Today is World Water Day.
I haven't seen or heard anything about it from Bloggers Unite, but I am going to blog about it anyway.
World Water Day is the official UN-designated day dedicated to water issues. It's a key date to champion the right of people everywhere to affordable, safe drinking water, close to home.
Why are good water supplies important?
Because... Clean water reduces the spread of diarrheal diseases that kill 5,000 children a day.
Because... Accessible water supplies mean women can spend time working to earn money or caring for their families, rather than walking for hours in search of water.
Because... Sufficient water supplies mean there is water available for washing and watering gardens, as well as drinking and cooking.
There’s lots you can do to become a WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) champion! Learn more, share what you learn with others, and support organizations like WaterAid, that exist to help the world's most vulnerable communities gain access to clean water and sanitation, close to their homes.
Make a donation online
Visit the official UN World Water Day website
Sign our petition asking Congress to combat global poverty
Take part in the Walk for Water in Zeeland, MI
Organize your own World Water Day Walk for Water
Organize your friends into a community of WASH champions by starting a giving circle using an online personal fundraising page
Visit our display at the American Museum of Natural History's Water Resource Fair in New York
Spread the word about our work:
Declare your commitment by joining our Facebook group
Keep current by following us on Twitter and retweeting our tweets
Become our friend on MySpace and leave a message
Watch and rate our YouTube videos
Post a WaterAid America banner on your website or profile
Sign up for our enews and forward it to your friends
Download the WaterAid iGoogle theme
Here is the information about the picture at the top of this post:
"I used to draw water from the Lisanjala River. I used to go four times a day with all the children. There were lots of problems from the water. Children and parents would get sick from the diarrhea and we’d frequently go to the hospital which is 17 kilometers away. It was taking too long to get to the hospital.
"It was difficult before the [new] water [point], we were unable to grow vegetables because the water was not close. We didn’t have adequate food. We would grow cassava in the fields to sell for clothes, food and soap. But we didn’t have enough food to eat.
"We have had our [water] connection recently and we have been growing vegetables to eat instead of buying them.
"Since the water came our lives have changed. We are able to concentrate on our families and the children are not getting sick any more so we are saving time and being more productive.
"The time is being used to farm, look after children, and bathe."
Photo: WaterAid / Layton Thompson
