It’s an essential resource that we take for granted; from taking a shower, going to the toilet and watering our plants – but the fact remains that 768 million people do not have access to clean drinking water – an astounding number considering the age we live in.
Established by the United Nations in 1993, the “World Day for Water” has been marked all across the world for the last two decades. The focus this year is on the theme ‘2014: Water and Energy’, looking at just how inextricably linked these two commodities are. In fact, some 8% of the world’s energy is used to treat, pump and deliver water to consumers.
However, it’s estimated that a billion people all across the world live in slums and disadvantaged rural areas and have to live each day without even basic access to safe drinking water, enough food, satisfactory sanitation and reliable energy services.
Held every year on 22 March, World Water Day is the opportunity for all of us to consider just what safe water means and recognise the day to day realities of living without it.
WaterAid is working towards 2030, when everybody will have access to clean water, as well as decent sanitation and adequate hygiene standards. So daily actions that we take for granted, such as simply going to the toilet and washing our hands, will become a welcome reality for a billion people.
WaterAid is asking people across the world to pledge their support for World Water Day 2014 by signing their name on an online form. There is also a program of events running throughout the year which you can get involved with. Why not run the Brighton Marathon on 6 April, or maybe take part in a cycling trek which runs from London to Paris from 3 – 7 September, or get active and see an up and running WaterAid project as part of the Trek Ethiopia programme which will kick off on 15 March 2015.
For full details, check out the WaterAid website.
Ni rasilimali muhimu ambayo tunaichukulia kuwa ya kawaida; kutoka kuoga, kwenda choo na kunyunyizia mimea yetu - lakini ukweli unabaki kwamba watu milioni 768 hawana upatikanaji wa maji safi ya kunywa - idadi ya kushangaza ikizingatiwa umri tunaoishi. Siku ya Maji ya Dunia ilianzishwa na Umoja wa Mataifa mwaka 1993 na imekuwa ikisherehekewa duniani kote kwa miongo miwili iliyopita. Mwaka huu, mkutano huo umekuwa na kichwa cha habari cha mwaka 2014 - Maji na Nishati, na lengo ni kuelezea jinsi bidhaa hizo mbili zinavyohusiana. Kwa kweli, asilimia 8 ya nishati inayotumiwa duniani hutumiwa kusafisha, kusukuma na kusafirisha maji kwa watumiaji. Hata hivyo, inakadiriwa kuwa watu bilioni moja duniani kote wanaishi katika vitongoji na maeneo ya vijijini na wanaishi kila siku bila hata upatikanaji wa msingi wa maji salama ya kunywa, chakula cha kutosha, usafi wa mazingira na huduma za nishati za kuaminika. Siku ya maji duniani huadhimishwa kila mwaka tarehe 22 Machi na ni fursa kwa kila mmoja wetu kufikiria maana halisi ya maji salama na kutambua hali halisi ya kila siku ya kuishi bila maji. WaterAid ina lengo la kufikia 2030 ambapo kila mtu atakuwa na maji safi, usafi wa mazingira na viwango vya usafi vya kutosha. "Kama vile tunavyoona, ""kuenda choo na kuosha mikono"" itakuwa ni jambo la kawaida kwa watu bilioni moja." WaterAid inaomba watu duniani kote kuunga mkono Siku ya Maji ya Dunia 2014 kwa kusaini jina lao kwenye fomu ya mtandaoni. Pia kuna mpango wa matukio ya kukimbia mwaka mzima ambayo unaweza kushiriki katika. "Kwa nini usicheze Marathon ya Brighton tarehe 6 Aprili, au labda ushiriki katika safari ya baiskeli ambayo inaanzia London hadi Paris kuanzia Septemba 3 hadi 7, au uwe hai na uone mradi wa WaterAid ukiendelea kama sehemu ya mpango wa ""Trek Ethiopia"" ambao utaanza Machi 15?" Kwa maelezo kamili, angalia tovuti ya WaterAid.