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Pacific
Institute Releases 15-Year Anniversary Report
|  The
Pacific Institute is proud to announce the
publication of our first-ever annual report.
Published to mark the Pacific Institute's
fifteenth anniversary, the report details
the work of our various programs, covers their
successes and results, and offers history
and background about some of the most pressing
challenges we face: climate change, threats
to our water resources, terrorism and conflict,
the perils of globalization, and the importance
of environmental justice.
The Fifteenth Anniversary Report is available
online without charge.
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Researchers Win Environmental Sustainability Award
|  On
February 26, Jason Morrison and Andrea Sumits
were given the Silicon Valley Environmental
Leadership Award by the Pacific Industrial
Business Association for their work on environmental
sustainability. A report they recently authored
that points the way to a more sustainable
future was singled out for praise. The
report, "Creating
a Framework for Sustainability in California:
Lessons Learned from the New Zealand Experience,"
details New Zealand's attempt to integrate
environmental protection and resource management
with a "goals-based" policy framework,
and sets out the lessons California can learn
from New Zealand's experience.
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Water Words Delivers First Water Library to Malawi
|  Water
Words delivered its first water library to
Malawi last month and by all accounts the
delivery was a success. With millions of people
dying every year from water-related diseases,
helping communities build sustainable water
and sanitation systems is of critical importance.
Water Words helps communities in need by providing
information on everything from basic water
science to community-scale water systems.
To
learn more or make a donation, visit us online
at www.waterwords.org |
February
Staff Updates
2/28,
The Colorado River's Future |
Michael Cohen participated on a panel called "What
is the forecast for the Colorado River?" at
the Nevada Water Resources Association Annual Conference,
in Sparks, Nevada.
2/27,
Bay Area Community Meets With Air District |
The Pacific Institute, community groups, and others
met with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District
to revamp the odor complaint process. Communities
throughout the Bay Area have been prevented from
documenting on-going odor and air pollution problems
due to the failure of the district's complaint process.
Based on pressure from the Pacific Institute, elected
officials, and the West Oakland community, the air
quality district has begun a region-wide review
of its complaint process.
2/27,
Corporate Responsibility Presentation | Jason
Morrison delivered a closing plenary address at
the 9th Annual Pacific Industrial and Business Association's
(PIBA) conference. His presentation on the proposed
role of corporations in a post-Johannesburg World
Summit world was followed by a lively 20-minute
question-and-answer dialogue with the predominantly
private sector audience.
2/25,
Corporate Water Challenge | The Pacific Institute
hosted a workshop on corporate responsibility in
the water area with representatives of the Earth
Day Network, Conservation International, Trillium
Asset Management, Domini Social Investments, and
other groups.
2/25,
Rep. Lee Weighs in on Red Star Pollution | Using
statistics from the Pacific Institute's "Neighborhood
Knowledge for Change," Congresswoman Barbara
Lee demanded, in a strongly worded letter to the
Board of the Regional Air District, that the Air
District take action to ensure compliance at the
Red Star Yeast facility and protect public health
and the environment.
2/24,
ISO: NGO Task Group | Jason Morrison chaired
a meeting of the ISO Technical Committee 207 NGO
Task Group in London. The group is working to produce
a discussion paper on the obstacles to effective
NGO participation within ISO/TC 207. The paper,
which includes recommendations for addressing the
obstacles identified, will be presented for approval
by the full membership of the Technical Committee
at its plenary meeting in July 2003 in Bali.
2/20,
ISO: Corporate Social Responsibility | Jason
Morrison briefed a group of UK-based nongovernmental
organizations on the implications of ISO's foray
into the area of Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR). The meeting was attended by seven groups
that focus on CSR-related issues and was hosted
by Friends of the Earth UK.
2/19-2/21,
ISO: Environmental Communications Standards
| Jason Morrison attended a standards meeting of
ISO Technical Committee 207 Working Group 4 (WG4)-Environmental
Communications in London. Mr. Morrison continues
to be one of only a few NGOs participating in WG4,
which is developing the international guidance document.
2/12,
State Department Meeting on Kyoto | Peter Gleick
met with representatives of the Department of State
to discuss global water problems and the upcoming
Kyoto water conference.
2/10,
Water Privatization | Peter Gleick presented
a talk on the risks and benefits of water privatization
at a World Bank seminar entitled "Rethinking
Privatization: A Brainstorming Exercise" in
Washington, D.C.
2/10,
Diesel Pollution Reduction Stakeholders Meeting
| The Pacific Institute hosted the first stakeholders
meeting to discuss a diesel pollution study in West
Oakland, which is heavily impacted by truck traffic
from the Port of Oakland. Attendees include Oakland
Citycouncilmember Nancy Nadel, West Oakland community
members, USEPA, and the California Department of
Health Services. |
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Upcoming
3/10,
Environment and Trade
William
Burns will speak at the New England School of Law
in Boston on "The Interface of Multilateral
Environmental Agreements and the World Trade Organization:
Beware Gatzilla?"
3/12,
Colorado River
Michael Cohen will participate on a panel entitled,
"The Colorado River -- What's Next?" at
the Water Education Foundation's 20th annual Executive
Briefing, in Sacramento.
3/15,
New Economy of Water
Gary Wolff will be presenting on the New Economy
of Water at the University of Montana Law School's
Annual Conference held in Missoula.
3/16,
3rd World Water Forum
Pacific Institute researchers will be presenting
at several sessions at the 3rd
World Water Forum in Kyoto, Japan. For more
information, please see our Kyoto webpage at www.pacinst.org/press_center/kyoto/.
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