500 volunteers will help out with reception procedures and around hundred have already been recruited.

“This forum will help reinforce the image of Marseille by showing it in a different light”, reckons Martine Vassal. And when you think that one tourist spends about 200 €/day, you can just imagine the economic benefits resulting from this event which should also attract a lot of media coverage. Please note that President Sarkozy will be attending the inauguration on Monday 12^th March.