WORLD HABITAT DAY 2007 - THE HAGUE

 

HOME | BIOLOGY | FILMS | GEOGRAPHY | HISTORY | INDEX | INVESTORS | MUSIC | NEWS | SOLAR BOATS | SPORT

 

 

World Habitat Day 2007 conference in The Hague will be climate-neutral!


The Dutch organisers of the international conference to be held in The Hague to mark World Habitat 2007 will offset all greenhouse gas emissions generated by the conference: the direct emissions of heating and electricity during the conference, as well as the kilometres by plane, train, bus and car that participants travel to get to The Hague.


How will emissions be offset?


After the conference, once the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions is worked out, the organisers will purchase equivalent offsets in projects in Tanzania, Guatemala and Cambodia. These projects help the poor improve their living conditions with sustainable energy. Trees for Travel and HIVOS are helping to work out the conference’s carbon footprint and will invest the offsets in the selected projects.


Why be climate-neutral?


Greenhouse gas emissions play a major role in climate change. Every time we turn up the thermostat, travel by air or go for a drive, we add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. This greenhouse gas results from burning fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal. The organisers of the World Habitat Day conference in The Hague feel they have a responsibility to offset the negative environmental effects of this event. Their action will also help increase public awareness of the impact of human activities on the climate.


Certificate


The conference organisers will purchase travel offset certificates for each participant, giving information about the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases consumed and offset.

For more information:  www.treesfortravel.nl/duurzaam.html

 

 

Nelson Kruschandl World Habitat Day - It's a beautiful world, let's keep it that way.

 

Nelson Kruschandl - "It's a beautiful world, let's keep it that way."

 

 

 

"A SAFE CITY IS A JUST CITY"

 

An International conference to mark World Habitat Day 2007, The Hague, the Netherlands, 1 - 2 October 2007.  

 

Facts:

  • urban concentration has definite social, economic and environmental advantages over dispersion;

  • cities can compete better in our globalising world; 

  • cities and towns are better able to provide basic health care and other facilities; 

  • urbanisation can help prevent certain forms of environmental degradation; 

  • urbanisation helps lower fertility rates by facilitating the exercise of reproductive health rights and the empowerment of poor women.


‘A new wave of urban dwellers is bound to come because people move to the city, not because they think this will be better for them, but because they expect to be better off in the city', Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, executive director of the UNFPA

‘Providing better living conditions for all in slums worldwide is one of the biggest challenges', Ella Vogelaar, Minister for Housing, Communities and Integration, the Netherlands

‘Economic growth, stability and security, the environment, good governance, education and health care are all interlinked; you cannot address one and forget about the others', Bert Koenders, Minister for Development Cooperation, the Netherlands

‘Local governments have their own important role to play in promoting dialogue, building mutual trust and creating development prospects', Wim Deetman, Mayor of The Hague

‘Justice and security are preconditions for survival, also in cities', Jan Pronk, Chairman of World Habitat Day 2007 Conference

 

Policymakers at all levels face the joint challenge of empowering cities as catalysts for local, national and international development. This is not an easy task. When it comes to urbanisation, most of the action is in developing countries. However, developed countries also have their share of urban problems. It is important to learn from each other in pursuit of the right answers. How do we deal with the consequences of this rapid urbanisation process? How can we handle conflicts in a constructive way? How can we support cities trying to locally implement global concepts, such as human security and the duty to protect? How can we link the Millennium Development Goals to strategies of conflict prevention and conflict transformation?


We invite you to contribute to the discussions and sessions aimed at addressing these problems and challenges during this international conference.


Plenary sessions - Keynote speakers:

  • Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-Habitat

  • Lindiwe Sisulu, Minister of Housing of the Republic of South Africa 

  • Bert Koenders, Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation 

  • Ella Vogelaar, Dutch Minister for Housing, Communities and Integration 

  • Wim Deetman, Mayor of The Hague and chairman of the UCLG Committee on City Diplomacy 

  • Scott Leckie, Founder of the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions 

  • Naison Mutizwa-Mangiza, Author of the UN-Habitat Global Report on Human Settlements 2007: "Enhancing urban safety and security"

 

Mr Jan Pronk, former Dutch minister and former Representative Secretary General of the United Nations in Sudan, will be the chairman during this conference.

On the second day  three parallel sessions will focus on:

 

Transforming problem neighbourhoods into vibrant communities: the role of housing in creating safer cities and communities

 

Presentations will be given on Rotterdam by Dominic Schrijer (member of municipal executive, Rotterdam) and on Johannesburg by Renier Erasmus (CEO Madulamoho Housing Association, Johannesburg) Panellists on the Rotterdam case: Sophie Body-Gendrot (Director of the Center for Urban Studies at... Read more »

 

Reconstruction and peacebuilding after conflicts: support from local governments

 

Presentations will be given on Bosnia-Herzegovina by Dion van den Berg (IKV/Pax Christi) and on the Middle East, with presentations by Hassan Saleh (Mayor of Jericho, Palestine) and Adi Eldar (Mayor of Karmiel, Israel). Panel discussions with Klelija Balta (UNDP, Sarajevo), Janny Vlietstra... Read more »

 

The restitution of land, houses and properties to returning refugees: a tool for reconstruction

 

Panellists on the Burundi case: representatives of the Burundian government, the National Commission on Land and Other Goods (CNTB) and civil society organisations. Panellists on the Bosnia and Herzegovina case: Peter Bas-Backer (Senior Deputy High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina,... Read more »

 

Target Group: This year’s conference will bring together professionals working on all three issues in the developed and developing world. We are seeking input from policymakers, key decision-makers, NGOs, the private sector, financial organizations and other relevant stakeholders. We will give special attention to representatives from local governments concerned with city diplomacy.

