World Water Day 2014: Water for the World
Advocating for access to clean water and sanitation in the developing world
March 22nd marked World Water Day, a day in which we raise awareness about the billions of people worldwide who lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation. As part of celebrating World Water Day in the United States, hundreds of advocates from all across the country convened in Washington, DC on March 12th to meet with members of Congress to discuss the importance of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in the poorest communities worldwide. We specifically went to Capitol Hill to ask policymakers to support the Water for the World Act which clarifies how financial aid for water and sanitation will be allocated to communities most in need.
The Importance of Funding Clean Water and Sanitation
There is no substitute for water and yet access to clean, safe drinking water has not been a priority until recently when countries began to acknowledge the human right to clean water and how it impacts every aspect of a person’s life. Freshwater resources are dwindling and are becoming increasingly polluted, which places communities at great risk of water-related diseases and threatens their health and well-being. Similarly, improper or lack of sanitation infrastructure causes more polluted waters, unhygienic living conditions, and inevitably leads to disease and deaths.
Quick Facts:
· Nearly 780 million people do not have access to safe drinking water
· Roughly 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation (better than a hole in the ground) — that’s 35% of the world’s population, the poorest and most marginalized people.
· Around 700,000 children die every year from diarrhea caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation — that’s almost 2,000 children a day.
Take Action!
To protect poor communities’ health and livelihoods, investment in water and sanitation programs is absolutely critical. Enacting the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act (H.R. 2901) would direct existing funds toward communities most in need and all without increasing spending. The United States has the ability through its moral authority and exiting partnerships abroad to finance life-saving programs and can do so without burdening the U.S. taxpayers.
We have the ability to make a serious change and to provide marginalized populations the opportunity for a better life. Help out and show members of Congress that you care about providing safe drinking water and sanitation for people in need. Ask members of Congress to sponsor the Water for the World Act!
