Latest news with #RotaryInternational
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Rainwater: The most underused climate solution
In India's drought-prone regions, even the size of a wheat grain tells a story. In normal times, the grain is full and firm. In dry years, it shrinks to half its size — or doesn't grow at all, forcing families to switch to millets or abandon farming altogether. School-age girls are pulled from classrooms to help fetch water as nearby wells dry up. In many villages, the land is too parched for anything but millet, and even that is becoming uncertain. But then, one rainwater harvesting check dam is constructed — and suddenly, the next crop season tells a different story. Grain quality improves. Soil regenerates. Incomes stabilise. And hope returns. Water scarcity impacts more than agriculture — it's multi-pervasive. Salinity rises. Soil degrades. Fluoride levels spike. And far beyond the field, it drives migration, weakens nutrition, restricts school attendance, and disproportionately burdens women. In the absence of water, livelihoods vanish, and the social fabric frays. Groundwater is the primary source of irrigation for over 90% of farmers in arid regions, yet it continues to decline due to over-extraction and poor recharge. Over 53% of rural income in arid regions today comes from non-farm sources — not because people want to diversify, but because farming no longer pays. This is a silent but escalating crisis. One of the most scalable solutions is also one of the oldest: rainwater harvesting. Simple structures like check dams, aquashafts, and recharge ponds can improve groundwater levels by 10–15% within two monsoons. Paired with techniques like drip irrigation and agroforestry, the impact multiplies — in soil health, yield stability, and climate resilience. Ironically, modern technology has been both a boon and a bane. Deep tube wells, powered by subsidised electricity or solar energy, have allowed farmers to dig deeper for water — accelerating the collapse of groundwater levels. Without rainwater recharge, these systems become unsustainable. That's where rainwater harvesting comes in—an ancient solution with modern urgency. More than 4,000 years ago, the Harappans of Dholavira harvested rainwater through an intricate system of stepped tanks and filtration chambers. If they could do it on an island in the Rann of Kutch, surely, we can do better today. New models are emerging across India. For instance, in states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, Rotary International's Program of Scale is working on water conservation by building over 90 check dams and more than 700 water harvesting structures over five years, along with fruit tree cultivation, micro-irrigation systems, and farmer training. As part of the initiative, a cluster of 500,000 fruit trees is being developed in Rajasthan. These will not only enhance income security but also act as carbon sinks, helping mitigate climate impact in one of the country's most vulnerable zones. As farmers begin to earn from orchard-based models, they invest further—expanding plantations, adopting new techniques, and reducing dependency on mono-cropping. This creates a cycle of resilience and ownership that is both scalable and self-sustaining. The success of such efforts lies not just in their outputs, but in what they represent: a shift from crisis response to climate adaptation. When communities, civil society, and local institutions collaborate around sustainable practices, the benefits ripple outward — touching not just yields, but dignity, education, and long-term economic stability. As we observed World Environment Day recently, the message is clear: Invest in rainwater harvesting, strengthen local agriculture, and build resilience from the ground up. India does not need to wait for high-tech miracles — the solutions are already here. This article is authored by KS Mehta, senior advisor, lead architect, Rotary International's Program of Scale, Partners for Water Access and Better Harvests in India.
CBC
6 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Calgary to 'welcome the world' as airport expects more than 5.8M travellers this summer
Social Sharing Calgarians can expect the city to be especially busy this summer. The Calgary Airport Authority announced on Tuesday that it expects more than 5.8 million travellers to go through the Calgary International Airport this summer. That's an average of 67,000 passengers a day, or "effectively the equivalent of three-and-a-half Saddledomes coming through the terminal every single day" from June to August, said Chris Miles, chief operating officer of the airport authority. The increased travel over the next three months can be chalked up to major events happening in the Calgary area this summer, including the G7, Rotary International Convention and Calgary Stampede. "Calgary is really ready to welcome the world," said Hall. The G7 leaders' summit will bring world leaders, along with thousands of delegates and journalists, to Kananaskis from June 15 to 17. One of the goals for the G7 is "highlighting what Calgary has to offer so that those delegates go back and really advocate for what Calgary has to offer," said Hall. Shortly after the G7, more than 15,000 members of the Rotary Club from around the world are set to attend the Rotary International Convention from June 21 to 25. July 4 to 13 marks the annual return of the Calgary Stampede. Last year's event set a new attendance record with 1,477,953 visits. Hall said planning for this year's busy summer at the airport has been underway since November 2024, with partners like the Canada Border Services Agency, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority and Nav Canada involved in the months-long planning process. Expect tighter airport security for G7 Guests should prepare for an increased security presence at the airport before, during and after the G7 summit, "particularly at curbside and around our roads around the airport," said Hall. "There will be absolutely zero tolerance for unattended vehicles on the curb," he said. The airport's policy on unattended vehicles is always in place, but will be subject to "enhanced enforcement" due to the G7. While there will be a noticeable increase in security, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority chief Deanna Manson said there won't be any significant impact on visitors at the Calgary airport. "We have been planning extensively with our partners and have procedures in place so that welcoming the delegates does not interfere with the average traveller coming through the airport," she said.
