The festival attracts our attention to the country of Egypt, situated at the edge of Africa en the Middle East, densely populated along the river Nile. We focus on a very successful business initiative, SEKEM: A Sustainable Community in the Egyptian Desert that started 30years ago. But also we offer you an insight (1) into the country’s ancient agriculture with Osiris, the god of new vegetation and how to decipher hieroglyphs, (2) into the management of groundwater reserves and social-economic implications as well, an(3) into Cairo’s central position in past and present Arab cultural life with Music and Belly Dance.
Before and after the lectures and workshops old and modern Egypt music will sound collected from CDs by Percy Oosterveen. A handout with historic and social notes to understand and feel emotionally better the songs will be available.
Lecture and Debate
Groundwater Reserves: technical, economic and political aspects
Arjen de Vries, Acacia Institute (VU), Amsterdam
The Nile, the lifeline of Egypt, now barely makes it to the sea. Nevertheless Egypt doesn’t want to touch the 660.000.000.000 cubic meter of (non-renewable) fossil water in the aquifers. In the Dutch supported Nile Basin Initiative a dozen countries collaborate towards a better water management. And Darfur is not far…….