Water and Cultural Diversity: An Examination of water in Japanese, Arabic, European and African Cultures

In all places, and at all times, the relationship between water and culture has been a profound, complex and ambivalent one. Culture has an important influence on how users of water perceive this vital natural resource, and determines their behaviour in relation to it. If users are to participate meaningfully in the sustainable management of water, cultural behaviours will have to be taken into account.
 
Aware of this necessity, the French Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development decided to support, in the frame of the Franco_japanese cooperation, an initial contribution on the theme of water and cultural diversity which was developed by the Franco-Japanese Centre/ Alliance francaise in Osaka, on the occasion of the 3rd World Water Forum in Kyoto from the 16th to the 23rd of March 2003.
 
By taking account of cultural diversity in sustainable development, in addition to the usual economic, social and environmental issues, we will help to humanize the globalization process.
 
This discussion will “illuminate” and assess the long history linking civilizations to water, by focusing in particular on European, Japanese, Arabic and African cultures.
 
Intended for a wide audience, this publication will allow the reader to dive into the strange  world of water myths, to discover their similarities and permanence from one civilization to another, to explore extreme situations of drought and flood, and the sacred as well as malevolent aspects of water.
 
These cultural elements represent an innovative strating point from which to raise the general public’s awareness of water management, until now largely the reserve of specialists.

Contents:

Introduction

Water myths and rituals

Rivers and civilizations

Science, hygiene and health

Conclusion