{"id":4568,"date":"2018-07-10T01:13:23","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T23:13:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/?p=4568"},"modified":"2019-03-14T14:44:39","modified_gmt":"2019-03-14T13:44:39","slug":"big-jump-2018-citoyens-de-18-pays-de-leurope-plongent-dans-les-rivieres-pr-ern-wwf-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/fr\/big-jump-2018-citoyens-de-18-pays-de-leurope-plongent-dans-les-rivieres-pr-ern-wwf-english\/","title":{"rendered":"Big Jump 2018 : Citoyens de 18 pays de l\u2019Europe plongent dans les rivi\u00e8res (PR ERN\/WWF-english)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Citoyens de 18 pays de l\u2019Europe plongent dans les rivi\u00e8res et lacs pour la protection de l\u2019eau (PM ERN\/WWF en anglais)<\/h1>\n<\/header>\n
\n

Disponible uniquement en ANGLAIS<\/p>\n

ERN \/ WWF Press release Monday 9 July \u2013 10.30am<\/b><\/p>\n

Citizens jumping in rivers & lakes across 18 European countries to protect the future of our waters<\/b><\/p>\n

Yesterday, thousands of people across Europe jumped into rivers, streams and lakes in more than 160 European \u2018Big Jump\u2019 events. Groups of families and friends were jumping to make a statement and protect our rivers and lakes, and to show that Member States must follow the positive spirit of the EU water law which they committed to: \u201cWater is not a commercial product like any other but, rather, a heritage which must be protected, defended and treated as such\u201d, as stated in the introduction of the EU Water Framework Directive.<\/p>\n

The public engagement event saw people jumping, diving, wading, kayaking in 18 European countries from Spain to Poland. The Big Jump is an annual event founded by European Rivers Network that has taken place since 2002. WWF offices across Europe organised 48 Big Jump events, and used this occasion to kickstart its #ProtectWater campaign to save the EU Water Framework Directive, a crucial legal instrument to protect Europe\u2019s freshwater ecosystems.<\/p>\n

A landmark policy to its core, the Water Framework Directive recognises that, if we are to secure a sufficient supply of good quality water in the future, we must conserve our freshwater ecosystems. \u201cThis Big Jump has shown that people love rivers and lakes. It is a place of pleasure, joy and fun. The abundance of wildlife makes these ecosystems a special place for our threatened nature. However, it is very worrying that Member States have been skirting around their legal commitments under EU water laws for the majority of the past two decades. It is high time to understand that water is the base of all life on earth and not a commercial product like any other,\u201d says Andreas Baum\u00fcller, Head of Natural Resources at WWF\u2019s European Policy Office.<\/p>\n

\u201cSunday was a fun day out in places that people love but with a serious purpose: Europe\u2019s leaders must do more to protect our wonderful waterways,\u201d stated Roberto Epple, founder of the Big Jump and chair of European Rivers Network.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

NOTES TO THE EDITOR<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Facts about the Big Jump<\/b><\/p>\n

Founded by the European Rivers Network in 2002, the Big Jump is an open source event that aims to remind people of how valuable Europe\u2019s rivers, lakes and wetlands are. The Big Jump seeks to inspire people to remember the powerful ties that bind them to freshwater ecosystems, and encourage them to join the fight to save them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Since 2002, around 200,000 people have taken part before in over 2000 events.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Facts about the WFD<\/b><\/p>\n

By restoring people\u2019s connection to rivers and lakes, the Big Jump seeks to build support for efforts to protect and restore Europe\u2019s freshwater systems \u2013 the goal of the EU\u2019s world-leading Water Framework Directive (WFD). This directive is now under review and the Big Jump 2018 sent a clear message to the continent\u2019s decision-makers to not weaken these laws, but to implement them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n