Water: Time for Action (Blog Action Day)

I wrote this post for inclusion in Blog Action Day 2010. Thank you for reading and helping to spread the message.

A lot of my blog readers are women. If you are one of them, consider what you do all day. Think of all the things you get done. You may be caring for your family. You may have a job or run a business. You may be volunteering or advocating for change. You may be taking time for yourself to refuel or to become a better person.

But what if you couldn't do those things? According to water.org:

Glass ceilings aside, millions of women are prohibited from accomplishing little more than survival. Not because of a lack of ambition, or ability, but because of a lack of water. Millions of women and children in the developing world spend untold hours daily, collecting water from distant, often polluted sources, then return to their villages carrying their filled 40 pound jerry cans on their backs. And though women are responsible for the majority of food production in their villages, their productivity is severely limited by this constant struggle.

Millions of Women from water.org on Vimeo.

There are many things that keep women from reaching their potential, but this shouldn't be one of them.

Water: A Right and a Risk

In August, I wrote a detailed post called Water: A Right and a Risk. I talked about water being a human right.  I explained the risks that billions of people face due because of lack of access to safe drinking water or basic sanitation. I explained the risks of bottled water and the advantages of drinking tap water in a refillable stainless steel bottle instead.

In my post, I crunched the numbers and asked each of you to consider opting out of the growing bottled water industry and putting your money somewhere else instead:

Imagine how much good we could do if instead of increasing our consumption of bottled water by 7 percent each year, we found a way to decrease it by 7 percent each year? What if we took the money we would have spent on bottled water and instead donated it to water and sanitation projects in countries in need? All it should take, theoretically, is one year of reversing the trend to ensure that clean water and improved sanitation is available around the world.

Have you had an opportunity to do so? Have you remembered to take your stainless steel water bottle with you instead of buying bottled water everywhere you go? Have you thought about donating to a charity that is working to provide clean water and sanitation to people around the world?

If not, there is no time better than the present.

Make a Donation for Clean Water

There are numerous charities out there that are working hard to reverse the situation and provide clean water and sanitation to people in the developing world. Perhaps you have your favourite and that is great. For those who don't, I'll list a few here to consider:

• Water.org


• charity: water


• Ryan's Well (Canadian charity started by a child)

Give more than money: give your voice

In addition to giving money, you can also give your voice.

• Consider writing a post about water for Blog Action Day.


• Grab one of the water.org Women's Crisis videos, icons, backgrounds, banners, posters or status updates to help use your physical and virtual space to inform others about this need.


• Sign the petition in support of the UN's efforts to bring clean, safe water to millions globally and put a widget on your blog encouraging others to do so (like the one I have on the right).

Whether you donate your money, your time, or your visibility, you can make a difference. Please be part of this change.

Comments

[Joanne at Frutto della Passion]

I can't even imagine having to add the hunt for water to my already impossible day. In our family we tried an experiment, to live on 10 litres of water per day (like a resident of Madacasgar which was my son's favourite movie at the time). With that we had to wash ourselves, our clothes and everything else, drink, cook and flush. We did it for two days (Saturday and Sunday) and it was a huge wake up call.

[Crystal]

I just wanted to congratulate you for your little bit in Mothering Magazine. I hope the word of Nestle's evil practices continues to be ever farther-reaching. Thank you for what you do to speak out against evil in these troubled times and your efforts for educating others. Good work! :O)

[Amber]

This is such an important issue, and I'm glad you joined in the effort to raise awareness.

Water needs to be treated as a basic human right.

[Melanie]

Great post!

Over this past year I've sought to be more "green" in a variety of ways. One of those ways was reducing our footprint in the landfills regarding bottled water. A few months ago, I convinced my husband that purchasing a Brita pitcher would save us lots of money over purchasing bottled water and would reduce our waste (I have to start with money savings before he's interested). We also purchased stainless-steel reusable water bottles; they were just $3 at Old Navy.

It will take more people like us to get the word out to our families, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. We, as women, have so much influence we can use to better this world for everyone.

[Maman A Droit]

I really should start using a water filter pitcher. I assume our water is safe or it wouldn't be allowed to be distributed, but it tastes so digusting we can't stomach it. And I know I shouldn't complain when so many millions are dying because they lack what I disdain. But that knowledge doesn't stop my gag reflex. Any thoughts on what the best water filter pitcher or faucet mount or anything is?

[Jacob]

Of course there is the relationship between Nestle and bottled water, too. I'm just saying.