Editorial
Making Development More Sustainable
Will Help Address Climate Change
Prof. Mo
han Munasinghe, Vice Chair of the Geneva-based Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) ,Chairman of the Sri Lanka–based Munasinghe Institute for Development (MIND), examines in the IMF Bulletin- Finance & Development March 2008 the rising risks by rising temperatures on climate change. 
Prof. Mohan Munasinghe, exchanges mutual congratulations with co-laureate 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, Mr. Al Gore, former US Vice President
Global warming is already taking its toll. The latest report of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that global warming is a reality and has almost certainly been caused by recent human activities that have increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It also indicates that climate change (characterized by temperature increase, sea level rise, and precipitation changes) will continue into the foreseeable future and intensify, with potentially disastrous consequences for the planet and its inhabitants.
The scientific facts: For decades, the public debate over global warming boiled down to a little science and a lot of conjecture. But in recent years, the world's scientists have found their voice, and in the 2007 Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which was founded 20 years ago by the UN to provide an authoritative review of climate change information, many of the world's leading scientists spoke with one voice. Their message was a grim one.
What we know . For more than 10,000 years, carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere were stable at about 280 parts per million by volume (ppmv), but, following the industrial revolution, these concentrations rose rapidly and now exceed 380 ppmv. As a result, and with the help of other minor greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as methane and nitrous oxide, over the past 100 years, the planet's surface has warmed by an average of 0.75°C, and the rate is accelerating. Other evidence of global climate change includes a systematic rise in the mean sea level (about 16 centimeters during the past century), the melting of ice in polar areas and glaciers, increased damage caused by extreme weather events, less precipitation in dry areas and more precipitation in wet areas, and significant shifts in ecological cycles and animal behaviour.
The IPCC predicts that in the absence of a serious effort to curb emissions, by 2100 carbon dioxide concentrations will be about twice the preindustrial level (550 ppmv), the average global temperature will increase by about 3°C above current levels (the range being 1.1 to 6.4°C), and the mean sea level will rise 35 to 40 centimeters. Extremes of climate and precipitation will worsen, and the melting of ice will accelerate because of the greater warming of Polar Regions . Even if emissions were sharply curbed, the IPCC estimates that temperatures would rise at least 1.5°C more by 2100.
What we don't know . The IPCC is continuing to work on some important gaps in knowledge. For example, the level at which GHG concentrations are dangerous is not scientifically certain, although the European Union has made a value judgment that 2°C (corresponding to 450-500 ppmv) is the tolerable risk threshold. One key parameter, to be determined more accurately, is the sensitivity of climate to GHG concentrations.
The accuracy of the economic costs of impacts also needs to be increased, especially since many of them will occur in the distant future. Because of time lags, often involving decades or even centuries, catastrophic outcomes such as the melting of polar ice or changes in oceanic circulation are hard to predict.
How humans can cope : The two specific ways that humans can respond to climate change are through adaptation and mitigation. Adaptation tries to reduce the vulnerability of human and natural systems to the stresses of climate change, whereas mitigation aims to lower, or even remove, GHG emissions.
In recent months, three developments, the release of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, the awarding of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize to the IPCC and Al Gore, and the December 2007 Bali conference of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, have combined to raise the profile of climate change and helped to highlight the difficulties that policymakers face in coming to grips with this important challenge. Although there is a growing consensus worldwide on the need to take early action on climate change, important practical issues remain unresolved, including burden sharing and equity. Nevertheless, one can conclude on an optimistic note. Although climate change and sustainable development are complex, interlinked problems that pose a challenge to humanity, they could be solved together by integrating adaptation and mitigation response measures into the broader rubric of sustainable development strategies. We know enough already to immediately take the first step toward making development more sustainable- helping to usher in a safer and brighter future.
Mohan Munasinghe , http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2008/03/munasinghe.htm
WFEO News
Civil Engineer Patricia Galloway
Elected Vice Chair of National Science Foundation
At its May 7th meeting, the National Science Board (NSB) elected Dr. Patricia D. 
