Asia PR News

BURNABY, June 30 /CNW-AsiaNet/ –

Wednesday, June 29, 2005 will mark the announcement of World Rivers Day
(WRD), the first initiative to mobilize a global response addressing the urgent
need for improved management and conservation of river ecosystems worldwide
while at the same time celebrating the value of our international waterways.

Millions of people, and thousands of international organizations, are
expected to contribute to World Rivers Day on September 25, 2005. The event is
being led by non-government organizations around the world and is being
endorsed by the United Nations University; and the International Network on
Water, Environment and Health - both agencies of the UN.

Planned WRD events include river cleanups, fish enhancement projects,
international workshops, educational programs and riverside festivals. "It’s
pretty exciting to see an event that started 25-years ago in BC evolve into
such positive efforts to better care for our rivers around the world," says
Mark Angelo, founder of both World and BC Rivers Day, and head of BCIT’s Fish,
Wildlife Recreation Department. "Beyond celebrating our rivers, WRD will also
hopefully encourage people to be more active as river stewards and will create
a greater public awareness of the many threats that confront our waterways."

Angelo, who is now the WRD Chair, started BC Rivers Day in 1980, which
has since become the biggest event of its kind in North America with more than
75,000 people participating last year, province wide. The success of BC Rivers
Day will be used as a template for World Rivers Day.

World Rivers Day is already fostering solidarity amongst international
organizations focusing on water-related issues while promoting core values
associated with sustainability, conservation, and stewardship activities.
"Rivers are the arteries of our planet," says Angelo. "And WRD will provide an
opportunity for people to get out and enjoy our waterways and appreciate the
extent to which they contribute to the quality of life in their communities."

WRD also complements the water-related efforts of the United Nations,
which recently launched a 10-year initiative to raise awareness of water
issues around the world and halve, by 2015, the number of people who are
unable to reach or afford safe drinking water.

Last year, Angelo was recognized by the UN as the inaugural recipient of
the International Year of Fresh Water Stewardship Award for his river
conservation efforts at home and abroad.

Angelo was also joined at today’s announcement by the Honorable Barry
Penner, BC Minister of Environment and Bob Sanford, Chair, UN Water for
Life/Canada.

Media can contact Mark Angelo, (604) 432-8270, or BCIT Media Relations,
(604) 432-8773

SOURCE: British Columbia Institute of Technology

CONTACT: Media can contact Mark Angelo, (604) 432-8270

BCIT Media Relations, (604) 432-8773