Monday, March 22 is designated as World Water Day by the United Nations as an annual event focusing on the importance of freshwater to make us aware of the importance of water resources. World Water Day celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water. The 2021 theme of World Water Day is the theme is valuing water. Under the theme of valuing water, the 2021 campaign is generating a global, public conversation on social media about how people value water for all its uses. The aim is to create a more comprehensive understanding of how water is valued by different people in different contexts so we can safeguard this precious resource for everyone. Referencing the World Water Day site, In the lead-up to 22 March, people and organizations host World Water Day events and participate in the global public campaign, launched in the preceding months by UN-Water on https://www.worldwaterday.org/ The central narrative of the campaign is designed to encourage people to contribute their stories, thoughts and experiences on the value of water. A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.
Water means different things to different people. How is water important to your home and family life, your livelihood, your cultural practices, your wellbeing, your local environment? In households, schools and workplaces, water can mean health, hygiene, dignity and productivity. Today, water is under extreme threat from a growing population, increasing demands of agriculture and industry, and the worsening impacts of climate change.
In cultural, religious and spiritual places, water can mean a connection with creation, community and oneself. According to Rotary February 26, 2020 WASRAG Newsletter “Water insecurity is increasing worldwide. 36% of the world’s people live in water-scarce regions. On average, droughts affect over 50 million people annually and cause more than $5 billion of damage. These numbers are set to increase, due to population growth, rapid urbanization, and growing economic demands for water. Climate change further intensifies these pressures in many regions. In most cases, these threats are not just the result of weather variability but are also related to inadequate water management and governance issues. These dynamics render societies more vulnerable to short term water scarcity and longer-term droughts, while directly affecting local economies and social relations.”
Humans need water to survive, as do all the systems we rely on, sanitation, healthcare, education, business and industry. Action plans to tackle climate change need to be integrated across different sectors and coordinated across borders. And they must have one thing in common: safe and sustainable water management.
What can we do as Rotarians? Our District 5580 has completed many International projects developing water resources for needy communities. We continue to look to help needy communities with water and sanitation projects around the world. Please let us know if your club would like to get involved or participate in help funding these projects, or has any suggestions for other water and sanitation projects around the world.
Karl Everett
District 5580 Water and Sanitation Chair
Reference: UN-Water on https://www.worldwaterday.org/
Photo Credit: Karl Everett