The end of water injustice

Before I launch into my passionate call for water justice in the world, let me first say (since I haven't blogged for such a long time) that I am proud to be the mother of a beautiful son as of March! And my amazing husband has been ever supportive as I have also obtained my Master's degree in August. I could blog for hours about how much I love my family, but instead let me tell you why our global family needs your support and love.

Two members of my extended family died because their water was contaminated. Unfortunately, this story is not uncommon. According to Oxfam, 4500 children die every 24 hours (every day!) because of a simple lack of clean water and a lack of sanitation education. A fact from Waterfacts.org states that when you break it down, that means a child dies every 15 seconds due to unclean water. And how many people around the world are affected? Currently, according to the UN, 1.1 billion. But that number is expected to grow as demand for water increases worldwide.

I know, you might be thinking that there are just too many problems in the world and too many issues to help solve. But did you know that the Executive Director of the United Nations Development Program said that proper water management (which translates to clean water) is crucial to meeting the Millennium Development Goals? Think about how many things water really affects. Your food. Your hygiene. Your hobbies. Your entire life revolves around water. Poverty and gender discrimination are linked to unclean water. This is a big issue, and it's not just another on the list! If we work on the world water crisis, a HUGE list of other problems will begin to be solved. Two birds with one stone, my friends.

The act of bringing clean water to someone's thirsty lips seems so simple. In some ways, it is. In other ways, the issue is made complex by corruption and other barriers. But we can break through the barriers. Let me tell you how, and then I'd like to hear your ideas.

1. Reduce your water use. I know, this might not seem like a fun suggestion. But did you know the average American INDIVIDUAL uses 145 gallons of water a day in comparison to the average African FAMILY who uses five gallons? http://www.waterfacts.org/

2. Donate to The Water Project. My page raises money specifically for the Life & Water Development Group-Cameroon's (LWDGC) water projects in Cameroon. The LWDGC brings Bio sand filtration systems into communities to reduce bacteria and other disease-ridden particles in the water by 90-95%. www.change.org/4500children

3. Work for water justice. Get a job in water justice. Some NGOs with available jobs include Corporate Accountability International and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee.

4. Join the Water Integrity Network. Begin fighting corruption in the water sector at http://www.win.org/

5. Buy the Global Corruption Report 2008. This joint effort by Transparency International and the Water Integrity Network encapsulates the issue of corruption in the water sector. Use the report to equip yourself with some invaluable knowledge! (And no, I wasn't paid to write that.)

If you'll join me in the above suggestions, together we can see the end of water injustice.