2013 Summary Report
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2013 Summary Report
Table of Contents
2013: The International Year of Water Cooperation…………………….page 1
Advocacy………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….page 2
Learning Events………………………………………………………………………………………………………..page 2
Runs and Walks for WASH……….…………………………………………………………………………page 4
High Level Events, Galas, and Fundraisers………………………..………………….page 5
Social Media and Multi-Media…………………………..……………………..………………….page 7
2013 Website Coverage………………………………………….……………………..………………….page 9
2013 Notable Tweets………………………………………………….……………………..………………….page 23
2013 News Media Coverage……………………………….……………………..………………….page 35
For more information, contact Cecilia Snyder
[email protected] 202-293-4003
1
2013: The International Year of Water Cooperation
World Water Day was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED) as an international day to celebrate freshwater.
The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating March 22, 1993 as the
first World Water Day.
This year marked the 20th anniversary of the event, and
the United Nations called 2013 the International Year of
Water Cooperation. The goals are to:
Raise awareness on the importance, benefits and
challenges of water cooperation;
Enhance knowledge and develop capacity for water
cooperation;
Spark concrete and innovative action towards water
cooperation;
Foster partnerships, dialogue and cooperation around water as a top priority, during
and beyond 2013; and
Strengthen international cooperation among institutions, users, social and economic
sectors and others in order to reach a consensus on Sustainable Development Goals
for the post-2015 era which will effectively address our future water needs.
Around the world, there was a tremendous increase in the breadth and scope of activities
raising awareness about the global water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) challenge.
Hundreds of thousands of people planned, monitored, promoted, and participated in events
ranging from simple field trips, to university learning events, to celebrity galas – all in the
hopes of inspiring more to learn about the WASH crisis and support its solutions.
Below is a snapshot of events that took place in March and April 2013 across the United
States. It is clear that WASH is important to Americans and they are working hard to
address the challenge. The activities highlighted represent only a fraction of the work that
happens all year long across the country.
To see a map of WASH work being done in all 50 states, go to: Mapping the Effort:
Americans Working for WASH.
For more information, contact Cecilia Snyder
[email protected] 202-293-4003
2
Advocacy
In addition to celebrating World Water Day and continuing to share ideas, Americans
brought their WASH solutions to policymakers and advocated for more action to address
the global water and sanitation crisis. On March 15, Tetra Tech partnered with Drop in
the Bucket to host a student tour of the Ground Water Replenishment System Facility in
Fountain Valley, California. Ryan Holmes, a District Representative for the office of
Congress Edward Royce also attended the event and spoke on behalf of Congressman
Royce in support of WASH initiatives.
On March 20, hundreds of supporters from around the U.S.
gathered in Capitol Hill to educate Congress on international
water issues and build support for the Senator Paul Simon
Water for the World Act of 2013. One hundred and fifty
citizens passionate about WASH had almost 90 meetings
with congressional staff. Representative Earl
Blumenauer and Representative Ted Poe spoke at the
reception later that evening, embodying the bipartisan
support for U.S. leadership on WASH. Due to the efforts of
H2O for Life, more than 30 high school students also
participated in the advocacy meetings and evening event.
On April 19, USAID unveiled its first ever Water and Development Strategy for 2013-
2018. The strategy provides increased focus for USAID’s water programs, emphasizing
approaches that are sustainable, well-targeted, informed by past effort, work through host
country systems, and use emerging science and technology. Once implemented, this
strategy will increase both the amount and the effectiveness of foreign assistance in the
safe drinking water and sanitation sector, and serve as an important benchmark going
forward for how the U.S. targets its foreign aid.
Learning Events
Many events leading up to and building from the momentum of World Water Day furthered
the dialogue and expertise on WASH. Events brought together experts from government,
the private sector and civil society to discuss important issues related to WASH.
