World Challenge 2007, in association with Shell, is a global competition that seeks out projects and businesses that not only make a profit, but also put something back into the community.

World Challenge 2007, brought to you by BBC World and Newsweek, in association with Shell is all about rewarding individuals or groups that truly make a difference through enterprise and innovation at a grass roots level.

X PRIZE today announced registration dates and rules changes for the $2 million Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge, which will require a vehicle to simulate trips between the moon’s surface and lunar orbit.

NASA, which signed a Space Act Agreement with X PRIZE before the first year’s competition for the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge in 2006, will once again fund the prizes through its Centennial Challenges program.

Early bird registration for the 2007 competition lasts until Feb. 28. Regular registration ends March 31, and the final day for late registration is April 30.

The biggest change in the rules will permit each team to repair its spacecraft mid-mission, as long as all tools and supplies are included on the vehicle.

“Last year, teams had to fly the entire mission essentially without any repairs, but we recognize that even in actual spaceflight there is enormous value in planning for and solving for potential problems. When you are running a mission that cannot fail, preparing for mishaps is critical,” said Tom Vander Ark, president of X PRIZE. “Being able to make adjustments and repairs under pressure that allow the mission to continue is now an important part of the challenge.”

The Competition is divided into two levels. Level 1 requires a rocket to take off from a designated launch area, rocket up to 150 feet (50 meters) altitude, then hover for 90 seconds while landing precisely on a landing pad 100 meters away. The flight must then be repeated in reverse – and both flights, along with all of the necessary preparation for each, must take place within a two-and-a-half-hour period. The more difficult course, Level 2, requires the rocket to hover for twice as long before landing precisely on a simulated lunar surface, packed with craters and boulders to mimic actual lunar terrain. The hover times are calculated so that the Level 2 mission closely simulates the power needed to perform the real lunar mission.

The Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge will take place this October in New Mexico at the Wirefly X PRIZE Cup. Final date and time to be announced.

All teams must be 90 percent privately funded, have the proper permits and be able to operate safely near the large crowds expected at the Wirefly X PRIZE Cup, which is the only annual event where the entire family can see the next generation of spaceships up close and in the sky.

NASA’s Centennial Challenges program promotes technical innovation through prize competitions. The similar mission of X PRIZE is to bring about radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity using a philanthropy model based on competition. Plans to return to the moon during the next decade are driving NASA’s interest in the lunar challenge.

In 2004, the Ansari X PRIZE inspired 26 teams from seven nations to compete in building the first privately-funded spacecraft. In the process, the teams spent a combined $100 million-plus on critical research and development in an effort to win the prize. The competition proved that offering a prize is an effective, efficient and economical model for acceleration breakthroughs in science and technology. Based on that success, the X PRIZE Foundation is now expanding to offer more prizes in the space industry, as well as in the areas of health, energy, transportation and education.

Young people can be a powerful force for change! As future reformers, young people (18-30) have innovative ideas on how to solve the political, economic, and social problems facing their countries. However, they often lack the voice to bring these ideas to policymakers. Simply, young people are often regarded as recipients of reforms, not active participants in the reform process.

CIPE’s essay contest gives you the opportunity to share your ideas about citizenship, democratic and market-oriented reform, youth leadership, and the ways that your country can create avenues for youth to participate in the political and economic spheres. We encourage you to get thinking, get involved, and use your own experiences to develop concrete solutions to these development issues.

Greetings and welcome to a Changemakers Collaborative Competition that confronts corruption, around the world by "open sourcing social solutions."TM This is the 10th Changemakers collaborative competition that is building an online community to refine, support, and implement these innovative solutions.

Enter this competition by documenting your solution on the Changemakers site, where it will be reviewed by peers during the competition and judged by a panel of leading investors who will choose approximately 12 finalists.

A global community of changemakers like you will vote for three overall winners, who will each receive $5,000. The competition provides entrants with global exposure, feedback on their work, and the opportunity to connect with other social innovators.

All entries must be submitted by May 16, 2007. We encourage you to submit early entries before March 28, 2007 in order to have a chance to qualify to have your entry profiled in a magazine or journal.

Changemakers also encourages you to submit photos of your project. The best picture will be awarded a prize of $500.

We look forward to your participation in this effort to connect innovations with the resources needed to fight and eliminate corruption at all levels.

We look forward to hearing from you and connecting your innovation with investors and decision-makers.

'Coping with Water Scarcity' is the theme for World Water Day 2007, which is celebrated each year on 22 March. This year's theme highlights the increasing significance of water scarcity worldwide and the need for increased integration and cooperation to ensure sustainable, efficient and equitable management of scarce water resources, both at international and local levels.

Equity and rights, cultural and ethical issues are essential to be addressed when dealing with limited water resources. Imbalances between availability and demand, the degradation of groundwater and surface water quality, intersectoral competition, interregional and international disputes, all center around the question of how to cope with scarce water resources.