(Sr. Santana Pereira)Friends, today is World Water Day. Celebrate Or bemoan ? Electronically in the pictures water appears clean and sparkling blue. Where has the sparkle gone? Today’s event is a reminder for us all to treasure this most amazing resource. Providentially, this Sunday’s Liturgy also speaks of water bringing us to the fount of water – “Jesus”. Water is a precious resource. “Start Conserving It Now”, say the papers today! If not now, then when?
“Water is the womb of Life”. Womb is a cozy place where life is nurtured, developed and brought forth into the universe. In fact life began in water and civilizations started near water. No being – humans, animals, birds, etc can survive without water. Life comes from it. We are aware how in the villages and in the tribal belts particularly people have to walk for miles to fetch one pot of water – our little girls are involved in this warfare.
“The water level in India is going to drop to 360 cubic kilometers in 2020 as against around 550 cubic kilometers in 1997. And this we are witnessing it happen already. Earlier, we would get water at 30 feet, today 800 – 1000 and more. Where are we heading towards – our own doom.. In the cities like Mumbai we do not realize the predicament of water the others face. Let’s start becoming sensitive and conscious of the plight of the poor staying in unhygienic conditions – construction sites, garbage hills and so on… and do something personally to conserve this precious resource for our future generations.
I suggest a few things, we can find various other initiatives to conserve and preserve WATER.
As we rise every morning and take water in our palms let us utter a “Namaho Tuje”
Take only that amount of water in your glass for you to drink
When brushing teeth open the tap only when needed or use mugs
Use a bucket for bath and not the shower bath
Treat Waste Water to Enable Multiple Uses. Reuse of water is conserving water.
After washing clothes use it for toilet flushing. Also place a brick or a tightly corked bottle of water in the flush tank. You will save that much of water.
Kitchen dish-washed or veggies-washed water can be used to water plants. Here care must be taken to use minimal soap, which destroys the organisms in the soil
JUST TO TAKE YOU DOWN THE HISTORY OF THIS MEMORABLE WORLD WATER DAY
World Water Day has been observed on 22 March since 1993 when the United Nations General Assembly declared 22 March as “World Day for Water”.
Observance began in 1993 and has grown significantly ever since; for the general public to show support, it is encouraged for the public to not use their taps throughout the whole day.
The UN and its member nations devote this day to implementing UN recommendations and promoting concrete activities within their countries regarding the world’s water resources. Each year, one of various UN agencies involved in water issues takes the lead in promoting and coordinating international activities for World Water Day. Since its inception in 2003, UN-Water has been responsible for selecting the theme, messages and lead UN agency for the World Day for Water.
In addition to the UN member states, a number of NGOs promoting clean water and sustainable aquatic habitats have used World Day for Water as a time to focus public attention on the critical water issues of our era. Every three years since 1997, for instance, the World Water Council has drawn thousands to participate in its World Water Forum during the week of World Day for Water. Participating agencies and NGOs have highlighted issues such as a billion people being without access to safe water for drinking and the role of gender in family access to safe water. In 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2012 the UN World Water Development Report was launched on the occasion of the World Water Day.
Water Day, by the Years
2014 Theme: Water and Energy
Water and energy are closely interlinked and interdependent. Energy generation and transmission requires utilization of water resources, particularly for hydroelectric, nuclear, and thermal energy sources.
Conversely, about 8% of the global energy generation is used for pumping, treating and transporting water to various consumers.
In 2014, the UN is bringing its attention to the water-energy nexus, particularly addressing inequities, especially for the ‘bottom billion’ who live in slums and impoverished rural areas and survive without access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, sufficient food and energy services.
It also aims to facilitate the development of policies and crosscutting frameworks that bridge ministries and sectors, leading the way to energy security and sustainable water use in a green economy. Particular attention will be paid to identifying best practices that can make a water- and energy-efficient ‘Green Industry’ a reality.