For more information, contact Cecilia Snyder
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3
On March 11-12, The 2013 WASH Sustainability Forum was held at the World Bank in
Washington, DC. More than 150 representatives from governments, civil society,
corporations and foundations from 14 countries met at the to discuss sustainability of
WASH services around the world through partnerships. The two-day event included
discussions on government collaboration as well as breakout groups for civil society, donors,
and government to discuss how they can support sustainability in their work. Participants
are continuing the discussion on sustainableWASH.org for implementers, and
WASHfunders.org for donors. Follow-up will also include webinars and a session at the
2013 UNC Water and Health Conference on October 14-18, 2013.
On March 19-20, the conversation moved to Boulder, Colorado for the Colorado WASH
Symposium hosted at CU-Bolder. The symposium drew together more than 130 students,
faculty and researchers, Coloradan nonprofits, and internationally prominent
development practitioners engaged in the WASH sector. The two-day event aimed to
provide a platform for enlightening, encouraging and challenging discussions about global
WASH issues and solutions. The event not only sparked constructive debate, but also
helped create momentum to strengthen the WASH community in Colorado.
Expert discussions on WASH continued into April. “Water: Ripple Effects” was the
theme of Southern Methodist University’s International Humanities Week (April 6-12,
2013). On April 9, WASH Advocates, the Hunter and Stephanie Hunt Institute for
Engineering and Humanity, Southern Methodist University’s Lyle School of Engineering,
and the Bush Institute hosted a panel, “Women and WASH.” The event was moderated by
Ben Mann of WASH Advocates. Panelists included Gary Edson of the Bush Institute,
Katherine Bliss of Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Tanvi Nagpal of
Johns Hopkins SAIS School, Vanessa Tobin of Catholic Relief Services, and Katie Spotz
– noted adventurer and advocate for safe water. About 100 people attended in person and
hundreds more participated virtually on the webcast and via Twitter, using the hashtag
#askWASH.
In cooperation with SMU, Emory University held a World
Water Day Panel Event, “Water, Sanitation, and
Hygiene: Transforming Lives” in Atlanta on April 9.
The event was moderated by Jeffrey P. Koplan, Vice
President for Global Health at Emory University and
former Director of the CDC, with panelists Christine
Moe, Director of the Center for Global Safe Water at
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Emory University; David Addiss, Director of the Children Without Worms Program at the
Task Force for Global Health; and Lourdes Mindreau, Program Coordinator of Integrated
Water Resources Management at CARE Peru. Almost 100 people attended in person and
hundreds more participated virtually on the webcast and via Twitter, using the hashtag
#askWASH.
Rounding out the expert discussions around World Water Day was a high-level panel at the
World Bank on April 19. Held in conjunction with the World Bank-IMF 2013 Spring
Meetings, “A Matter of Life: Investing in Sanitation” focused on the economics and
politics of sanitation and was moderated by Jaehyang So, Manager of the Water and
Sanitation Program. The panelists featured UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson,
UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake, World Bank Group Vice President of
Sustainable Development Rachel Kyte, and American Standard Vice President Jim
McHale. Panelists also took questions from the audience and via the Twitter hashtag
#WBlive
Runs and Walks for WASH
Solutions to the WASH crisis are accessible to everyone,
including children and young adults. In Las Vegas on March
16, families participated in the 12th Annual “Run Away with
Cirque du Soleil” 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk with all
proceeds going to the Springs Preserve, a natural park and
cultural center devoted to commemorating the history of Las
Vegas and promoting sustainability. In total, 1,375 runners
and walkers took part in the event, raising over $45,000 to
support the Springs Preserve education and environmental
sustainability programs. The event kicked off a week of
fundraising and awareness raising activities for World Water
Day organized by ONE DROP. The Mayor of Las Vegas,
Carolyn Goodman, signaled the start of the race and 120
Cirque du Soleil employees were on hand in full costume to
cheer participants on.
For more information, contact Cecilia Snyder
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5
The World Walks for Water and Sanitation is a global event demanding action to
address the world's water and sanitation crisis. From March 16-24, almost 400,000
people across the globe participated in local walks to demand political change. Walkers
called on their politicians to stick to the commitments they have made to end the sanitation
and water crisis. Decision makers have made promises locally, nationally, regionally, and
globally to get safe drinking water and sanitation to the world's poorest countries and
communities.
On March 23, Radio Disney, in collaboration with Drop in
the Bucket and Tetra Tech, hosted a booth at the El
Segundo Run for Education in El Segundo, California. More
than 1,500 people attended the run and many of them signed
a pledge to drink only tap water for a week. Radio Disney also
organized water-themed games for kids to play.
