22 March 2024, World Water Day: Water for Peace

 

 

“Anything else you’re interested in is not going to happen if you can’t breathe the air or drink the water.” - Carl Sagan

 

"It is scarcity and plenty that make the vulgar take things to be precious or worthless; they call a diamond very beautiful because it is like pure water, and then would not exchange one for ten barrels of water.” - Galileo

 

March 22 is observed as World Water Day, this year, the focus is on the theme, ‘Leveraging Water for Peace’. UN adopted a resolution to observe World Water Day in its UN General Assembly on December 22, 1992, and ever since March 22 is observed every year, around the world as World WATER Day (WWD). The first WWD was observed in the year 1993. The objective of commemorating this day is to draw the attention of the people to the global water crisis and enhance awareness of its impact on our survival on this unique planet. Besides, this day is also commemorated to "support the achievement of UN sustainable development goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030."

Every one of us is aware that 'Water is the elixir of life'. From drinking to cleaning and other things, life cannot be sustained without it. While many people are privileged to have running water 24/7, there is a huge population around the globe that does not have access to any amount of water and it is this scarcity that can lead to conflicts and therefore, it is timely that we learn the importance of water and leverage this precious resource, which the nature has bestowed on our planet, for peace by learning to cooperate to live peacefully.  Our planet Earth - a blue planet - is the only known celestial body in the vast universe, which harbours water and sustains life in its vast diversity. This is profoundly evidenced in an excerpt taken from the famous Carl Sagan book - Pale Blue Dot. It highlights the vastness of the cosmos, amidst billions of galaxies and countless stars, there exists a singular marvel—a blue oasis of life known as planet Earth. What sets our home apart from the cosmic tapestry is not merely its breathtaking beauty or its intricate ecosystems, but the presence of a precious resource that makes our planet look blue and sets it apart from other celestial bodies for its uniqueness in harbouring water which sustains all forms of life.

Water, the elixir of life, flows like a vein through the heart of our planet, nurturing and sustaining every living being in its embrace. From the depths of the oceans to the heights of the mountains, from the lush forests to the parched deserts, water is the thread that weaves together the fabric of life, shaping landscapes and ecosystems with its gentle touch. Unfortunately, over the years our greed and an unending and uncontrolled development have resulted in water stress in many areas, which can be seen in the city of Bengaluru, which is now in the headlines.

According to a UN report, 1.8 billion people live in homes without safe drinking water, and each year, 829,000 people die from diseases directly attributable to unsafe water, inadequate sanitation, and poor hygiene practices. WWD is commemorated every year to remind people of the precious resource that we often take for granted.   Some 650 million people, nearly one in 10 of the world's population, do not have access to improved sources of drinking water and one in three lacks improved sanitation, putting them at risk of infectious diseases and premature death. UN-Water, the United Nations inter-agency coordination mechanism for all freshwater-related issues including sanitation, concluded that the major sources of water pollution are from human settlements and industrial and agricultural activities.

 

As stewards of this precious gift, it is our collective responsibility to safeguard and preserve our water resources for future generations. Through conservation efforts, sustainable management practices, and equitable access initiatives, we can ensure that every individual has the opportunity to thrive in a world where water is abundant, clean, and accessible to all. Let us pledge to be mindful of our water footprint, and to cherish and protect the rivers, lakes, and oceans that sustain life on our planet. Let us work together to harness the power of innovation and technology to address the challenges of water scarcity and pollution, forging a path towards a more resilient and water-secure future for all.

On this World Water Day, let us unite in our commitment to protect and preserve this precious resource, recognizing that the health and well-being of humanity are intricately linked to the health of our planet's water systems. Together, let us strive to ensure that the blue planet continues to shine brightly as a beacon of life and vitality in the vast expanse of the universe.

Happy World Water Day

The year 2013 was commemorated as the International Year of Water Cooperation and the National Council of Science Museums, the organization where I worked used this opportunity to organize the National Science Seminar for students under the theme “ Water Cooperation Issues and Challenges” and the Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai was tasked to conduct this seminar. This was one of the most successful events and a special souvenir was brought out on the occasion which contained many articles including an article by yours truly which was later published on my Blog whose link is given below.

https://khened.blogspot.com/2019/10/prsi-national-award-2017.html