Saturday, February 02, 2013

Women Lack Access To Safe Drinking Water/Sanitation



Women Lack Access To Safe Drinking Water

Make no mistake that access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation is one of the most important factors regarding economy, health and education in the developing world. And yes, it is also a factor regarding men but for women who suffer from cultural inequality in these areas of the world and who are charged with the rearing of children, farming, household duties, etc. this becomes a much more crucial issue for them and especially for their children. We are now also experiencing more frequent and severe drought, glaciers globally melting faster than predicted that threaten water supplies for billions, landgrabbing and more corporate ownership of the resources necessary for survival and conflicts that threaten access to water and land.

Even now as we enter the 21st Century, as we eclispe the heights of technological genius we still have not found a way to provide safe drinking water to all our people on Earth even though three quarters of this Earth is covered by it. I say, a world in which three quarters of it is covered with water yet sees its people dying of thirst is a world that has lost its way. Where will this century take us in regards to water issues? We are certain to see technological advances that go beyond our comprehension in our zeal to "perfect" ourselves and make our world more convenient for the uses we in our arrogance deem necessary to control it. However, in doing so will we lose focus on the one word we need to work on: Humanity? Feeding our people, providing them with water, health, education, opportunity and dignity. These should be goals that transcend centuries and egos. Please, let it be.

Women and Water: Scarcity, Access and Sanitation.

This is about lack of access to water because of non physical scarcity/pollution that causes disease and preventable death as well as lack of sanitation that affects education and health. The UN Millenium goals for safe drinking water have been met but still fall short. Millenium goals on sanitation however are much harder to reach, but work is being done. This is also a human rights issue and bridging the gap between rich and poor. It will take the global community joining together to solve this crisis and recognizing the rights of women which is a huge part of the solution.

___ Some solutions:

SOLUTION: Declare water to be a global human right.

SOLUTION: Hold chemical and oil companies accountable for their pollution and the toxification of our water globally.

SOLUTION: Stop drilling in our water.

SOLUTION: Fight the privatization of our global water supplies.

SOLUTION: Support sustainable agriculture that conserves water (drip irrigation) and lessens the use of pesticides and fertilizers.

SOLUTION: Speak out about the lack of sanitation because it needs to be known. Support NGOS working to bring dignity to people.

SOLUTION: Support efforts to decrease the emissions that add to the global warming that is bringing about the glacial melt and more frequent droughts and floods that threaten water supplies.

Also see:

The Water Crisis Looms Large Over Our World

Water Facts

WHO:Water, Sanitation And Health

The crisis of sanitation is now even more acute than water access.

The Global Water Crisis- What you can do.

Another World Water Day Gone

We see another World Water Day pass us by. The theme, Water For All, signifies that though some progress has been made we are woefully behin...