On April 22 (Earth Day), almost 300 people participated in
the U.S. State Department’s annual 6K Walk for Water in
Washington, DC. The event was kicked off with remarks by
Under Secretary of State for Management Patrick Kennedy. Free water bottles were
provided by The World Wildlife Fund and DC Water, and featured awareness-raising
stickers from WASH Advocates. Tap water was provided by the Embassy of Sweden.
High-Level Events, Galas, and Fundraisers
Americans also showed their passion about WASH by attending galas and fundraisers in
honor of World Water Day.
On March 21, Drop in the Bucket hosted a “Cocktails For Causes World Water Day
Event” at the W Hotel in Los Angeles. Also on March 21, the U.S. Water Partnership
celebrated their First Anniversary and World Water Day with a reception featuring keynote
remarks from Dr. John Holdren, the President’s Science Advisor and Director of the
Office of Science and Technology Policy and Robert Bailey, President of CH2M Hill Water.
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On March 21, the UN Foundation marked the eve of World Water Day by hosting a
luncheon discussion at the Harvard Club in New York City. UN Deputy Secretary-
General Jan Eliasson led the effort to launch a call to action on sanitation and the
beginning of a reinvigorated effort to achieve the MDG 7c target on water and sanitation by
expanding access to basic sanitation, improving hygiene, eliminating open defecation, and
promoting safe management and reuse of human waste and waste-water. On World Water
Day, March 22, the President of the General Assembly convened a High-Level
Interactive Dialogue on Water Cooperation at the UN Headquarters in New York
City. Representatives of Member States, the United Nations system and civil society
participated in the event. John Oldfield, CEO of WASH Advocates and Kate Norgrove,
Head of Campaigns at WaterAid, both delivered remarks on behalf of civil society.
On World Water Day, March 22, in Las Vegas, the World
Bank participated in One Night for ONE DROP, a one-time
only production imagined by Cirque du Soleil. The other seven
Cirque du Soleil shows went dark that day to focus attention on
the show, presented in the “O” theatre at the Bellagio. This
fundraising event, featuring more than 230 artists and guests
performers, was the largest gathering of Cirque du Soleil
performers ever on one stage. Together with the One Week for
ONE DROP, Cirque’s World Water Day initiatives raised $5.3
million to fund ONE DROP programs worldwide.
In an Earth Day (April 22) ceremony at National Geographic Headquarters, in
Washington DC, the U.S. Water Alliance presented its U.S. Water Prize to three
winners: MillerCoors, The Freshwater Trust, and Onondaga County (NY). The
Honorable William K. Reilly (U.S. EPA Administrator 1989-93) addressed the audience of
300 environmental leaders gathered to honor the awardees, recounting environmental
challenges over the years and the growing need for innovative solutions.
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During the month of April, Aveda’s fundraising efforts
focused this year on clean water. A “Catwalk for Clean
Water” fundraising fashion show was held on April 28 in
several states, including Florida, Minneapolis, Oregon, and
Texas. A staple of each year’s campaign is a limited-edition
“Light the Way” candle. Aveda donated 100 percent of the
sale price to the Global Greengrants Fund to support
clean-water projects in communities around the globe. This
year, the “Light The Way” candle purchases exceeded $6
million.
Social Media and Multi-Media
In addition to sharing their WASH passion and solutions in person, Americans leveraged
the power of social media to connect and spread the word about WASH. On March 21,
USAID’s Global Water Coordinator Christian Holmes introduced the global water
problem and discussed the Agency's upcoming release of the Water Strategy during a
Webinar, “Strengthening Water Resource Management through Cooperation and
Multilateral Collaboration.”
On March 21, the World Bank presented a video, “Let’s Talk About Water,” featuring
experts from the World Bank, U.S. State Department, and WASH Advocates.
On March 22, YouTube Star Justine Ezarik moderated a World Water Day Google
Hangout. More than 400 participants discussed global water and sanitation issues. The
Hangout featured charity: water, Water.org, Water For People, WaterAid, People Water,
and Whole World Water.
WASH Advocates, Water For People, and CARE were featured in a live USAID Twitterfest
on March 22 to discuss the water-food security nexus. About 140 people participated in a
lively discussion using the hashtag #AskAg
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Throughout March, the UNICEF Tap Project
gave activists a way to provide clean drinking
water via a Facebook application. The campaign
hoped to raise $1 million this year; last year it
raised close to $1 million. Giorgio Armani
Fragrances also pledged to donate at least
$500,000 to the campaign this year; this will go
toward the $1 million goal.
