World Rivers Day is just a couple of months away, set for September 24th (as always falling on the last Sunday in September) and with the event just a month away, it will be here before we know it. Consequently, as we saw last year, we're hoping that river advocates from around the globe will be part of this year's World Rivers Day celebration, which has taken place annually since 2005. Please let us know of your plans.

There is already an incredible number of events taking place. As just a sampling:

– In London, there will be many activities, including a special screening of the award winning film RiverBlue at the Raindance Film Festival (the UK’s largest independent film fest) where the movie is nominated for best documentary feature – as well as the 2nd annual TideFest in England that highlights and celebrates the recreational importance of the lower Thames to Londoners.

– Other events range from a massive “Rally for Rivers” that will span much of India led by the Isha Foundation – to the planned “March for Rivers” in Dhaka, Bangladesh – to a group of Kuala Lumpur communities (known as the LA21 group) working to sustain and restore river life along the Bunus River.

– In the U.S., examples range from the Potomac Riverkeeper Network based in Washington, DC and its “Make a Splash for Clean Water” event in the Potomac watershed – to the nearby Redbull.com sponsored “Great Falls” event that is bringing together the paddling community to promote the values of the river and the need for greater stewardship – to North Carolina where the Yadkin Riverkeeper is hosting the Indera Mills paddle trip.

– Across Europe, there will be a host of activities along numerous great rivers thanks to the efforts of Uniworld, our silver sponsor – in addition, the Fish Migration Foundation is organizing an event to celebrate the Hunze River in the Netherlands.

– And in the Caribbean, events range from the spearheading of a major “Adopt a River” campaign in Dominica – to planned events and celebrations in Trinidad and Tobago.

– Elsewhere, examples range from numerous festivities in Australia, with the support of the International RiverFoundation, our co-lead – to planned events in Bali by the Bali Water Protection Program.

– While in Canada, there is the always massive BC Rivers Day celebrations across the Canadian province of British Columbia (with local events ranging from the Fraser River Discovery Center’s Riverfest gathering in New Westminster, the always successful Rivers Day event in Kamloops, the great Burnaby Village Museum celebration along Deer Lake Brook, and the Yale to Hope paddle organized by the Hope Mountain Center – to the major cleanup organized by the Chilliwack/Vedder River Cleanup Society, Vancouver’s Still Creek event organized by the Still Moon Arts Society, the Cougar Creek walk in North Delta, the Rivers Day Fall Festival at Haig Brown House in Campbell River, and the Kilby Historic Site celebration at the confluence of the great Harrison and Fraser Rivers to name just a few).

– And as a fitting closing celebration on the evening of World Rivers Day, there will be the final showing of the beautiful film, Uninterrupted (which captures the magic of the Adams River Sockeye run), that will be screened to a large celebratory crowd under Vancouver’s beautiful Cambie Street Bridge.

Celebrations, events and festivities spanning six continents are in the planning stages and we’ll profile many of these in future updates. Visit our website at www.worldriversday.com to find out more about World Rivers Day, and please let us know about any activities you may organize. We can help your promotions via our website, as well as with e-mails like this one. Last year, river enthusiasts from around the world came together for the 12th annual event. It was a great success, with millions of people involved from more than 70 countries. Activities ranged from stream clean-ups and habitat enhancement projects to educational outings and community riverside celebrations. This year’s global event will be even bigger! World Rivers Day is based on the incredible success of BC Rivers Day in British Columbia, Canada, which has been underway since 1980.    
 
Promoting River Stewardship
World Rivers Day is a celebration of the world's waterways. It highlights the many values of rivers and strives to increase public awareness and hopefully encourage the improved stewardship of rivers around the world. Rivers in every country face an array of threats, and only our active involvement will ensure their health in the years ahead.
 
Join the Celebration!
World Rivers Day organizers encourage all of you to come out and participate. In particular, consider starting a Rivers Day event of your own, which might range from a stream cleanup to a community riverside celebration. And if you create an event, be sure to tell us about it! We'll keep you posted in the months ahead as new Rivers Day activities are announced.
 
International Partners
World Rivers Day is intended to complement the broader efforts of the United Nations water related programs, including the Water For Life Decade initiative which we worked closely with right up to its completion in 2015. We also look forward to continuing to work with groups such as the United Nations University in the months ahead to promote this event and encourage new participants. In launching World Rivers Day back in 2005, we also greatly appreciated the support of the United Nations University and the International Network on Water, Environment, and Health.

Special thanks to our World Rivers Day partners and sponsors:

• Sitka Foundation - gold sponsor
• Uniworld River Cruises - silver sponsor
• Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia
• International RiverFoundation (organizational co-lead)
• Hope Mountain Centre for Outdoor Learning
• United Nations University
• International Network on Water, Environment, and Health

(Additional Rivers Day sponsors to be announced in the weeks ahead).

To find out more about water issues, and how to get involved with World Rivers Day, visit the websites below for more information.

World Rivers Day

BC Rivers Day

United Nations University - International Network on Water, Environment and Health

United Nations "Water For Life Decade"

Source: World River Day; for others updates, visit: http://worldriversday.com/events/