The Executive Committee of ECRL agreed in its meeting in November 2011 to join the other bodies of Religions for Peace in Europe to pay particular attention to water as a challenge to the wellbeing of humanity and Mother Earth.
WATER IS LIFE
The Executive Committee of ECRL agreed in its meeting in November 2011 to join the other bodies of Religions for Peace in Europe to pay particular attention to water as a challenge to the wellbeing of humanity and Mother Earth.
Water is important in the practices and beliefs of most religions; water manifests itself in different ways in our religious traditions. http://www.africanwater.org/religion.htm .
Water is a fundamental building block of life. Without water there is no life. Water challenges human existence in different ways: too little and too much, lack of clean water, water as a right – or as a commercial commodity, water as fundamental requirement for food production, salt water – fresh water, water management as contributing to conflict or harmony…
The United Nations has been seized by water and has instituted the World Water Day, which in 2012 is 22 March. As a modest start of our water engagement we encourage you to join together on national level in marking World Water Day.
World Water Day 2012 focuses on Water and Food Security (http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday).
When a billion people in the world already live in chronic hunger and water resources are under pressure we cannot pretend the problem is ‘elsewhere’.
Most of us have little knowledge of how much water is needed to produce our every-day food, starting with the 140 litres of water needed for our morning cup of coffee, and 40 litres for one slice of bread. 1,500 litres of water are needed to produce one kilogram of grain, while a beef steak requires 7,000 litres!
ECRL will attempt to address water in ways that are in line with who we are. Strategies for reflection and action will be developed, inviting ideas from Council members and other Religions for Peace bodies in Europe.
We encourage you to take some action around the World Water Day, with the following objectives:
- Raise awareness of the significance of water in your own and other religious traditions
- Increase knowledge about the linkage between water and the food dishes on our table
- Support actions that preserve water as a right for all, and that can secure sufficient water for responsible food production.
Wishes for a constructive engagement in World Water Day
Mª Angeles Murcia
Member of ECRL
General Bursar