On and around World Water Day, hundreds of celebrities and companies tweeted their
support to millions of followers using the hashtag #WorldWaterDay. Local and
International news media reported substantive articles about the global water crisis and its
solutions. In addition, hundreds of organizations and companies featured World Water Day
on their website. For a summary of this coverage, please see the following sections, “2013
Website Coverage,” “2013 Notable Tweets,” and “2013 News Media Coverage.”
For more information, contact Cecilia Snyder
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USAID has 226,708 followers.
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NBA has 6,849, 624 followers
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Robbie Williams has 1,787,860 followers
Monsanto has 24,519 followers
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Kristen Bell has 1,027,896 followers
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Jaime Oliver has 3,173,906 followers
Coldplay has 9,894,686 followers
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Mike Tyson has 3,637,079 followers
Greenpeace has 674,764 followers
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Jessica Biel has 286,582 followers
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Jack Dorsey (creator of Twitter) has 2,267,232 followers
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2013 News Media Coverage
For more information, contact Cecilia Snyder
[email protected] 202-293-4003
35
In this photo taken Wednesday, March 20, 2013, a girl transfers water to containers after fetching it from a lake in Dala Township, 9 miles south of Yangon, Myanmar. / AP Photo
World Water Day: Why it matters
By Shoshana Davis / CBS News/ March 22, 2013, 6:00 AM
With much of the Earth's surface covered in water, 70 percent to be exact, it's hard to imagine
that there could ever be a problem with water shortages, much less such scarcity that a global
security issue has been shaped.
According to the United Nations, 783 million people do not have access to clean water, almost
2.5 billion do not have access to adequate sanitation, and 6 to 8 million people die annually from
the consequences of disasters and water-related disease.
The murky status of fresh water
This is not a new concern. In 1992, the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development recommended an international day to bring attention to the threat to freshwater,
and to promote sustainable management of the many freshwater resources. By the next year, the
United Nations General Assembly designated March 22, 1993 as the first ever World Water Day.
For more information, contact Cecilia Snyder
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Twenty years later, on Friday's World Water Day 2013, the threat to the world's water supply is
still grim, so much so, that the United Nations called 2013 the International Year of Water
Cooperation. The goal is to understand that water sources cut through political boundaries and
country lines making it vital that people work together to create a plan, and around 450
agreements on international water rights were signed between 1820 and 2007.
In a 2012 report by the United States Office of the Director
of National Intelligence, it was predicted that in the next ten
years, water problems will influence the stability of
countries that impact the national security of the United
Sates of America.
They believe that while water shortages alone will not lead
to major issues, when combined with "poverty, social
tensions, environmental degradation, ineffectual leadership,
and weak political institutions," water scarcity can "contribute to social disruptions that can
result in state failure."
"Between now and 2040, fresh water availability will not keep up with demand absent more
effective management of water resources," the report said. "Water problems will hinder the
ability of key countries to produce food and generate energy, posing a risk to global food
markets and hobbling economic growth."
They suggested that the best way to prevent more damage to the world's water supply was to
help create ways to reduce the amount of water needed for agriculture production. That industry
consumes 70 percent of the fresh water resources.
There is also a gender gap in the struggle to provide fresh drinking water to remote areas in need.
In most developing countries the burden of finding clean water for both consumption and daily
domestic chores falls on the shoulders of the female members of the family unit.
This fact was made evident in a 2010 report from the Joint Monitoring Program for Water
Supper and Sanitation:
"For families without a drinking-water source on the premises, it is usually women who go to the
source to collect drinking water. Surveys from 45 developing countries show that this is the case
in almost two thirds of households, while in almost a quarter of households it is men who usually
collect the water. In 12 percent of households, however, children carry the main responsibility
for collecting water, with girls under 15 years of age being twice as likely to carry this
responsibility as boys under the age of 15 years."
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What about ocean water?
On Monday, government contractor Lockheed Martin announced that they have come up with a
way to bring down the amount of energy needed to make salt water drinkable. This new process
would make it much cheaper to generate filtered ocean water. About 97 percent of the water on
the Earth is salt water, so this project would be crucial in helping the world's population have
access to drinking water.
