World Habitat Day 2003

"I am greatly honoured and pleased to be able to be with you here, in this extra-ordinary city of Rio, this cidade maravilhosa (marvellous city), for the observance of the World Habitat Day. Every year, World Habitat Day gives the world community an opportunity to reflect on the living condition of the people across this planet, to assess the progress made in achieving peoples' aspiration for a better living environment, and to resolve with renewed vigour to take on the challenge ahead. Water and Sanitation for Cities is the theme of World Habitat Day this year (2003), which is also designated as the Year of Freshwater by the General Assembly of the United Nations. "

- Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, at the global celebrations of World Habitat Day on 6 October 2003 during which the winners of the Habitat Scroll of Honour were announced.

National Association of Municipal Sanitation (ASSEMAE) - Brazil: For promoting water and sanitation services in Brazilian Municipalities

Mrs. Margaret Catley-Carlson - Canada: For her outstanding contribution to raise water and sanitation issues high on the global political agenda

Weihai Municipal Government - China: For outstanding improvements in shelter and urban environment

Mr. German Garcia Duran - Colombia: For vigorously defending the cause of sustainable human settlements in key international negotiations

Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak - India: For developing and instituting over one million twin pit pour flush toilets in India

Ms. Nasreen M. Siddeek Berwari - Iraq: For her outstanding commitment to the welfare of the displaced and vulnerable persons in Northern Iraq

Pamoja Trust - Kenya: For playing a key role in upgrading informal settlements in Nairobi

Zena Daysh - New Zealand: For a lifelong commitment to the cause of shelter for all

Ms. Senkie Mthembi-Mahanyele - South Africa: For improving the housing conditions of 6 million poor people

Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WASH) - Switzerland: For their contribution towards sanitation and hygiene for the urban poor

Ms. Teolinda Bolivar - Venezuela: For her distinguished career in support of the urban poor

SPECIAL CITATION

His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand: In recognition of His Majesty's outstanding contribution to sustaining habitats and improving the quality of life of the people in cities and communities in Thailand

UN-HABITAT gets Canadian grant

The Canadian Minister of Inter- national Cooperation, Ms. Susan Whelan, signed a memorandum, on behalf of the Canadian International Development Agency, 27 October, committing over US$10 million (15 million Canadian dollars) to UN-HABITAT's Water and Sanitation Trust Fund.

Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka with Ms. Susan Whelan and the Canadian High commissioner. Photo © UN-HABITAT.

UN-HABITAT Executive Director honoured

U N-HABITAT's Executive Director Anna Tibaijuka and two Nobel Prize laureates, Professor Daniel McFadden and Professor Erwin Neher, were awarded honorary Doctorate of Science degrees on Tuesday, 9 September 2003, by the prestigious University College London. UCL Registrar Martin Butcher cited their outstanding contributions to science and humanity.

UCL, founded in 1826, has a student body from more than 150 countries around the world and is noted for its research quality. Hormones and vitamins were discovered at UCL, as were the inert gases neon and argon, and the thermionic valve, which made radio possible. More recently, the first trans-Atlantic Internet connection was made at UCL.

U N-HABITAT's Executive Director Anna Tibaijuka and two Nobel Prize laureates, Professor Daniel McFadden and Professor Erwin Neher, were awarded honorary Doctorate of Science degrees on Tuesday, 9 September 2003, by the prestigious University College London. UCL Registrar Martin Butcher cited their outstanding contributions to science and humanity.

UCL, founded in 1826, has a student body from more than 150 countries around the world and is noted for its research quality. Hormones and vitamins were discovered at UCL, as were the inert gases neon and argon, and the thermionic valve, which made radio possible. More recently, the first trans-Atlantic Internet connection was made at UCL.

FUTURE EVENTS

Theme: The symposium themes include Sustainable Environment, Environmental Planning, Environmental Modeling, Urban Landscape, Three-dimensional CG, Landscape Assessment, Cityscape Planning, GIS, Expert System, Urban Analysis, Urban Space, Revitalization of City, Street Vendor, Compact City Theory, Sustainable Design, etc.

Seventh Australasian Urban History/Planning
History Conference 2004: The 21st Century City:
Past/Present/ Future
Deakin University, Australia
11-14 February 2004

Theme: The conference themes will centre around the history, condition and direction of the contemporary city and will explore and debate issues, ideas and viewpoints from a broad spectrum of interdisciplinary approaches.

Land Development 2004
Baltimore, U.S.A.
5-7 May 2004

IUFRO Conference on Social
Roles of Forests for Urban Populations
- Forest Recreation, Landscape, Nature Conservation, Economic Evaluation and Urban Forestry
Hokkaido, Japan
23-29 August 2004

UN-HABITAT's 2nd World Urban Forum
Barcelona, Spain
13-17 September 2004
Theme: Cities: crossroads of culture, inclusiveness and integration?

The 40th International Planning
Congress - Management of Urban Regions
Geneva, Switzerland
18-22 September 2004

Public Spaces and Quality of
Life in Cities -EURA Conference
Brno, Czech Republic
23 September 2004