Join us in this celebration and spread these messages:
1. Water requires energy and energy requires water.
Water is required to produce nearly all forms of energy. Energy is needed at all stages of water extraction, treatment and distribution.
2. Supplies are limited and demand is increasing.
Demand for freshwater and energy will continue to increase significantly over the coming decades. This increase will present big challenges and strain resources in nearly all regions, especially in developing and emerging economies.
3. Saving energy is saving water. Saving water is saving energy.Choices concerning the supply, distribution, price, and use of water and energy impact one another.
4. The “bottom billion” urgently needs access to both water and sanitation services, and electricity.
Worldwide, 1.3 billion people cannot access electricity, 768 million people lack access to improved water sources and 2.5 billion people have no improved sanitation. Water and energy have crucial impacts on poverty alleviation.
5. Improving water and energy efficiency is imperative as are coordinated, coherent and concerted policies.
Better understanding between the two sectors of the connections and effects on each other will improve coordination in energy and water planning, leading to reducing inefficiencies. Policy-makers, planners and practitioners can take steps to overcome the barriers that exist between their respective domains. Innovative and pragmatic national policies can lead to more efficient and cost effective provision of water and energy services.
“On World Water Day, let us pledge to develop the policies needed to ensure that sustainable water and energy are secured for the many and not just the few”.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Message for the World Water Day
2013: Water Cooperation: In December 2010, the U N General Assembly declared 2013 as the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation. Therefore, UN-Water has called upon UNESCO to lead the 2013 United Nations International Year on Water Cooperation, in particular because of the Organization’s unique multidisciplinary approach which blends the natural and social sciences, education, culture and communication. Given the intrinsic nature of water as a transversal and universal element, the United Nations International Year on Water Cooperation naturally would embrace and touch upon all these aspects.
Coordinated by UNESCO in collaboration with UNECE and UNDESA.
Official Website www.unwater.org/water-cooperation-2013
2012: Water and Food Security: The World is Thirsty Because We are Hungry Official Website www.unwater.org/worldwaterday
On the occasion of 2012 World Water Day, the ICRC is calling attention to the water-related challenges faced by civilians caught up in fighting. WaterAid partnered with Waterlogic to help raise funds for clean water and sanitation for poor communities worldwide. In participation with World Water Day 2012, Waterlogic pledged $225,000 USD to WaterAid over the course of three years.
2011: Water for Cities: Responding to the Urban Challenge
The visual identity and communication campaign is by FAO WATER, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Water section.
2010: Clean Water for a Healthy World
Official website of the World Day for Water 2010: http://www.worldwaterday2010.info/
UN-Water is dedicating World Water Day 2010 to the theme of water quality, reflecting its importance alongside quantity of the resource in water management.
Clean Water and War: in time of war the access to clean water is frequently restricted because water supply or purification systems have been destroyed, because water reserves are located in areas that have become dangerous or because of massive displacement. People ultimately resort to sources of water with a high health risk and many people contract water-borne diseases.
2009: Trans Waters
Official website of the World Day for Water 2009: http://www.unwater.org/wwd09
- UNESCO webpage on the World Day for Water: http://www.unesco.org/water/water_celebrations/
- Further information: http://www.worldwaterday.org/page/2542
On the occasion of 2009 World Day for Water, the ICRC called on governments to ensure safe water and decent sanitation for civilians in conflict zones. In many conflicts, disease kills more civilians than bullets.
2008: Sanitation
Coordinated by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The World Day for Water 2008 also coincides with the International Year of Sanitation (2008), which was organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) in collaboration with the UN-Water Task Force on Sanitation.
Official website of the World Day for Water 2008: http://www.unwater.org/wwd08
- Official website of the International Year of Sanitation: http://esa.un.org/iys/
- Further information: http://www.worldwaterday.org/page/2095
2007: Coping With Water Scarcity
2007’s theme highlighted 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.
