A. EUPHEMET Workshop on: Trends in production, uses and policies on heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium) world wide and within the EU (with a special session on batteries)
MIO-ECSDE hosted a EUPHEMET (EU Policy for Heavy METals, a joint project of the University of Athens, Imperial College/IC consultants London and the Institute for European Environmental Policy IEEP-Brussels, supported by DG Research) workshop which was held in Athens between 17-18 April 2000, under the title: Trends in production, uses and policies on heavy metals (Lead, Mercury, Cadmium) world wide and within the EU with a special session on batteries. The participants were of various backgrounds and from around the globe. The meeting was a direct follow-up of the International Conference and Exhibition on Municipal Solid Waste Management in the Mediterranean and Arab Region which was held in Cairo late last year under the auspices of the Prime Minister of Egypt and which was co-organized by RAED and MIO-ECSDE.
Metals are natural components of the Earth's crust and humans have come in contact with many of them from the very early phases of civilization. However, for the majority of heavy metals it is certain that their present rate of exploitation, direct or indirect use and concentration in the environment are extremely high in comparison to previous centuries. In many cases, we still know very little about their environmental effects and therefore an ongoing accumulation in the environment increases the risk of future problems that will then be very difficult to address.
Batteries are the main carriers of heavy metals in municipal solid wastes and their separate collection and recycling contributes significantly in reducing the risks and performing sustainable solid waste management.
The meeting took place in the Main Hall of the University of Athens and was co-sponsored by MIO-ECSDE, UNEP/MAP and Elliniki Etairia. The results of the meeting and a detailed look at heavy metals in batteries, battery recycling, etc., were included in issue 17 of Sustainable Mediterranean. (click here for more)

B. Global Water Partnership Technical Advisory Committees meeting hosted by MIO-ECSDE in Athens, 10-17 May, 2000
MIO-ECSDE, in its effort to facilitate Integrated Water Resources Management and promote NGO participation in the relevant regions throughout the world, hosted the assembly of all the regional Technical Advisory Committees (TACs) (Mediterranean, Central and Eastern Europe, South and Central America, South and Southeastern Asia, West and Southern Africa) of the Global Water Partnership (GWP), at the Divani-Caravel Hotel in Athens. The meeting was a direct follow-up of the 2nd World Water Forum held in The Hague earlier that year and the main question answered was "where do we go from here?". During the last two days the Mediterranean TAC (MEDTAC) met and discussed the necessary actions to avoid a future water crisis in the Mediterranean region. Among other things it was finalised that a major Mediterranean Conference of Water Stakeholders and Decision-Makers: Towards a Core Action Plan would be held in November in Athens and would be co-organized by the GWP MEDTAC and MIO-ECSDE with the support of other international partners and other sponsors. During the conference major documents, such as the "Mediterranean Vision to Action for Water in the 21st Century", the "Framework for Action" and the Mediterranean follow-up of The Hague meeting were debated in detail.

C. Mediterranean Conference of Water Stakeholders and Decision-Makers: Towards a Core Action Plan, Divani Acropolis Palace, Athens, 2-4 November 2000
(click here for more)