From Tsunami to Drought
Kindly Supported by
This event took place on Thursday 19th November 2009 at The Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR
Chaired by award-winning broadcaster and radio and television presenter, Andrea Catherwood
While the devastating impacts of the 2004 tsunami and the alarmingly frequent incidence of flooding loom large in our minds, another age-old scourge - drought - is predicted to become an increasingly universal problem that may well bring neighbouring states into conflict over access to water, not just for agriculture but, even more critically, for drinking and sanitation.
What can be done before it is too late? Five enterprising speakers outlined their ingenious solutions to this looming crisis, before being interrogated Dragon's Den style by a panel of experts to establish the practicalities of their proposals.
You, the audience, had the final vote in a debate that was as unpredictable, eye-opening and keenly contested as ever, with the winner received a (sadly fictitious) $1,000,000,000 cheque to put their ideas into practice.
Read more about this event here.
Our speakers:
Prof. Paul Leonard, environmental consultant
Dr Tom Le Quesne, WWF
Prof. Howard Wheater, Imperial College
Simon Maddrell, Excellent Development (2009 Debate Winner!)
A member of the public.
Our panel:
John Burton, CEO, the World Land Trust
Rick Bauer, Oxfam
Mark Shearer, co-founder Project Dirt