- Official website of the World Day for Water 2007: http://www.unwater.org/wwd07
- Further information: http://www.worldwaterday.org/page/1036
2006: Water and Culture
The theme ‘Water and Culture’ of 2006 drew the attention to the fact that there are as many ways of viewing, using, and celebrating water as there are cultural traditions across the world.
Official website of the World Day for Water 2006: http://www.unesco.org/water/wwd2006/
- Further information: http://www.worldwaterday.org/page/715
2005: Water for Life 2005–2015
Coordinated by the United Nations (UN). The United Nations General Assembly at its 58th session in December 2003 agreed to proclaim the years 2005 to 2015 as the International Decade for Action, “Water for Life” (Water for Life Decade), and beginning with World Water Day, 22 March 2005.[14] The Water for Life decade set the world’s goals on “a greater focus on water-related issues, while striving to ensure the participation of women in water-related development efforts, and further cooperation at all levels to achieve water-related goals of the Millennium Declaration, Johannesburg Plan of Implementation of the World Summit for Sustainable Development and Agenda 21.”
- Official website of the International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”: http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/Further information: http://www.worldwaterday.org/wwday/2005
2004: Water and Disasters
The message of the Day was: Weather, climate and water resources can have a devastating impact on socio-economic development and on the well-being of humankind. According to the World Meteorological Organization, weather and climate-related extreme events, such as tornadoes, thunderstorms, storms, cyclones, floods and drought, account for nearly 75 per cent of all disasters. They lead to an enormous toll of human suffering, loss of life and economic damage. Monitoring these events, predicting their movements and issuing timely warnings are essential to mitigate the disastrous impact of such events on population and economy. Further information: http://www.worldwaterday.org/wwday/2004/
2003: Water for Future
It called on each one of us to maintain and improve the quality and quantity of fresh water available to future generations. The goal was to inspire political and community action and encourage greater global understanding of the need for more responsible water use and conservation.
Further information: http://www.worldwaterday.org/wwday/2003/
2002: Water for Development
This carried the message that the poor and deteriorating state of water resources in many parts of the world demand integrated water resources planning and management.
Official website for the World Day for Water 2002: http://waterday2002.iaea.org/
- Further information: http://www.worldwaterday.org/wwday/2002/
2001: Water for Health
The message for the day was: “Concrete efforts are necessary to provide clean drinking water and improve health as well as to increase awareness world-wide of the problems and of the solutions. 22 March is a unique occasion to remind everybody that solutions are possible. Use the resources on this site to help turn words into political commitment and action.
Official website of the World Day for Water 2001: http://www.worldwaterday.org/wwday/2001/
2000: Water for the 21st century
Further information: http://www.worldwaterday.org/wwday/2000/
1999: Everyone Lives Downstream
The 1999 World Water Day’s primary message is that when it comes to using freshwater, human beings, whether they live in a village or a megacity, cannot isolate themselves from their neighbours. Rather, there are fundamental linkages and dependencies between water users and uses in a given drainage basin that affect everyone in that basin.
Official website of the World Day for Water 1999: http://www.worldwaterday.org/wwday/1999/
1998: Groundwater – The Invisible Resource
Nearly half of the world’s population depends on groundwater sources for drinking water supply and for other uses. The UN is concerned about three primary gaps in groundwater management which have enormous implications for sustainable development: (1) The accelerated degradation of groundwater systems, through pollution of aquifers. (2) The lack of both professional and public awareness about the sustainable use and economic importance of groundwater resources generally. (3) The economic implications of not resolving groundwater demand and supply management. Official website of the World Day on Water 1998: http://www.worldwaterday.org/wwday/1998/
1997: The World’s Water: Is there enough?
The message for the World Day for Water 1997 was that water is a basic requirement for all life, yet water resources are facing more and more demands from and competition among users.
1996: Water for Thirsty Cities
World Day for Water 1996 emphasized the growing water crisis faced by cities across the world which threatens the sustainability of their social and economic development.
1995: Women and Water
1994: Caring for our Water Resources is Everybody’s Business