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Show must go on! 104 countries, United Nations, European Union, Iberoamerican Secretary; 93 days, 2800 experts on water and sustainable development, 60.000 volunteers and 6 million visitors...one world capital of water...Zaragoza... The 2800 experts that participated in the Water tribune debates helped to shape the Zaragoza charter which contains recommendations to face challenges related to water.... so this is it?..well, no. World Water Forum will take place next month in Istambul. And for Zaragoza, is this it? No, it is not. The office of UN for water (2005-2015) in Zaragoza, a brand new research center on climate change and other initiatives should ensure that Zaragoza remains focus on water and sustainable development... Many thanks to all the people that made this possible and see you around! Pd. Click on here to follow the fireworks at 22.15!

Posted by moncho at 8:53 AM 0 comments Labels: Fiesta, post-expo



No need of introduction for Mijail Gorbachev, so i will be very short and to the point: Mikhail Gorbachev will be next 5th of September at the Expo (event takes place outside Expo premises in Huesca just 80 km from Zaragoza) where this Nobel Peace Prize winner will deliver a speech, under the title 'Water for Peace', looking at the main initiatives implemented at international level in the last decades that have contributed to turning water into a peace element between civilizations. Posted by moncho at 8:51 AM 0 comments Labels: water conflicts


an iceberg....

Everyone knows what´s but difficult to imagine one in Zaragoza´s hot summer...with penguins included. Diffficult but not impossible...The world-famous Spanish director, Calixto Bieito http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/otherresources/interviews/CalixtoBieito.htm is directing this every night (9.28 pm) miracle... The performance is a half an hour no (launguage) dialogue Dialogue between the iceberg, mankind and the Ebro, a dialogue of images and conflict mined by problems caused by climate change. Technically is a master piece gigantic show which wont leave anyone indifferent. The process is as follows: public gathers on one side of river Ebro and on the other side (yes...I haven't seen this anywhere else but it is an extraordinary idea...) the performance takes place. This is a multimedia show which -because of its impacting huge and sometimes dramatic, sad images- I wouldn't recommend to children...however it is a fantastic opportunity for all other audiences to end a day at this Expo on water and SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT...

Posted by moncho at 8:49 AM 0 comments Labels: art, environment


Does water harm?

... that is the title of the last work of Nobel prize winner Dario Fo http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1997/fo-bio.html which is a call to wake up...using humor. I am delighted that -in addition to the everynight concerts at Expo Zaragoza 2008 Anfiteatro 43 http://www.expozaragoza2008.es/theblog/?p=32 the Expo and the Zaragoza city council has programmed a variety of cultural events. For the first time in history and due to Expo 2008, the Teatro Principal http://www.teatroprincipalzaragoza.com/repre.php will open its doors in summer with theater, dance and music shows. Thus, from 13 August to 7 September, "Cómeme el coco, negro" by La Cubana. To end with this theater programme of the Expo period, from 11 to 14 of September, "Hamlet" directed by Juan Diego Botto. Also in September, from 17 to 21, it will be represented "Sitios Saragosse", a production of the Fundation Zaragoza 2008 with direction and playwriting by Mariano Anós. At another venue, the fantastic Auditorium Conference Hall where the most prestigious conductors, national and international orchestras and unique voices will meet in an excellent cycle of Classical Music directed by Zubin Mehta, for example counting with a Lyrical Gala http://www.auditoriozaragoza.com/ConciertosVisualizacion.aspx?id=153 with Montserrat Caballé and Montserrat Martí, next 5th of September... So Expo does promise something for everyone. Enjoy

Posted by moncho at 8:48 AM 0 comments 

Russian pavilion: deepest lake in the world and more The blog of Mr. Afilamazas http://afilamazas.blogspot.com/ (sorry only in Spanish...nice videos too...) explains that Expo Zaragoza is worth visiting for a number of reasons (architecture, knowledge & entertainment, etc) but warns visitors that some pavilions are just "selling" their countries ie. they are unrelated to the theme of the expo or if we are "lucky", they will show up with their best "water" achievements... Russian pavilion is much more than that. It is about water from Russian perspective.... Russia being the 2nd biggest world owner of water resources has an enormous stock of water which is managed the Russian way...Russians on top of being smart and intelligent as they are (for instance, you can see at the pavilion some Russian technological achievements such as a floating nuclear plant for water desalinisation) are emotional, warm maybe even spiritual as the audiovisual (a must see!) will allow you to know ... mixing water with science, religion and more...the video touches you in a way or another. Enjoy! Pd. There is a competition with nice prices like a visit to lake Baikal ...Russian warm hospitality included ;) More info at: en la página web 'http://foto.expo2008.ru/es', hasta el 25 de agosto. Pd.2 in the Russian pavilion you have a shop too :)

Posted by moncho at 8:42 AM 0 comments Labels: pavilions, water conflicts


Back to the future: return to EDO At the Japanese pavilion in Expo Zaragoza 2008 you will be transported to the EDO times http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edo_period, more precisely 200 years ago...when Tokyo megalopolis was a 1 million citizens city called EDO. "In the land of Asian Monsoon climate and ragged terrain, with geographical limitations (more than 120 millions for a territory of approximately 2/3 of Spain!) surrounded by sea on all four sides, Japanese people have developed skills, culture and lifestyles that live in harmony and symbiosis with nature, rather than confronting it....". Or as Prince Naruhito put it during his visit to the Expo this week, you need to "look to our ancestors" for inspiration, noting that even without modern technology they were able to combat the problems of water, such as floods and droughts. After visiting the pavilion, I can say that this is a remarkable audiovisual experience where -despite all that we can learn from Japan http://www.expo2005.or.jp/en/index.html - the video shown is not patronising at all...hope the message will pass as indeed seems to be happening as per the high number of visitors...anyway, at the end fo the 9 minutes trip, visitors will have a surprise: a real experience of water overwhelming power and beauty. After, you will be given forecast of possible future scenarios linked with climate change...and a cup with Japanese-Spanish tea (another surprise ;) ...to digest the info and watch some artistic photographs...enjoy!

Posted by moncho at 8:38 AM 0 comments Labels: environment, pavilions


500.000 reasons to visit the Expo

In only 12 days 500.000 visitors to the Expo on Water and Sustainable Development. By now visitors are more than residents (taking into account the average of more than 40.000 visitors per day). OK, yes, some of them come from Zaragoza but it is not by chance that the visitor 500.000 was Eckhard Andree & family….from Germany. Posted by moncho at 8:37 AM 0 comments Labels: tourism
