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This sunday, 10th of July, thousands of people all over Europe will jump into rivers in order to raise awareness for the European Water Framework Directive for ecologically healthy rivers. See this map for an overview of the actions or the dedictad website from the European River Network. In Belgium cavers will participate by jumping into the Lesse and swimming a tour into the showcave of Han-sur-Lesse. More info you can find all info via UBS or Bigjump.be
"Big Jump” aims at reconciliating people with their rivers. The project will induce the citizens to reconquer their rivers and lakes and will revive the powerful links that used to bind people to these spaces. Reconciliation is an essential element to gain people's support to the big European restoration effort for rivers and wetlands, this huge project being expressed in the Water Framework Directive of the European Community.
The “Big Jump” project includes numerous actions on the main European water basins, like the organisation of a serie of transboundary swimming days on different European water basins. Educational events on the theme of water quality or river restoration are always held during these actions.
This will be the celebration of the living rivers. Everybody will swim in the rivers on the same day, at the same hour, in all the European rivers, from the sources and the glaciers to the oceans.
Big Jump is a campaign by European Rivers Network (ERN) and many partners and has been initiated by its Founder President Roberto Epple.
Background and Vision
From the oblivion...
The 20th century forgot its rivers: they served as rubbish dumps, were polluted and dangerous and their access were often forbidden.
They were used only for navigation and for the production of power. The numerous beaches and swimming spots disappeared; people turned their back to the rivers and forgot their responsibility.
Fortunately, huge efforts have been made since the 90ies for the cleaning and the restoration of rivers. The Rhine, Elbe and Loire rivers now possessed numerous spots reaching the bath water quality standards. They become
exemplary for the management of the other European river basins.
...to the revival of the way of living with rivers
Responsible citizens have understood : to respect, to live with, to restore, to give back its original space to the river, to improve the water's quality everywhere, are the new motto. This growing awareness is expressed
through the revival of the activities on and along the rivers: cycle tracks, discovery canoe tours, sporty fishing, even swimmers havebeen seen… There are the precursor signs of a new age which are also seen in big urban visionary projects as in Vienna, Berlin, Munich, Berlin, Paris, Lyon and others.
The “Big Jump” project includes numerous actions on the main European water basins, like the organisation of a serie of transboundary swimming days on different European water basins. Educational events on the theme of water quality or river restoration are always held during these actions.
This will be the celebration of the living rivers. Everybody will swim in the rivers on the same day, at the same hour, in all the European rivers, from the sources and the glaciers to the oceans.
Big Jump is a campaign by European Rivers Network (ERN) and many partners and has been initiated by its Founder President Roberto Epple.
Background and Vision
From the oblivion...
The 20th century forgot its rivers: they served as rubbish dumps, were polluted and dangerous and their access were often forbidden.
They were used only for navigation and for the production of power. The numerous beaches and swimming spots disappeared; people turned their back to the rivers and forgot their responsibility.
Fortunately, huge efforts have been made since the 90ies for the cleaning and the restoration of rivers. The Rhine, Elbe and Loire rivers now possessed numerous spots reaching the bath water quality standards. They become
exemplary for the management of the other European river basins.
...to the revival of the way of living with rivers
Responsible citizens have understood : to respect, to live with, to restore, to give back its original space to the river, to improve the water's quality everywhere, are the new motto. This growing awareness is expressed
through the revival of the activities on and along the rivers: cycle tracks, discovery canoe tours, sporty fishing, even swimmers havebeen seen… There are the precursor signs of a new age which are also seen in big urban visionary projects as in Vienna, Berlin, Munich, Berlin, Paris, Lyon and others.