The Decade of Freshwater

1
The Decade of Freshwater

• Take a few minutes to think about water. It is
  of such critical importance in our lives! The
  United Nations has declared that 2003 will be the
  International Decade of Freshwater. We cannot
  live without water. That is why we have to make
  sure that everyone can get clean drinking water
  no matter where they live.

2
Water
Not many people ever think about where our water
comes from as they brush their teeth or wash
their faces in the bathroom each morning.
3
Water A Poverty Issue

• But one billion people have no clean
• water to drink -- that is one out of
• every six persons here on earth. And
• more than 2 billion people, almost half
• of the world's population, have no
• toilet to use.

• Many people have to walk for hours
• each day to find the closest water
• pump or water well.

4
Water . A Gender Issue

• Usually it is the women who have to carry the
  water, like this girl in Sierra Leone walking
  through a cassava field with a jerrycan of water
  on her head.

• Even very small girls sometimes have to carry
  water instead of going to school.

5
Water A Health Issue

• Although fresh water can be found all around the
  world most of it is either frozen in the polar
  ice caps, mixed in the soil or deep underground.
  In fact, less than 1 percent of the world's
  fresh water is available to be used. That is why
  we need to take care of it!

• The United Nations is busy bringing water to
  villages and cities. Here are a couple of men
  working on a UN project that is helping to
  improve the delivery of water in Lachi, Pakistan.

6
Water

• The leaders of the world promised
• to make sure another 1.5 billion
• people will have access to safe
• drinking water by the year 2015.
• You can go to Millennium
• Development Goals to check the
• progress so far.

• You can help by promote awareness of the precious
  gift of water during
• this International Deacde of Freshwater by
  passing along this little
• presentation on water. Thank you. Water is a
  Womens issue Act Now!