CTV News
03-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Added security precautions at Calgary airport amid influx of travellers to G7
Canadians appear on a "YYC" sign at Calgary International Airport in Calgary, Alta., Monday, Oct. 10, 2022. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh) Calgarians can expect to see an influx of visitors when the G7 Summit is held later this month. Though the international event will be held in nearby Kananaskis, Calgary will serve as the entry point for many travellers. 'We're preparing for an exceptionally busy summer ahead,' said Chris Miles, chief operating officer for the Calgary Airport Authority, at a Tuesday news conference. The YYC Calgary International Airport will see thousands of people pass through during the 2025 G7 Summit – which runs from June 15 to 17 – followed by the 2025 Rotary International Convention from June 21 to 25 and the 2025 Calgary Stampede from July 4 to 13. Miles says they expect the events will help contribute to a record-breaking number of travellers this summer – an estimated 5.8 million, with an average of 67,000 people per day. Increased airport security during G7 Miles says there will be an increased security presence at the airport before, during and after the G7 Summit. 'There will be absolutely zero tolerance for unattended vehicles on the curb,' Miles said. 'So that is definitely a security consideration we have at the airport, and it's a policy that we have in place all the time, but especially during events such as the G7. There will be an enhanced enforcement – and the enforcement will be swift.' Miles said there will be road closures in and around the airport, but travellers and staff working at the airport will still be able to access the building. 'There will be no stopping on our perimeter roads, and the airport tunnel will be closed June 15 to June 18 to support G7 activities,' he added. Miles said travellers will also see an increased police presence at the airport to make sure things go smoothly. 'And their sole mission is the security of the event,' he said. 'We have a dedicated Calgary Police Service at the airport. What you will see during the G7 is a very visible presence on top of that. You will see officers walking around the terminal, you will see officers in and around the perimeter of the airport.' Miles said the number of flights coming in hasn't really changed, but the ones arriving are 'very full.' 'The heads of state come in on their private aircraft, and then the rest of the delegation comes through the terminal.'
RTÉ News
02-06-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Dublin on shortlist for Rotary International Convention
Dublin has been confirmed as a finalist among a pool of four cities to host the Rotary International Convention in 2029 or 2031. If Rotary Ireland's bid is successful, the event could bring up to 20,000 visitors to Dublin. Dublin's rivals for the convention, which attracts visitors from up to 200 countries, include Barcelona, Cairo and New Delhi. The decision to provisionally nominate two cities to host the convention in 2029 and 2031 will be made in January by Rotary International's Board of Directors. Rotary Ireland District Governor Seamus Parle said the economic benefits of the convention would not be confined to Dublin, with thousands of visitors likely to combine their trip to the convention with a holiday and a longer visit to Ireland. "If our bid is successful, it will provide a huge boost to the local economy with an average of 20,000 to 30,000 hotel room nights with knock on support for bars, restaurants, retailers and tourism," Mr Parle said. "After the convention concludes we know most attendees will stay in Ireland for a holiday and visit the many attractions Ireland has to offer. This will generate substantial economic benefits for the country as a whole," he added. Rotary Ireland's bid is being supported by Fáilte Ireland's Dublin Convention Bureau. Seamus Parle said members are working extremely hard with the business community and other state agencies to secure funds through sponsorships to offset the running costs of the event, particularly the venue, which will be the RDS. "We would dearly love to host Rotary International's 119th convention in 2029 or its 121st convention in 2031. While Rotary Ireland has a very proud history of service - Dublin Rotary Club, which dates back to 1911, was the first to be established outside of North America - we have never actually hosted the International Rotary Convention," he said. Conventions run for five days and include workshop, forums, breakout sessions, and entertainment. Speakers at previous conventions have included UN General Secretary General António Guterres, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Rotary Ireland has 67 clubs and 1,500 members all over the island of Ireland. The organisation brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world's most pressing humanitarian challenges and creating lasting change. It connects 1.2 million people of action from more than 45,000 Rotary clubs in almost every country in the world.
CTV News
29-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘Sharing ideas, sharing wins': Final preparations for the 2025 Rotary International Convention underway
Co-chairs of the 2025 Rotary International Convention, Craig Stokke and Mark Starratt talk with Sydney Boll about final preparations for the five-day event beginning June 21. The 2025 Rotary International Convention kicks off June 21 and will see more than 15,000 Rotarians from 120 countries converge on Calgary for five days. Local Rotary clubs won the right to host the annual event ten years ago. 'It's been a long journey for sure,' said Craig Stokke, convention co-chair. 'You know going from sort of the planting the seed and thinking about what may be and how the city got behind it and the communities got behind Rotarians, everybody's really excited.' Stokke says it's a chance to show off Calgary to international visitors but also raise awareness locally with people in the city and surrounding area who are not familiar with Rotary. 'There's a lot of charities out there that may not know what we do,' he said. 'And there's a lot of people I think that want to give back to the community but they don't know how to do it and they don't really have an avenue so just getting that exposure about Rotary and what we do in the community, I think is really important.' Mark Starratt, convention co-chair, says the annual event is designed for participants to share ideas and talk about projects they have in the works. But at it's core it's a gathering of people with like mind who want to make a difference. 'It's about sharing projects, sharing ideas, sharing wins and how we've impacted the communities around the world,' he said. 'But at the end of the day it's about just helping our communities be better.' Starratt says Rotary has been in part of Calgary and area's community for over 100 years and it's an organization that's working along side many other great organizations to build community and to add to everyday life here. 'From seniors to youth to new immigrant populations, just the sky's the limit in terms of the rich service that we've done,' he said. 'And the convention coming to Calgary allows us to show this on an international stage.' Stokke says close to 1,500 people have signed up to volunteer for the five days of the convention. He talked to other organizers around the world who recommended that Calgary have at least 400 volunteers to help it run smoothly. 'That's not Calgary, that's not what we do,' he said. 'We want to make sure that from the time somebody gets off the plane until the time that they leave, they know they're in Calgary, they know that they're taken care of.' In the final weeks before the convention begins, Stokke says all the 'heavy lifting' has been done. 'It's the little things now that matter and making sure that we cross the T's and dot the I's and we know that we're going to put on an amazing event,' he said. Learn more about the event here.
