Every time you see or use water, remember it is a gift of God. Learn to develop a reverential attitude to this vital liquid. It is not just a commodity or object but rather “our sister”. By developing a contemplative gaze we are led to the Creator through creatures: “All praise be Yours, my Lord, through Sister Water, so useful, lowly, precious, and pure.”
WORLD WATER DAY- 22 march
PROTECTING AND PRESERVING WATER
A Few Things You can Do…
CONTEMPLATE…
- Every time you see or use water, remember it is a gift of God. Learn to develop a reverential attitude to this vital liquid. It is not just a commodity or object but rather “our sister”. By developing a contemplative gaze we are led to the Creator through creatures: “All praise be Yours, my Lord, through Sister Water, so useful, lowly, precious, and pure.”
- Water is life – life for the poor – life for the world.
LEARN
- Be an advocate and defender of “water for all” as a Human Right. Develop a critical consciousness. Be wary of recommendations that take responsibility away from local and national governments on water issues and hand them over to private companies, especially multi-nationals.
- Involve civic society in planning and implementing strategies to defend and preserve water.
- Learn from communities who have successfully resolved problems relating to water.
- Find out who owns the companies of bottled water sold where you live.
CONSERVE
- Think of some ways you can conserve water in your home. E.g., fix leaky faucets/taps, limit lawn watering and long showers and support alternative methods of sewage management (dry sanitation).
- Revive water harvesting techniques (traditional knowledge and practices), protect the watershed by encouraging forestry programmes and campaigns to plant trees.
- Build awareness concerning the importance of healthy grasslands, farm lands, wetlands and woodlands; it is the best insurance against water scarcity.
DEFEND
- The rights of local communities to manage their water resources. Question critically the liberalization and commercialisation of services for water and sanitation.
- Advocacy at local, national and international levels.
- i. Find out how water is managed in your country, region or town;
- ii. Find out what the water and sanitation policy is in your local area and in your country. Pay particular attention to what your government position is on the GATS negotiations;
- iii. consult reputable NGOs or other experts for this information and; iv) work with them to defend basic rights to water and sanitation.
- Advocacy in developed countries: target the national Ministers for Trade and the European Commission for Trade to defend in clear language at the GATS negotiations the exclusion of the access to household water and basic sanitation services from the renegotiated GATS agreement.
- Limit the use of lawn fertilizers, and be sure to use only phosphorus-free fertilizers. Most lawns already have all the phosphorus they need.
CHANGE
- Become an educated consumer! Buy recycled, environmentally friendly products.
- Personal Conversion: Choose one activity you can personally commit yourself to do and another with your community. Evaluate this at some future date.
- Structural Conversion: Support some campaign either nationally or internationally that is working to ensure a just legal framework for the protection of and access to water and/or sanitation facilities. Evaluate this at some future date.
- Change your daily habits and help reduce water pollution and water use. Drive less and bike, walk or carpool more to help reduce the production of toxic air pollutants that cause acid rain.
- Always take a shower rather than a bath – if under five minutes you can save up to a 1000 gallons per month. Don't clean your teeth with the water running – you can save four gallons per minute - and whenever you use water, use less.
- Turn down your water heater temperature and your home thermostat to reduce energy use and help curb pollutants that cause acid rain.
- Share your knowledge and activities with others!
Document, JPIC