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2023: World Water Day & World Earth Day are Linked & Flow Together March 22nd, 2023
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BISHOP MICHAEL PFEIFER, O.M.I.
Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of San Angelo
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We focus on World Water Day, March 22, 2023
First, we focus on World Water Day, whose theme for 2023 is Accelerating Change. What is World Water Day? World Water Day is an annual United Nations Observance that started in 1993 focusing on the importance of Water, coordinated by UN-Water and led by one or more U-Water members and partners. This wonderful creation day celebrates Water and raises awareness of the 2 billion people living without access to safe water. It is about taking action to tackle the global water crisis.
A core focus of WWD is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030). In preparation for March 22nd, people and organizations hold earlier World Water Day events in accord with the theme Accelerating Change and participate in the global campaign launched in the preceding months by UN-Water and social media. On World Water Day itself, the UN World Water Development Report is released focusing on the same topics as the campaign and recommending policy direction to decision makers.
This WWD is about accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis. Because water affects us all we need everyone to take action. You and your family, school, church, and community can make a difference by changing the way you use, consume and manage water in your lives.
Some action steps
> Save water: take shorter showers and don’t let the tap run when brushing teeth, preparing food, and doing dishes.
> Make it equal: share water gathering between men and women, girls, and boys.
> Flush safe: fixing leaking water and waste pipes, empty full septic tanks and report dumping of sludge.
> Stop polluting: don’t put food waste, oils, medicine and chemicals down the toilet or drains.
> Eat local: buy local seasonal foods and look for products made with less water.
> Be curious: find out where my water comes from and how it is shared and visit a treatment plant to see how our waste is managed.
> Protect nature: plant a tree or create a rain garden–use natural solutions to reduce the risk of flooding and store water.
> Build pressure: write to my elected representatives about budgets for improving water at home and abroad.
> Clean up: take part in cleanups at my local rivers, lakes, wetlands, or beaches.
(Taken from US Water, World Water Day 2023 Accelerating Change)
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