Galloway, CEO of the international consulting firm The Nielsen-Wurster Group, Inc., to serve as Vice Chair. Dr. Galloway replaces outgoing Vice Chair Dr. Kathryn D. Sullivan.
The National Science Board was established by Congress as part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Act of 1950 and provides oversight for, and establishes the policies of, NSF while also serving as an independent body of advisors to both the President and Congress on broad national policies issues related to science and engineering research and education. Members of the National Science Foundation are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate based on their eminence in basic, medical or social sciences, engineering, agriculture, education, research management, or public affairs. Dr. Galloway was appointed to the NSF in 2006 by President Bush for a six-year term, and her appointment as a board officer allows her to serve as Vice Chair for the next two years.
Dr. Galloway is a Civil Engineer having received her bachelor's degree from Purdue University , her MBA from New York Institute of Technology, and her PhD from Kochi University of Technology in Japan . She is a licensed Professional Engineer in 14 US States; Manitoba, Canada; and the Country of Australia and has won numerous awards including Purdue's Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award and the Society of Women Engineer's Upward Mobility Award. She is a member of World Federation of Engineering Organizations, the National Academy of Construction, and the Pan-American Academy of Engineering. Dr. Galloway is Past President of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the first woman in the 152-year history of ASCE, the largest civil engineering society in the world, to ever hold this position.
The Future of Mechanical Engineering: 2008-2028
To convene by the American Association of Mechanical Engineering - A global summit about the mechanical engineering profession was conducted in Washington National Academy of Sciences from 16 to 18 April 2008 .
Throughout highly interactive and critically important exchange of ideas, the debates gained insights on the opportunities and the demanding challenges for the profession for the next twenty years. Key speakers from different regions of the world ( Japan , India , and Europe ) were invited to participate.
WFEO was represented by President elect Mss Prieto-Laffargue who spoke about the extreme important for Engineering Association from all over the world to participate in efficient international organizations as WFEO to acquire values that the 21st century engineer must achieve: multiculturalism and multidisciplinary. More information at www.asme.org
Engineering 2010 – Argentina
Technology, Innovation and Production for Sustainable Development
As ann
ounced in the last Issue of this Newsletter, the preparatory process of the engineering week 2010 scheduled to take place on 17-20 October, in Buenos Aires , Argentina is now in progress: Two Advisory Councils are constituted: An International Advisory Council (IAC) made up of twenty distinguished engineers chaired by WFEO Past-President Kamel Ayadi and a National Advisory Council (NAC) chaired by Engineer Roberto Echarte, Past-President of the Argentine Union of Associations of Engineers (UADI). The organization of the technical aspects of each of the congresses and the exhibition will be managed by Organizing Commissions chaired by distinguished and experienced engineers, are already working and were present at a meeting held on March 10, 2008 to put forward their proposals. The International Congress and Exhibition include several congresses, grouped in two categories: specific (technical, with general engineering and production aspects) and thematic (on education and participation issues).
The next IAC personal meeting will be held in Brasilia during WEC 2008. Future meetings of IAC members will be held parallel to WFEO gatherings in Kuwait , 2009, and at the beginning of World Engineering Week, in Buenos Aires 2010.
European Arabic Engineers Union
A new engineering organization, The European Arabic Engineers Union, has been recently registered in Germany as headquarter. Essential goals are to encourage and support the engineering, economic and technological cooperation participation between Europe and the Arabic countries.
