Living Water... and lack of Water

H2O
agua
l'eau
wasser
acqua
水
ύδωρ
вода
근해



Water is one of the most essential and basic ingredients needed for life. Every life form known to humankind relies on it to live and grow. It is also one of the key elements scientists look for when determining whether a given planet may be conducive to life. As many of us heard in health class- about two-thirds of our body is water that needs to be continually replenished, along with vital nutrients.

Water is universally understood in every culture and language as vital. A human being can potentially go for weeks at a time without food if needed- it is not healthy, and the person will grow weak, but one can survive. People cannot survive for more than a few days, however, without water to drink.

Sadly, though, despite 3/4 of the earth's surface being comprised of water, the amount of potable drinking water is dangerously scarce- particularly in developing nations. As a result, disease is rampant, and lack of clean water for drinking and bathing leads to serious illness or death for millions of people each year.

Even sadder than that, however, is the fact that a small percentage of the annual profits from the multi-billion dollar bottled water industry could provide clean water and sanitation to the entire developing world. I recently saw a sobering article on the global water situation and the bottled water industry in the NY Times called aptly "Bad to the Last Drop."

Among other shocking facts, the writer points out that:

More than 2.6 billion people, or more than 40 percent of the world's population, lack basic sanitation, and more than one billion people lack reliable access to safe drinking water. The World Health Organization estimates that 80 percent of all illness in the world is due to water-borne diseases.
. . .
Clean water could be provided to everyone on earth for an outlay of $1.7 billion a year beyond current spending on water projects, according to the International Water Management Institute. Improving sanitation, which is just as important, would cost a further $9.3 billion per year. This is less than a quarter of global annual spending on bottled water.

I know, I know- everyone drinks bottled water- and hey it's better than say soft drinks or other less than healthy beverages. Up until I read that article, my family and I bought a case of bottled water per week. We recycle the bottles, but we still contribute to supporting this industry that is reaping outrageous profits while 40% of the world is without clean water.

"Living Water" is one of my favorite spiritual metaphors from scripture.

Zechariah refers to it as an image of life in the new Jerusalem.

John mentions living water as a metaphor of spiritual renewal and transformation in the life of the woman at the well.

In Revelation, living water is an image of eternal life under the care of the good shepherd.

As people of faith, or as spiritual seekers, we find great comfort and hope in this image and the promise of new life it brings.

How then can we tacitly support practices and industries that deny clean water, a basic necessity to life, to millions of people in the world today?

Not only has our government abolished vital clean water protections in recent years, but our consumption habits continue to have harmful consequences in the developing world far beyond what most people realize.

Will you join me in trying to help make a difference? Explore new ways to recycle, and support clean water for those who need it most- the least of these...

Here are a few organizations that are working to help bring clean water to more and more people please consider getting involved:

Clean Water Action

Global Water

Water Advocates

Sierra Club- Clean Water Center

Water for People

Global Water Challenge

Water Partners International

The Clean Water Network

Clean Water, Sanitation Goals for World's Poor

Peace and health, and Living Water to all,

John