| Because the earth and its resources are God's gift to all humanity, we are reverent, just, and sparing in our use of created things, concerned for the needs of present and future generations. (SSND General Directory) |
WATER FOR LIFE:
IN DEFENCE OF OUR “SISTER WATER”
by Theresa Nagle , SSND
Water is essential to sustain the Earth and its inhabitants. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2003 the International Year of Fresh Water to call the world's attention to the crisis surrounding this most precious resource - water.
There are many reasons for this crisis throughout the world. Some factors influencing the scarcity of water are the degradation of water bodies, water tables, rivers, wetlands and bays, the inequality of distribution, cross border conflicts, and privatization
Water is every person's birthright, as are health care and education. Access to such basic goods is a basic Human Right.
However, this right has yet to be formally recognized by the international community, despite lengthy discussions and negotiations at the three “World Water Forum” events of 1996, 2000, and 2003 or at any other such events.
At Kyoto (March 2003) the Vatican repeated and elaborated its strong support for the right to water, something many other groups around the world support. On the other hand, many multinational corporations and bottled water companies want to keep water as a need so that water can be treated as a a commodity to be sold to meet needs. For example in the developed world water needs range from the need for individuals to have bottled water as an alternative to soft drinks etc. to the need to keep golf courses green.
Currently, there is a global movement to return/keep water as a right for all!
Bottled Water
- Approximately 25% of bottled water is merely tap water
- The water bottling industry profits from the sale of this common resource at the expense of the environment. Pumping can dry out springs, destroy habitats, devastate ecosystems, and drain aquifers. Plastics are now the fastest growing sector of the waste stream and presently take up more than 25% of the volume of materials sent to landfills every year.
- The bottled water industry is currently worth $22 billion and some experts estimate growth potential of 30% annually.
The above material was taken in part from the booklet Water for Life! In Defence of Our “Sister Water” prepared by the Ecology Working Group of the JPIC (Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation) Promoters, Rome, Italy, June 2003. Cathy Arata, SSND, our Shalom Coordinator is among the 30 or so representatives of male and female religious communities who contributed to the leaflet.
Our JPIC Committee is using this booklet for reading and sharing at our meetings. It is done in a theological reflection mode: see, judge and act. We begin each of our meetings, with prayer using the liturgy on water from the booklet and then share from our readings.
If you are interested in using this book for your own reflections go to www.ofm-jpic.org/aqua.
Many groups of concerned people are working to keep water a right for all. For three years, the Development and Peace Share Lent program has focussed on the water issue, especially in regard to the Corporate control of water and water delivery. 2006 was the final year for this campaign.
The Council of Canadians and Polaris Institute are also among the hundreds of groups concerned about the private control of water and water resources.
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