Victor Ruffy: "By getting local elected representatives and young people involved in water protection, we are also paving the way for tomorrow's local democracy."

As far as the President of NGO Solidarity Water Europe (SEE-SWE) is concerned, water conservation policies in countries where water is scarce or under threat require active participation not only by local elected representatives, but also by members of the public, and particularly young people: SEE-SWE has since 1998 been involving them in joint projects which were presented in Strasbourg and Schiltigheim during the 2010 European Local Democracy Week.

Interview-16.10.2010

Question: Although Strasbourg is familiar with the European Parliament, it knows less about the "European Youth Parliaments for Water", which you have been running for over 10 years.  What do these involve, and what do they represent at local level?

Victor Ruffy: These "parliaments" bring together young people from all over Europe who are committed to environment (especially water) protection programmes.  The aim is to get them to work together and define joint initiatives. The parliament is held in a different country each year, with the Netherlands due to take its turn in 2011, and participants' local authorities are closely involved. Water protection is obviously important to the environment, but it also a symbol and a school of democracy for young people, who can see how local authorities deal with the problems and what regional and national assistance they receive. The meetings at Strasbourg's European Youth Centre and in Schiltigheim have made possible more detailed discussions on all these subjects between young people and local elected representatives from Europe. Water policy is a good vehicle for promoting local democracy and youth commitment.

Question: Could you give us some specific examples of what has been achieved thanks to your commitment?

Victor Ruffy: Many countries still have considerable water supply and water purification problems, the two being closely interlinked. In Moldova, for instance, where half of the population lives in rural areas, toilets are often rudimentary, making epidemics more likely of diseases passed on via waste water, such as the different forms of hepatitis. Working with the local authorities of Vorniceni we have managed to modernise the toilets at a secondary school with 700 pupils. We work on not only water treatment, but also rainwater collection. In some countries, running water is available for only a few hours a day, and there may even be certain periods when none at all is available. We get young people involved in our projects because they are highly motivated, in particular, of course, with a view to their own future.

Question: SEE-SWE works mainly in central and eastern Europe; does this mean that there are no problems anywhere else?

Victor Ruffy: Definitely not, and water management is a global problem.  While water is not a problem for us in Switzerland, our country discharges 1,000 cubic metres of water per second into the Rhine, Rhone and Danube basins. Like every other country, we are responsible for our discharges vis-à-vis those who live further downstream. It is sometimes very difficult – and it is another of our tasks – to make people realise that this is the case.