S P E C I A L E D I T I O N

Luncheon

22 March 2010

H.E. Dr. Ali Abdusallam Treki

President of the 64th General Assembly

The Friends of the United peace building -- should be world should ignore that. One Change negotiations in
Nations hosted a luncheon in our priority in this world now. dollar a day, even one dime a Mexico for all of us.
honor of the President of the 64th We do not want more war. In day, can make a difference in
Session of the General Assembly, this world, we have one billion this world. We need help from
We do not want to be
H.E. Dr. Ali Abdusallam Treki, people without food, and we organizations like Friends of
distanced from any this, only
for convening a High Level were told today that there are the United Nations. With your
to listen and follow what a few
Interactive Dialogue on Water, 2.6 billion people without help, let us reform the United
countries will decide. I think it
during the World Water Day and sanitation and access to fresh Nations. Let us make it more
should be our responsibility to
in support of the International water. powerful. The United Nations
be active and involved. I
Decade for Action. “Water for General Assembly represents
believe that Friends of the
And the money we are
Life 2005 to 2015”. the whole world -- 192 United Nations and all of you
spending on arms and on countries. They are the world.
will play an important role in
wars, should be spent to shaping the future. Thank you
“ The United Nations was further peace and prosperity We all should have stake in the Dr. Brown and your
created after World War II, and in the world. We have five
financial crisis and related colleagues for giving me this
we thought as part of that million people dying every issues. Nor do I think that tribute.”
post-war generation that this year from AIDS; and the we should ignore Climate
would be the end to wars. I number is higher from Change at the United Nations; H.E. Dr. Ali Abdusallam Treki
think peace and security -- Malaria. I do not think that the we should lead the Climate 22 March. WWD Luncheon

25 March, 2010
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 S E Q U O I
Dr. Noel J. Brown
President & CEO. Friends of the UN
Let me thank you for joining us today in paying special
tribute to the President of the General Assembly for his
timely initiative in convening this high-level session on
water.
Let me also commend him for his choice of theme, Water
and MDG a connection that is vital if the targets are to be
realized and the world is to make progress in addressing
the scourge of poverty which faces so much of humanity.
Theme two on Water and Climate change is one of those
self-evident truths which needs to be reiterated in order
to become as self evident reality.
Despite skeptics and controversies there is ample
evidence of accelerating change in the world’s climate
system and hydrological cycle is being affected.
Scientists have already sounded the alarm about water
vapor migration with the attendant danger of long, dry
spells and more intense flooding.
This together with vegetation migration paints a bleak
prospect for a secure human future. Fortunately water
doomsday is not inevitable and our capacity to manage
the world’s water budget is not insignificant .
That is why we value the president’s initiative in
convening this commemorative session in celebration of
one of the principal assets on which all life depends and
which if properly handled could be a global unifier.
Ladies and Gentlemen Friends of the United Nations is
pleased to host this luncheon and the special
opportunity it provides to commend the President and
his high level panel.
We salute you Sir.
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A C L U B
HON. Tete Antonio
Special Observer. African Union at the UN
As you know the world is divided between the rich and
the poor, it is also divided between the water rich and the
water poor.
Africa stands somewhat in a unique position being both
water rich and water poor at the same time.
Some of the greatest rivers of the the world like historic
Nile, the Congo and the Zambezi, flow through the veins
of Africa.
On the other hand Africa also has large areas of Arid lands
as well as deserts which are on the march progressively
encroaching on otherwise fertile lands.
Africa is also victim of water - borne diseases which
seriously aggravates the scourge of Aids.
Water security, including accessibility, availability,
affordability and quality must become a higher priority for
our continent if the health, prosperity and well being of our
nearly one billion people is to be assured.
That is why Mr. President the African Union wishes to pay
special tribute to you today for your vision and leadership
in convening this high level Conference in commemoration
of World Water Day 2010.
That is why also Mr. President we wish to thank the
representatives and Ministers who have traveled great
distances to support your initiative.
For these reasons Mr. President we are grateful to you and
wish to salute you and your your very able team for giving
new energy, direction and impetus to the global water
security challenge.
We urge the world to join you in this quest.
Thank you.
25 March. 2010
 S P E C
Friends of the United Nations together with HESTIUN hosted World Water Day
Luncheon at the United Nations
Mr. Richard Granier
CEO & Chairman. HESTIUN Group.
My company stands ready to partner with
the United Nations and other relevant
agencies to meet the aims of the MDG.
I would like to thank the UN for giving my
company the honor of being the official
sponsor of World Water Day 2010, which is,
to my mind, one of the most important
world events on the yearly calendar. I am an
entrepreneur, and as such could have
viewed my main goal in life as simply
gaining personal & professional success.
However, like many of us here today, I am
also a family man and firmly believe that
my children and children all around the
world, have a right to a better future.
Everyone has basic right to food, water and
shelter.
I have instilled in my personal beliefs in my
company, the HESTIUN Group, where we
believe commercial success is indivisible from
a commitment to our community and the
environment. How can we live with ourselves
when more than 1 billion people worldwide
do not have even such a basic necessity?
In developing countries the main issue is the
quality of the water that is available - it is too
often disease ridden through pollutants such
as raw sewage and untreated industrial waste.
The solution is to find a way of cleaning the
water at source. At HESTIUN we have found
a number of ways to do this. We have invested
in companies that are forging the future of
water treatment.
One of this is Bionetix, which has created a
unique formula of specially selected bacteria,
which digest organic waste quickly and
completely, without any use of chemicals. This
25 March, 2010
I A L E D I
H.E. Dr. Ali Abdusallam Treki,
President of the 64th General Assembly
and Mr. Richard Granier,
CEO & Chairman. HESTIUN Group
system has ability to clean up entire lakes,
lagoons and rivers, and the formula can be
used in sewage treatment plants, agriculture
and many other applications.
In many developing countries, building large
water treatment facilities in the firsts place is
expensive, and even then the infrastructure to
actually deliver the water to the people is non
existent. Roads are poor, electricity supply is
unreliable and laying pipelines is both
expensive and environmentally undesirable.
Even if there is access to water locally -
through a well, lake or river - it still needs to
be purified with chemicals. This involves
expensive transportation, appropriate storage,
technical knowledge and likely ecological risk.
These considerations render this method
difficult in remote locations and impossible in
areas of conflict.
Our company, StarAqya, has invented the
solution, the “Oxymatic”. This system not
only controls bacteria, viruses, algae etc, but it
also clarifies, filters, removes odor, taste and
other contaminates such as pesticides and
T I O N
organic matter - all without chemicals. The
water produced is pure with no side effects to
human health.
Without getting too technical, the patented
“Oxiamtic” system is based on the formation
of a disinfectant agent when an electrical
current is applied to copper and titanium
electrodes. The electrodes produce hydrolysis
which breaks down the water molecules.
Using this system means that water can be
made hygienic at source - locally, less
expensively, and without the need of
infrastructure - including mains electricity. It
can be run from a solar panel or a wind
turbine. It can even be controlled remotely
using modern communication technology
such as mobile phone networks.
So when a person goes to the pump from their
well they can get clean, drinkable, safe water.
But what happens when they fill up a bucket,
take it back home, and pour water into an
unhygienic cooking vessel?
StarAqya have the answer. The OXYPEN is a
pen-shaped device which you drop into a cup
of water, or cooking pot - it hydrolysis and
disinfects the water in minutes. Instant
drinkable water! THe OXYPEN can be used
more than once, is powered using minimal
battery power or solar, and is incredibly
durable and easy to ship. By the end of this
year, this revolutionary product will be ready
and could change the lives of millions of
people.
HESTIUN is very proud to be working with
these companies, and we hope that through
these products, and the future ones currently
being developed, we will still assist in
achieving the Millennium Development
Goals. We believe together we can make it
happen.
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 S P E C I A L E D I T I O N

