Once again this August, top water and sanitation professionals turn their focus to the World Water Week in Stockholm. More than 2000 experts, practitioners, decision makers and leaders from around the globe will exchange ideas, foster new thinking and develop solutions to pressing issues. The theme is "Responding to Global Changes: Accessing Water for the Common Good, with Special Focus on Transboundary Waters."

WSSCC will be at the 16-22 August event and fly the flag high for sanitation and hygiene, which are critical for the common good as well since one person or village, by polluting local water resources because openly defecated excreta washes in to streams and groundwater, can affect many others.

Attendees in Stockholm are welcome to these WSSCC-affiliated events (click on the link for more details):

• Sunday 16 August: WSSCC co-convenes the seminar "Partnerships for Water and Sanitation Integrity, Accountability and Transparency"
• Monday 17 August: WSSCC and other members of the World Sanitation Financing Facility Group convene "Bottom Up and Top Down: A Sanitation Offer the Commercial Sector Cannot Resist?"
• Tuesday 18 August: WSSCC co-convenes Workshop 8, "Subsidies and Financial Mechanisms in the Water Sector", which includes a Keynote Speech by Mr. Barry Jackson, Programme Manager of the Global Sanitation Fund at WSSCC
• Wednesday 19 August: WSSCC co-convenes the "Water and Climate Focus", which includes the seminar "Focus Water and Climate: Separate Streams? Integrating Climate Change Adaptation with Water Management" supported by WSSCC through the Working Group on WASH and Climate Change
• Wednesday 19 August: WSSCC co-convenes "Sanitation for the Urban Poor: Exploring New Pathways"

In addition to these events, WSSCC will have an exhibition booth where attendees can sign up to be WSSCC members, check out our newly redeveloped home page, and get a copy of our latest report, "Public Funding for Sanitation: The Many Faces of Sanitation Subsidies".

Also, please note that the 2009 Stockholm Water Prize will be awarded to long-time WSSCC member Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of the Sulabh Sanitation Movement in India, in the Stockholm City Hall on Thursday 20 August. Dr. Pathak will also give the Stockholm Water Prize Laureate Lecture in the opening general session on Monday 17 August.

See you in Stockholm!