 

 

 

Solar Navigator solar powered trimaran circumnavigation World Habitat Day 2007

 

Solar powered trimaran concept

 

 

VENUE

 

The conference will be held in the historic Ridderzaal (Knights' Hall) at the Parliament complex called Binnenhof, in the historic center of the Hague. From the 13th century onwards the Binnenhof served as the ‘rulers quarters’. Even nowadays, the Binnenhof is still the center of Dutch politics; the House of Representatives and the Senate have their seat here.

 

The Ridderzaal is near the suggested hotels, and also close to The Hague’s central station. You can reach the Hall of Knights with tram 1, 16 or 17 and bus 22 or 24, that depart every 10 minutes from the central station.

 

Adress: Binnenhof 11, the Hague
For a map of The Hague: http://www.holland.com/images/hoco_dh/pdf/kaartdh.pdf

 

 

 

CONTACTS

 

If you have any questions, please email: worldhabitatday2007@minvrom.nl

 

http://www.worldhabitatday2007.org

 

 

 

LINKS

 

 Networks/organizations:

 

International Governement


http://www.unece.org/hlm/wpla/welcome.html
UNECE Working Party on Land Administration

http://www.unhabitat.org/
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme(UN-HABITAT), is the United Nations agency for human settlements

 


National Governement


http://www.housing.gov.za/
South African National Department of Housing

http://international.vrom.nl/pagina.html?id=5450&ref
Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, International site

http://www.minbuza.nl/
Dutch Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Dutch site

http://www.minbuza.nl/en/home
Dutch Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, English site

http://www.vrom.nl/
Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, Dutch site

 

 

 

Planet Earth and Solar Cola good for you

 

 


Local Governement


http://www.apla-pal.org/index.php
The Association of Palestinian Local Authorities (APLA)

http://www.denhaag.com/
Municipality of The Hague, International site

http://www.denhaag.nl/
Municipality of The Hague, Dutch site

http://www.joburg.org.za/
Municipality of Johannesburg

http://www.rotterdam.nl/
Municipalty of Rotterdam, Dutch site

http://www.rotterdam.nl/smartsite268958.dws?MainMenu=268958&Menu=268958
Municipalty of Rotterdam, English site

http://www.ulai.org.il/
ULAI - Union of Local Authorities in Israel

 


Networks


http://www.cities-localgovernments.org
United Cities and Local Governments represents and defends the interests of local governments on the world stage. UCLG is Headquartered in Barcelona.

http://www.eucpn.org/
European Crime Prevention Network

http://www.eukn.org/eukn/
The European Urban Knowledge Network (EUKN) shares knowledge and experience on tackling urban issues

http://www.hetccv.nl/ (Dutch)
Centrum voor Criminaliteitspreventie en Veiligheid

http://www.theccv.eu/ (English)
Netherlands Centre for Crime Prevention and Community Safety

http://www.vng-international.nl
International Co-operation Agencyof the Association of Netherlands Municipalities

 


NGO's


http://www.cohre.org
The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit human rights organisation that campaigns for the protection of housing rights and the prevention of forced evictions.

http://www.forum.nl/english/index.html
The Institute for Multicultural Development FORUM is the largest non-governmental actor in the field of integration policy in the Netherlands

http://www.ikvpaxchristi.nl/
IKV Pax Christi is the largest peace movement in the Netherlands. Its staff members support peace and reconciliation in conflict areas

http://www.shf.org.za
The SHF is a non-profit company set up in collaboration with the South Africa Department of Housing. As the Custodians of Social Housing in South Africa, SHF offers a range of strategic services to everyone active in the sector

http://www.sparcindia.org/
The Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centres (SPARC) is an Indian NGO that supports two people's movements - the National Slum Dwellers Federation (NSDF) and Mahila Milan (MM)

 


Research Institutes


http://www.ihs.nl/start.htm
The Institure for Housing and Uban Developmetn Studies is an international centre of excellence associated with the Erasmus University Rotterdam

 


Miscellaneous


http://www.thehagueprocess.org/
The Hague Process on Refugees and Migration (THP) is a global initiative to advance the refugee and migration agenda through a multidisciplinary, complementary, innovative and practical approach

 

 

 

AGENDA 21     UK PARLIAMENT A-Z     HOUSE OF LORDS A-Z     AGENDA 21

 


 

Good for you - good for the planet

 

Solar cola soft drink with real kola nut and guarana bottle PET 500 ml

 

 

(330ml and 250ml alu cans 500ml PET bottle)

 

 

This website is Copyright © 1999 & 2007  NJK.   The bird logo and name Solar Navigator are trademarks. All rights reserved.  All other trademarks are hereby acknowledged.       Max Energy Limited is an educational charity.

 AUTOMOTIVE  |  BLUEBIRD  |  ELECTRIC CARS  |  ELECTRIC CYCLES  |  SOLAR CARS