After work tonight I went to the monthly meeting of the Edinburgh WaterAid committee, the chair, Marianne kindly brought me a WaterAid banner and a collecting tin to use at my karaoke event on Thursday, along with some more leaflets. Much appreciated :-)
It was brought to my attention that the 22nd March is World Water Day, This International day is held as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. Tonight I got home to find a letter from the council advising me that the water in my development will be turned off until 06:30 tomorrow morning for essential work. Although an inconvenience, I was able to fill up the kitchen sink and the kettle in a matter or seconds and be safe in the knowledge that I will have clean, safe water to drink and wash until tomorrow. It did get me thinking however, about how much water the average household usually get through in a day - from showering, to washing our hands, doing the dishes and mopping the floor we use a lot water. In the developed world we take this for granted. Imagine how a mother in an under-developed country would feel when she realises how much water we waste needlessly... the tap running while we brush our teeth, that 20-minute shower because the water is hot. She walks on average 6km to get water, carries a cistern weighing a good 40 pounds when full home, and still risks the water being polluted. Aside from putting a great deal of strain on their bodies, walking such long distances keeps children out of school and women away from other endeavours that can help improve the quality of life in their communities. It doesn't have to be this way, we can make a difference. Just £70 can buy a hand pump and pay for training, to provide safe, clean water to a community whilst ensuring that it is maintained and repaired.
Every minute of every day people are suffering and lives are lost needlessly because of a lack of safe water. Please help me & WaterAid end this global crisis and transform lives today by sponsoring me at www.justgiving.com/trekforwater2013
Sx.
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