Ramifies of the European Arabic Engineers Union is the European Institute for Strategic and economic Study of Middle East . This Institute will work on improving and protecting the natural and humanity resources for the Arabic countries and researching the suspended engineering problems in the Arab World such as Water, energy, environmental pollution industrial problems, desertification, infrastructure, and Arabic economy problems. Contact: info@eaeu.org , Website: www.eaeu.org
WFEO Technical Standing Committees News
A New WFEO Standing Committee:
Women in Engineering and Technology -WIE
As decided on 28th February 2008 by the Executive Board in Paris , the Conseil National des Ingénieurs et Scientifiques de France (CNISF) is the body hosting the WFEO Standing Committee on Women in Engineering and Technology - WIE:
- To develop and attract more women in engineering area
- To fight the lack of women engineers at professional positions
- To promote the place of women in engineering and improve women engineers representation within its organisation
The WFEO-WIE will be chaired by Marie-Hélène Therre. Eng. President of Femmes Ingénieurs (French Women Engineers Association), which is part of the French WFEO National Member. Vice Chairs and Secretariat for the Committee will be selected from the confirmed member list by end of July 2008, after the kick-off of the Committee in July 2008.
In April 2008, a call for volunteers for membership of the committee was sent to all the Executive Board, Executive Council Members, and National Member Representatives. The call is requesting to propose applications for membership. A list of confirmed members will be provided in July 2008.
Download the documents related to WIE:
Committee on Women in Engineering _Presentation.ppt
Comiittee on Women in Engineering_ Strategic Plan.doc
Committee on Women in Engineering_ membership application.doc
Committee on Capacity Building-CCB
A draft document on capacity building for the upcoming UNESCO report on engineering edited by CCB chairman Dan Clinton and past chairman Russel Jones was sent recently to UNESCO and CCB Members with background on technical capacity building activities over recent years. The abstract of the document outlines that in the pursuit of a more secure, stable and sustainable world, developing countries seek to enhance their human, institutional and infrastructure capacity. To do so they need a solid base of technologically prepared people to effectively improve their economies and quality of life. Such a base will facilitate the infusion of foreign capital through attraction of multinational companies to invest in the developing country, assist in making the most of foreign aid funds, and provide a basis for business development by local entrepreneurs. In a coordinated approach, UNESCO and WFEO are mounting major efforts at technical capacity building in developing countries
CCB Chairman just reported to the members that WFEO President Barry Grear, Dan Clinton (Capacity Building), Jorge Spitalnik (Energy), Darrel Danyluk (Environment), and Mike Sanio attended the 16th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (UN CSD-16) in New York City during the first half of May 2008. This was the largest and most significant delegation from WFEO ever to attend the UNCSD. The UNCSD is the only forum within the United Nations system where engineers through WFEO can speak directly to elected Ministers and government policy leaders world wide on issues of Sustainable Development and the Millennium Development Goals.
The theme of CSD-16 was Agriculture and Rural Development. Discussion Sessions were devoted to regional areas, such as Africa , Latin America and the Caribbean , Asia and the Pacific, and the ECE. Topical discussions included land, drought and desertification, and rural development. The Science and Technology Group, composed of the above WFEO representatives and representatives from ICSU, met daily and planned attendance and presentations for the various discussion sessions. In all, they were able to make 17 interventions, a record number of interactive dialogues. Barry Grear was also invited to make a major presentation at one of the Sessions. It was a very productive meeting and the engineering community was able to provide input to other major groups based on scientific principles and engineering criteria.
Committee on Information and Communication-CIC
The standing Committee on Information and Communication has its service term presently from 2005 to 2009. Hosted by The Korean Federation of Engineering Organizations since 2005, a new hosting organization of CIC was named by the Executive Council in February 2008, The China Association for Science and Technology, CAST. New CIC Chairman is Prof. Y. X. Zhong, Chair of Academy Committee, University of Posts & Telecommunications, China . Prof Zhong suggested an Action Plan ( www.wfeo.org ) to be discussed by CIC members in June 2008. Following is the Call for participation:
Call for Participation in CIC
|
Dear WFEO members, |
Committee on Education and Training-CET
The 38th WFEO-CET meeting will be held in Brasilia , Brasil on December 1, 2008 in coincidence with the WEC'2008.
