Every Day Should be World Water Day

I'm nore than a week late in observing World Water Day 2014. The day when the global community commemorates the universal right to water occurred on March 22, 2014.  This year, organizers at the United Nations selected the theme of  Water and Energy.

In 2014, the UN System – working closely with its Member States and other relevant stakeholders – is collectively 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.

This effort, of course, continues throughout the year and during the years to come. After all, the attention to global water needs should not be limited to a single day in March. So, in that spirit, I would like to declare every day as World Water Day.

While the efforts to promote and emphasize the links between water and energy are an important part of  the global effort to address poverty, the simple access to clean water for daily use is just as important.  So, as we celebrate the UN's official theme, we also underscore the many ways in which communities around the world address this need.  This video from Church World Service (produced by RippleEffectImages.org), highlights a project in Kenya.  This is the first of a series of CWS videos on water. You can watch them all in the playlist.



Life is transformed--particularly for women and girls--when a community builds a sand dam and gains ready access to safe water, with support from Church World Service.