World Water Day Luncheon

At the United Nations 22 March. 2010

Distinguished Guests & VIPs

4 25 March, 2010
 S P E C I A L E D I T I O N

WAT E R
T H E C H A L L E N G I N G T H A T W I L L N O T G O A WAY

Water is perhaps the planet’s most paradoxical resource. It is at once abundant, covering some 70% of the earth’s
surface while in some parts of the world the lack of water presents critical challenges both to daily subsistence and
survival. On the other hand despite its abundance the planet’s water has a fixed total stock, and no amount of
engineering or scientific tinkering will enable us to create an additional drop of new water. All the water that we now
have is all water that we will ever have. But it is sufficient to satisfy all human needs many times over.

Unfortunately it is seldom in the right place and at the right time in the right quantity and right quality. Had the
global water budget been apportioned by the UNited Nations, it wold have done so “with due regard for equitable
geographic distribution”. But water was distributed by nature’s own design and nature knows best. This imbalance in
the distribution pattern, however, pose serious challenges to human society especially in the light of increasing
industrialization, rapid urbanization, and the explosive growth of human settlements world wide.

These factors coupled with changing demographics, globalization and climate change are causing increased water
scarcity, as well as posing a serious threat to future agricultural and economic development. And recent trends are not
very encouraging. By 2015, nearly 40% of the world’s population is expected to live in water stressed countries. By
2025, a staggering two-thirds of the world population will live in countries where there isn’t enough water or its
quality has been compromised. But perhaps the most urgent issue facing the world today however is providing safe
drinking water and sanitation, which are especially critical for poverty eradication and development. Yet, it is
estimated nearly 1.1 billion people or 18% of the world’s population lacks access to safe drinking water, while 2.6
billion or 40% of the world’s population lacks access to adequate sanitation services. And, thousands of deaths every
day caused by water-borne diseases will continue unabated.

Those problems will not take care of themselves. They need sustained and enlightened management by the private
sector, decision-makers, and civil society to mitigate our world’s emerging water crisis that is predicted by experts to
become one of the “greatest causes of mass suffering” in the 21st century. The longer we wait, the more severe the
challenge.

Recognizing the importance of water, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the period from 2005 to 2015
as the International Decade for Action Water for life, which called on the international community to fulfill
commitments made on water and water-related issues by 2015. This is in keeping with the water-related targets set
forth by the 2000 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and by the World Summit on Sustainable Development in
2002.

Even if water is not universally accepted as a human right, it is a human necessity and it would seem that humanity
owes it to itself to assure its availability to all. “Water for All” has been a long standing objective of the United
Nations. World Water Day 2010 can serve to reaffirm this.

Dr. Noel J. Brown

President and CEO
Friends of the UN

25 March, 2010 5