The CET meeting will be totally devoted to the 8th World Congress on Engineering Education - 8WCEE (23-25 March 2009, in Kuching, Sarawak , Malaysia ).
WFEO Anti-Corruption Standing Committee-ACC
The recently established Committee on Anti-Corruption (ACC), chaired by Kamel Ayadi, will held its first meeting on the first of December, 2008 in Brasilia , Brasil, in conjunction with the WEC2008. The members will discuss the Committee Anti-Corruption Action Plan.
It is important to highlight the launch in May 2008 of the Global Infrastructure Anti-Corruption Centre (GIACC). GIACC is an independent organisation which provides resources and services for the purpose of preventing and dealing with corruption in the infrastructure, construction and engineering sectors. These resources and services are provided for the assistance of all stakeholders in these sectors including governments, project owners, contractors, consulting engineering firms and suppliers of equipment, materials and services. The intention is that any organisation in the world can obtain, free of charge, sufficient information from this resource to be able to implement an anti-corruption programme in its organisation and on its projects, adopt an anti-corruption code, and provide staff training.
The GIACC Resource Centre can be accessed at www.giaccentre.org
Committee on Technology-ComTech
A National Seminar on Non-Conventional / Renewable Energy and Nuclear Energy Resources - Issues and Challenges , organized by The Institution of Engineers India with technical support from the WFEO Committee on Technology (WFEO-ComTech), was held during 17-18 May 2008 at Jabalpur , India . The Seminar focused on the challenges of energy sector in view of rapidly growing demand, depleting resources and environmental degradation. The options available for power generation are hydro power, thermal power and nuclear power. Globally, with the limited resources of coal and oil and with growing concerns of greenhouse gases generated by fossil fuel fired thermal power stations, the hydro power and nuclear power are going to be called upon to play a greater role in medium- and long-term perspective. Read more
A book for Engineers
Christelle DIDIER, a French researcher, just published an important book devoted to the theme Ethics of Engineers. Designed like a traveller's book in the universe of engineering ethics in various region of the world, this book is an invitation to reflect upon the ethical issues of technology through one of its central actor: the engineer. It is also an invitation to take into account the cultural and historical influences on the institutionalisation of engineering ethics in various contexts.
The author is a French scholar who is situated at the crossroad of philosophy and social sciences and who has been teaching engineering ethics for more than fifteen years to engineers and engineering students.
In the first part of her book, Christelle DIDIER describes, discusses and explains the way engineers have ormulated their professional ethical values through code of ethics in two regions of North America (USA and the province of Quebec) and without codes of ethics in two European countries (Germany and France). The second part of the book deals with some key issues of engineering ethics such as the paradox of the powerfulness of engineering versus the powerlessness of the individual engineer. It also discusses the political dimension of technology…
This is the first book ever published in France on the topic of engineering ethics. It will strongly contribute to the large, worldwidely open, debate on such a topic.
WFEO Members' News
Message from Engineers Without Borders - Internationa
Myanmar and China disasters
Dear Colleagues:
Like all of you, I have been struck by the magnitude of the disasters in Burma and China . All of our EWB/ISF organizations can be of limited help to those in needs there as we do not have the budget and infrastructure of large relief organizations. However, I am asking all of you to support those organizations by contacting them directly and exploring how our small national groups can be of help through donations, in kind help, individual volunteer work, etc. WE CANNOT STAY BY THE SIDE AND DO NOTHING. Every bit of help can save lives. People can also donate to EWB-I and the collected funds will be sent to relief organizations.
EWB-I has a Humanitarian Engineer's Registry ( http://humanitarianengineers.org ) that allows volunteers to sign up. The registry links those in needs with those who could provide services, technologies, and solutions to eradicate poverty in communities around the world. You may consider registering your name if you are interested in helping with relief work in Myanmar and China. Please make various organizations aware of the registry. Pass the information around if that is all you can do.
As far as I am concerned, we are all together on one planet. We can all make a difference and help those in needs. Now is the time to walk the talk and show the rest of the world why we are “compassion without borders”.