The company was awarded the patent for Perforene, which is their molecular filtration solution
used to clean up sea water.
"Access to clean drinking water is going to become more critical as the global population
continues to grow, and we believe that this simple and affordable solution will be a game-
changer for the industry," said Dr. Ray O. Johnson, senior vice president and chief technology
officer of Lockheed Martin in a statement.
The material works by removing sodium, chlorine and other ions from sea water and other
sources. It was developed by puncturing a graphene membrane. The holes were so small -- one
nanometer or less -- that they are tiny enough to trap the toxins, but big enough to improve the
flow of water molecules.
The graphene itself, is only one atom thick, but is able to be created at a small portion of the cost
of industry standard systems.
Nuts and bolts of better behavior
There are many things that everyone, not just large companies can do to help.
"One idea could be rethinking how you use cleaning products and how some chemicals you are
using in your household that go down the drain are affecting your waterways, environmental
advocate Philippe Cousteau Jr. told CBS News in an email.
Cousteau is the founder of EarthEcho International and created the non-profit organization with
his mother and sister in honor of his father, Philippe Cousteau Sr., famous son of the legendary
explorer Jacques Yves Cousteau.
"Take your morning routine for example: when you get up in the morning and brush your teeth
and take a shower, how are you using water and what products are you using? When you walk
your dog, how do you dispose of its waste? All this helps keep our water sources clean. You're
making a difference in helping keep our water sources clean even before starting your day,"
Cousteau said.
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All these factors put together is your water footprint. Most people recognize that taking a really
long shower, or obsessively flushing the toilet can have an impact on our globe's water supply.
But, did you know if you drink tea instead of coffee it can make a difference?
Every food we eat, and produce we buy has a water footprint and an impact. Something that you
do, such as use a lot of water for your garden, is a direct imprint, and purchasing food which
needed a lot of water to produce, is an indirect footprint.
"All of us, when we eat food, wear clothing or drive a car, are linked to rivers around the world
where these crops are grown or products manufactured. The water footprint helps us understand
that all the products we consume use water and they contribute to the growing problems of water
scarcity and water pollution. We each can take steps to improve the health of rivers and local
communities by reducing our own water footprint, " said Ruth Mathews, executive director of
the Water Footprint Network in an email to CBS News.
Solutions in play
There are many charity organizations like Waves for Water, charity: water and Matt Damon's
water.org that provide opportunities to help in areas outside of your community. Charities such
as these work to raise money to finance direct help to people in developing countries who need
bathrooms and clean drinking water, and to provide funding to create long term solutions. Waves
for Water, in particular, an organization started by surfer Jon Rose, takes already existing water
filters and brings them into places that need those tools.
Even kids can get involved, many organizations, such as
Cousteau's EarthEcho are geared towards teaching young
people how to help keep our water clean, so they grow up
knowing the impact of their actions.
As the global population grows, an estimated 2-3 billion
people over the next 40 years, combined with changing
diets, the United Nations predicts an increase of 70 percent
in food demand by 2050. In order for the world to meet
those demands, activists believe we will need to change the way we utilize our water supplies.
"Our traditional relationship with water has to do with convenience but it comes with a price.
Life as we know it depends on water," said Cousteau.
© 2013 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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World Water Day Top 20 News
World Water Day: An End to Global Thirst is in Sight
When one looks back at humanity's great achievements, what do we think of -- the moon
landings, decoding the human genome, elimination of small-pox, the invention of penicillin -
- all have left their mark on our collective history. We can soon add a new defining
achievement to this list -- everyone on the planet having access to clean, safe drinking
water. All these achievements have required a great deal of effort, resources, and political
commitment. Getting water to every person on the planet will be no exception, but it can
and should be done, and done by 2030. CNN
Access to water for everyone in the world by 2030
One of humanity's greatest achievements is within our grasp, but only if our political
leaders act now. Across the world, 783 million people – one in 10 of the world's population –
face a daily struggle without access to safe water. Without such access, we cannot tackle
poverty or help to create sustainable and equitable development. If we do provide it, we
release a brake on economic and human development, especially in the areas of child
health, nutrition and education. A lack of access to these essential services costs sub-
Saharan Africa as much as 5% of its GDP, more than the whole continent receives in aid.
