| Kairos
Water: A sacred gift |
KAIROS:
Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives is a dynamic church-based
social justice movement. "Water is a sacred gift and
a necessity of life that we often take for granted. But
global demand is beginning to outstrip supply and climate
change is shrinking glaciers and shifting rainfall. The
result: water conflicts are on the rise. We believe water
must be maintained as a human right and a common good, and
that we all have a responsibility to protect water supplies
and watersheds." |
| Our
Water Commons Our Water Commons - Toward a new freshwater
narrative |
The
Council of Canadians has just launched an exciting new
report titled Our Water Commons: Toward a new freshwater
narrative. Written by Maude Barlow, National Chairperson
of the Council of Canadians and recently appointed Senior
Advisor on Water Issues to the President of the General
Assembly of the United Nations, Our Water Commons is part
of the ongoing work to bring together key activists, writers
and thinkers to address the global water crisis by naming
and reclaiming the freshwater commons.
|
| Polaris
Institute |
Our
Water Progam aims to develop citizen capacities for education
and action on water justice issues in communities. This
includes issues like the privatization of water services,
bulk water exports, water takings, water security and bottled
water. Currently, a major focus of our work is on bottled
water, through our Inside the Bottle campaign. Our program
has developed a comprehensive report on the bottled water
industry, the major corporate players, the key social, environmental
and health isues at stake, along with a campaign tool kit
for community-based action. We also seek to build connections
through solidarity work with communities and workers all
over the world to strengthen the global water justice movement
and fortify our local struggles, while also working towards
building social alternatives for water management. |
| Right
to Water |
This
website has been launched by the Council of Canadians' Blue
Planet Project to help concerned citizens learn more about
the international struggle to secure the human right to
water. |
| Catholic
Earthcare Australia |
As
an agency of the Catholic Bishops Commission for Justice
and Service, Catholic Earthcare Australia's mission is to
help promote understanding among people that Creation is
sacred and endangered, and must be protected and sustained
for present and future generations yet unborn.
To
play its part in helping protect the integrity of creation
and the health of Earth's inhabitants and life supporting
ecosystems, Catholic Earthcare Australia is mandated,
through the activities of research, education, advocacy
and outreach to give leadership in responding to Pope
John Paul II 's call for an "ecological conversion"
of the world's Catholics.
|
| Canadian
Bishops; The Pastoral Letter on the Christian Ecological
Imperative |
The
pastoral letter, entitled the Christian Ecological Imperative,
is inspired by the Bible, as well as the social, theological
and sacramental traditions of the Church.The letter reminds
Catholics of the many ways humanity has mistreated nature,
such as rampant deforestation, extreme pollution, over-exploitation
and wasted resources. In particular, the bishops are concerned
with water usage. “The bible speaks of living waters,
of becoming a fountain of living water, of longing for running
water, and of justice flowing as a mighty river. Yet how
can anyone speak about the ‘waters of life’
if these waters can no longer sustain life? Without water
everything dies. Water is the basic element though which
all life forms emerged, exist and flourish.” |
| Water
A Saramental Commons |
As
a Catholic organization, the National Catholic Rural Life
Conference applies the teachings of Jesus Christ for the
social and economic development of rural America with
responsibility for the care of God’s creation. Annotated
list of water justice related links. |
| UNESCO
Water Page |
Includes
information about World Water Day "International World
Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing
attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating
for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect
of freshwater. " |
| Church
World Service |
Water
for All: More than one billion people lack adequate access
to safe drinking water. Two and a half billion people have
no access to proper sanitation. More than five million people,
mostly children, die each year from water-related diseases.
In more than 80 countries, people are experiencing serious
water shortages. Church World Service has initiated Water
for All to address the urgent need for accessible water.
A vital part of Water for All is advocacy to public officials
on behalf of water as a human right. |
| Pollution
Probe |
Water
Links |
| Flow |
Irena
Salina's award-winning documentary investigation into what
experts label the most important political and environmental
issue of the 21st Century - The World Water Crisis. Salina
builds a case against the growing privatization of the world's
dwindling fresh water supply with an unflinching focus on
politics, pollution, human rights, and the emergence of
a domineering world water cartel. |