Bernard Amadei: Web Site
Executive Director
EWB-International
Amadei@colorado.edu
Engineers Without Borders - International
In order to find a way out of the crisis situation of electric power in the country, the Institution of Engineers Pakistan, Karachi Centre (IEP) and The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) have organized an Interactive seminar on The Energy Crises in Pakistan-Power Generation form Coal-A Major Option, on 24 th April, 2008 . Various aspects of the electricity and coal business including technological advancements, standard practices, tariffs & financial considerations, manpower requirements and the environmental issues were discussed at the event, involving all related national institutions in finding a feasible and sustainable solution . www.iepkc.org
International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences, Inc. (CAETS): CAETS Council Meeting and International Symposium, 25-27 June 2008, Delft , Netherlands :
• Wednesday, June 25: ExCom and Board Meetings
• Thursday, June 26: Symposium on Delta Technology
• Friday, June 27: CAETS Council Meeting
www.caets.org
Forthcoming Events
Best Practices Forum, October 17, 2008 , Washington, D.C: USA: Organized by the new Construction Industry Ethics and Compliance Initiative (CIECI), founded by a small group of CEOs committed to ethical business conduct and compliance with the law, this is the first Best Practices Forum for Engineers to speak about the ethical business. The CIECI is a non-profit association of U.S. construction industry participants dedicated to the promotion of integrity and ethical conduct in the construction industry. Contact: rbednar@crowell.com
Download : CIECI BEST PRACTICES DRAFT AGENDA.DOC ; CIECI Charter.DOC
International Conference on Virtual Systems and Multimedia dedicated to the Digital Preservation of the Cultural Heritage. The conference is going to take place on Cyprus , on October 20-26, 2008 . It is supported by UNESCO and President of Cyprus. Among the keynote speakers will be Javier Hernandez-Ros, European Commission, Head of Unit Digital Libraries and Public Sector Information; Massimo Negri, Director of the European Museum Forum and Member of the Board of the European Digital Library; Vasilis Tsinkas, Project Manager for Digitization of Acropolis; and others.
More information is available at the conference website at www.vsmm2008.org
Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology : 2008 Change Agent Award Nominations Now Open!: The Anita Borg Change Agent Awards to be given at the October 2008 Grace Hopper's Conference , celebrate the accomplishments of technical women from emerging countries. These awards are designed to recognize up-and-coming leaders that impact or advance women's participation in technology, while also internationally expanding the reach of the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing conference.
Applications from technical women from developing regions who are making a difference in the lives and livelihoods of those around them are welcome. Winners will be featured on a panel and during the awards ceremony. Transportation to the event is covered. Criteria and more info at this link:
http://anitaborg.org/initiatives/awards/change-agent-awards/
Third International NGO/CBO Workshop, 9-14 June 2008, Albany New York - USA : Organized by the US Jacobson Foundation with the theme NGO/CBO and organisations actions in the society, the event will bring together representatives of NGOs/CBOs from all over the world . The objectives are to provide participants the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills of the quality required for the advancement of the fight for peace and, to provide a personal development experience tailored to the needs of NGOs/CBOs that will enable participants to review and assess their own capabilities with a view to identifying ways in which they can increase the effectiveness of their contribution to the organizations they work for and to the process of development .
Download the invitation NGOCBO WorkshopJune2008.pdf
Project management Institute, Arabian Gulf Chapter, 12th International Conference, January 27-29, 2009, Manama, Bahrain: The conference is organised by the Bahrain Society of Engineers and the Institution of Engineers Pakistan with the theme: Dawn of a New Era: Paradigm Shift in Project Management.