The Guardian
Matt Damon and Gary White on the Road From TED to World Water
Day
"I’m overhead. That’s a simple tagline that sums up a powerful message delivered by Dan
Palotta just a few weeks ago at TED 2013. Two words—one complex conversation. In his
TED talk, Dan challenged some of the fundamental notions about how nonprofit
organizations should function in our society. He made a strong case that nonprofits should
be given more license to invest in talent, innovation, and powerful marketing strategies—
together often called “overhead”—to solve some of the world’s greatest social challenges."
The Daily Beast
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Global Water Problems Get A Fresh Approach At Local School In
Seattle
When it comes to expanding access to clean water around the globe, activists say to think of
the poor as potential customers — not people who need charity. The Seattle Times
Millions Won’t be Celebrating World Water Day
Half of humans lack safe drinking water, while competition for water from agriculture and
industry could put more people at risk in years to come, says a Portuguese lawyer who is
the United Nations’ independent advocate for the right to water. Catarina de Albuquerque,
speaking ahead of World Water Day on Friday (22 March), said the official UN figure - 800
million – doesn’t provide a full picture of water poverty, estimating that some 3.5 billion
people lack a safe supply. EurActiv
World Water Day 2013 - International Year of Water Cooperation
The importance of cooperation has long been recognized as fundamental to developing
Africa's water sector. African Governments and development partners alike understand the
centrality of water in meeting basic human needs, supporting socio-economic development
and poverty reduction, as well as in protecting the environment and biodiversity - and
continue working together to catalyze the development of the water sector to meet Africa's
water needs. AllAfrica
The Battle for Water - Access to Water Pays Double Dividends in
Conflict-Affected States
‘Who is the government? Who are they? I have never seen them. They have not brought
schools or clinics to the village.’ Frustration expressed by a Chef de Village in eastern
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the lack of government-led development. Instead
he turns to NGOs for help. But his questions also challenge NGOs, as well as aid agencies
and the governments they aim to support. Immediate needs in a war-torn country like DRC
are vast, and urgent. Reuters AlertNet
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The Battle for Water - PHOTO BLOG: Cooperation - Crucial to Water-
Secure Future
Ensuring that the planet can meet the water needs of future generations is a daunting
challenge. According to Global Water Partnership (GWP), cooperation is not only possible,
but it is the only way to achieve a future in which there is enough water for all. This photo
blog shows some examples of water co-operation. Reuters AlertNet
Africa: World Water Day - Is the Glass Half Full or Half Empty?
We invest billions of dollars to find evidence of water and life on Mars, but here on Earth,
we struggle to mobilize the funds needed to develop the full potential of the water resources
we depend on for life and growth. Is the glass half full, or half empty, on World Water Day
today? AllAfrica
World With More Phones Than Toilets Shows Water Challenge
There are more mobile phones on Earth than clean toilets, one of the most vexing
challenges facing governments on the 20th anniversary of the United Nations’ World Water
Day. Solving that developmental dilemma has so far confounded leaders, some of whom will
meet today in The Hague to discuss water cooperation. Business Week
Everyone Needs a Place to Go
Jan Eliasson, Deputy Secretary General of the UN, writes of the challenges and
opportunities of World Water Day. Huffington Post
Former Bartender Turns Wine Into Water
Doc Hendley the former bartender from North Carolina has helped provide clean water to
more than 150,000 people in 15 countries through his his nonprofit Wine to Water. Wine-
tasting events are one way Hendley and his group raise the funds that enable them to
distribute water filters and help install wells in communities around the world. And next
month, bartenders from 16 countries will be donating their tips to the cause. CNN
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World Water Day Marked With 'Toilet Campaign'
The United Nations has launched a campaign to lift a deadly taboo on talking about toilets
and to turn the world into an "open defecation-free zone". The move is part of activities to
mark the World Water Day. The initiative aims to cut the 3,000 children under five who die
each day from water-borne diseases like cholera, dysentry and diarrhea, and the 2.5 billion
people without access to a toilet. "Here is a silent disaster which needs to have attention,"
UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, a pioneer in unsanitised talk about toilets,
said on Friday. Al Jazeera
A Touch-Screen Game That Wants to Save the World
Get Water is a game with two goals. First, it wants to be an awesome touch-screen game:
fun, challenging, engaging. Second, it wants to raise awareness about water scarcity and
