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Happy World Water Day 2016! March 22nd, 2016
Happy World Water Day 2016!: Better Water, Better Jobs
2016 Theme: Better Water, Better Jobs
In 1993 the UN General Assembly designated March 22 as World Water Day. Water is a critical global resource for human development. Yet not all populations, even within the same country, have equal access. In the U.S. Flint, Michigan is one recent example. The theme for this year’s observance is: “Better Water, Better Jobs.” It is a call for us to “recognize and support people and jobs whose work with water helps us all.”
Here are some alarming facts about water from Water.org:
- 1.8 billion people around the world lack access to safe water.
- The incidence of children suffering from stunting and chronic malnutrition — at least 160 million — is linked to water and sanitation.
- More than 840,000 people die from a water-related disease each year, including diarrhea caused by bad drinking water, hygiene and sanitation.
- Eighty-two percent of people who don’t have access to “improved” water live in rural areas.
- More than one-third of people worldwide lack access to a toilet, more than the number of people who have a mobile phone.
- Every 90 seconds a child dies from a water-related disease.
- The amount of safe water could drop by 40 percent in 15 years if people do not change the way they use water.
Read more about World Water Day 2016 and articles on Flint, MI from the Interfaith Council For Corporate Responsibility: http://www.iccr.org/world-water-day-2016
Visit the United Nation’s website to read more about events marking this observance: http://www.un.org/en/events/waterday/