Download: CALL for PAPERS_PMI_ 12th Conference_Bahrein.pdf
Visit: www.pmi-agc.com
Diverse News
Middle East Gender Parity Group to boost Gender Equality : Fifty influential 
female and male leaders have formed a Middle East Gender Parity Group to tackle discrimination and close the gap between women and men. This is the Middle East's first high-level group of both female and male decision-makers working together to achieve gender equality in the workplace, education, politics and health, and to better engage the talent of the region's female population, said Saadia Zahidi, Head of the World Economic Forum's Women Leaders and Gender Parity Programme . Launched on 19 May 2008 at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt , the Forum's Middle East Gender Parity Group is a multistakeholder community of 50 leaders – 25 women and 25 men – from business, politics, academic, media and civil society. The membership reflects various personal and industry criteria, including the presence of relevant diversity efforts, corporate social responsibility programmes and personal commitment from leaders and issue expertise. Gender Programme Middle East.pdf
World Development Indicators 2008 : Developing economies now produce 41 
percent of the world's output, up from 36 percent in 2000, according to the World Development Indicators 2008, released by the World Bank April 11, 2008 . The combined output of the world's economies reached $59 trillion in 2006. Using new measurements that take into account the differences in price levels between countries, China now ranks as the second largest economy in the world, and 5 of the 12 largest economies are developing economies. Strong growth over the period has increased the shares of all developing regions except Latin America and the Caribbean, while the share of high-income economies fell by 5 percent.
The World Development Indicators (WDI) is the Bank's premier annual compilation of data about development. The 2008 WDI includes more than 800 indicators in over 80 tables organized in 6 sections: World View, People, Environment, Economy, States and Markets, and Global Links. Data are shown for 153 economies with populations of more than 1 million in selected tables.
http://go.worldbank.org/C01GUWK100
Water and the Rural Poor, Interventions for improving livelihoods in sub-
Saharan Africa : For millions of smallholder farmers, fishers and herders in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), water is one of the most important production assets. Water is key to enhancing rural people livelihoods, because insecure access to water for consumption and productive uses is a major constraint on poverty reduction in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa.
Edited by Jean-Marc Faurès and Guido Santini, FAO Land and Water Division, This publication is the result of a joint effort by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to address the linkage between water and rural poverty in sub-Saharan Africa . It takes stock of past experiences and demonstrates that there are many opportunities to invest in water in support of rural livelihoods. Its aim is to help decision-makers make informed choices on where and how to invest. It emphasizes the need for an approach where investments in infrastructure are matched with interventions in institutions, knowledge and finance in ways that yield optimal returns in terms of poverty reduction. It highlights the extreme heterogeneity of situations facing rural people across the region and the diversity of challenges and opportunities facing different categories of rural operators, stressing the need to adapt responses to these realities. It recognizes the multiple dimensions of the rural water challenge, and shows how people's livelihoods depend on reliable water sources for a wide variety of uses.
The FAO IFAD report , Water and the Rural Poor can be accessed and downloaded on http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/i0132e/i0132e00.htm
Sustainable Development Report on Africa (SDRA): The Economic Commission 
for Africa (ECA) has released the second edition of its flagship publication, the Sustainable Development Report on Africa (SDRA), as the 16th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 16) opens in New York on Monday 2 May,2008 . This edition of SDRA is devoted to a five-year review of the implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development Outcomes in Africa (WSSD+5). The intent is to provide the reader with an overview of Africa 's progress in implementing its sustainable development agenda and to engender action on the part of all stakeholders, including Governments, civil society, the private sector and development partners, with a view to accelerating progress towards meeting Africa 's sustainable development goals. The CSD16 will address the following thematic issues: Agriculture, Rural Development, Land, Droughts, Desertification and Africa.
Download SDRA here
Rectification : We published in the March Issue information related to the Engineering book edited by Eng.Habbieb Tawfik Mansour , Saudi Arabia .
The E mail of the Author contained a printing error, the correct Email is habbiebm@hotmail.com .
Contact address:
Habbieb Mansour, PhD.,CTS
Low Current Systems Engineer
P.O.Box 301843
Riyadh 11372 , Saudi Arabia