inspire conversations about human rights and social justice. Forbes
World Water Day: Water, Water Everywhere, Only if We Share
It is fair to say that in the western world we take water for granted. At home, one can turn
on the tap, pour themselves a glass of tap water, and even leave it running without fear
that the flow might stop. We are able bathe and shower in temperate water as and when we
please and we can walk down to the local shop and buy ourselves a bottle of mineral water
if we are feeling thirsty. The Independent
World Water Day 2013: Saving Lives and Changing Attitudes
We take our showers and thirst-quenching from a tap for granted here, but in the
developing world, when a water pump is located close to a community, it changes
everything. Children are able to go to school instead of spending the day trudging to the
nearest well; the health of the entire area improves and it becomes easier to grow, produce
and care for livestock which can then be sold at local markets. However, often the
installation of a pump is only half the battle. The communities which need these pumps
most can be remote and isolated. Metro
For more information, contact Cecilia Snyder
[email protected] 202-293-4003
43
Reflections on World Water Day 2013: A Water-Rich Africa
As we commemorate World Water Day on March 22, 2013, it is sobering that NASA’s
Curiosity rover found convincing evidence that at one time Mars, like Earth today, was
awash with water. Curiosity’s trips have allowed scientists to peer into the past. Roughly
three billion years ago Mars’ environment changed, the planet reportedly cooled and water
froze or evaporated into space, leaving Mars desolate, cold and dry. Today, the converse of
that scenario – heat, brought on by a changing climate – is happening, and a drier, hotter
and more parched Earth could well be our future unless we fundamentally change the way
in which we manage the planet’s most precious resource: water. The World Bank
World Water Day: Investing in Nature Benefits Everyone
Water sustains life. Yet, as we saw recently with Superstorm Sandy on the East Coast and
major flood events closer to home in recent years, water can sometimes be dangerous and
even life-threatening. As we celebrate World Water Day on Friday and think about the
many benefits we derive from fresh water here in Wisconsin, it's also timely to develop
perspective on natural events driven by extreme weather and a changing climate. How do
we assure that nature's way of collecting, storing and delivering the water we need also
protects our communities, homes, businesses and food production from the devastating
impacts of major storms and floods? How do we strike the right balance with nature?
Milwaulkee Journal Sentinel
World Water Day: A Forceful Reminder that the U.S. is Running out of
Fresh Water
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the first World Water Day, a day established by the
United Nations to focus attention on the importance of fresh water around the globe.
Globally, fresh water is increasingly becoming an endangered resource. According to a U.S.
State Department document released on World Water Day last year, the need for fresh
water will exceed the supply by 40 percent by the year 2030. Washington Post
For more information, contact Cecilia Snyder
[email protected] 202-293-4003
44
World Water Day 2013: The Biggest Story of Our Lifetime is Water
J. Carl Ganter is co-founder and managing director of Circle of Blue and is vice chariman of
the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Water Security. He writes here about
water, human use, and the future. Forbes
JPL Scientists Reflect on World Water Day
Water. Beautiful. Ever-changing. Life-giving. It envelops us, creates us, nurtures us,
defines us, and yet can destroy us in an instant. This chemical compound -- two parts
hydrogen, one part oxygen -- that we take for granted as plentiful, is actually remarkably
scarce in its freshwater form. Less than three percent of Earth's water is freshwater, and
more than two-thirds of that is locked up in glaciers and icecaps and therefore unavailable
for drinking or agriculture. Within our solar system, water is even more scarce. And while
NASA continues its quest to "follow the water" on Mars, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Earth scientists and many of its Earth missions are busy studying our Water World and the
complex interactions between Earth's water and its atmosphere, land and living organisms
that make up our dynamic Earth system. Jet Propulsion Laboratory
World Water Day Highlights Life-Threatening Shortages
World Water Day is awash with interesting personalities and new concepts. Take, for
instance, Scott Harrison. He spent 10 years getting New York's elite drunk for a living.
Today he focuses on a different type of liquid — water. Harrison used to be a New York
nightclub promoter who spent his nights trying to coerce people into buying $500 bottles of
champagne. In 2006, Harrison, the CEO of Charity:Water, decided to turn his life around.
After seeing the devastating effects caused by unsafe water in Liberia, he left his former life
and started the non-profit group. USA Today
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