Women and Water:
Let's Begin
The things we can
do individually and
the things that
require group action
are both necessary if
we going are to take
better care of the
environment. Every
day is a perfect time
to look at changes
you can make in your
life and to think
about the
environmental needs
in your community.
It begins with you
Begin by looking at
your personal
activities and
actions.
- Do you waste
water in any way?
Is your toilet, for
example, an older
model that uses a
lot of water? If
so, placing a brick
inside the tank can
cut water
consumption. Where
else might you be
wasting water?
- Do you throw
paint cans or
bottles with
chemicals in them
into your trash so
the dump site
run-off
contaminates the
water supply? (Most
municipalities have
a place to collect
these items.)
- Do you flush
old or unused
medicines down your
toilet? (Consider
working with your
water and health
departments to come
up with a way to
address this
problem. It's one
that is relatively
new to people's
awareness and a
good solution is
needed.)
- Does your boat
leak oil?
When not well
maintained, recreational
vehicles contribute
to poor water
quality.
It takes all of us
At the 2005
Triennial Convention,
delegates took action
that asked Women of
the ELCA to promote
awareness on water
issues and encouraged
synodical women’s
organizations to make
awareness of local
and regional water
issues a priority.
In light of this
action, you may want
to begin at
www.earthday.net/programs/currentcampaigns/waterforlife/
default.aspx
to define water
issues in your synod
or area. The Water
for Life campaign
highlights critical
water issues of
access, health, and
usage. From this
page, you can get
water facts, learn
about water issues,
and download
resources. As you begin to
think about the needs
in your community,
synod, and region,
consider these
conversation
starters:
- Does
everyone have
access to clean
drinking water?
- What is the
impact of
tourism and
recreation on
your area’s
lakes and
rivers?
- Does
industry in
your area
contribute
pollution that
affects the
water you
drink?
- Are state and
regional leaders
looking into the
water issues that
may affect your
health in the
future?
- Is water
run-off an
issue in your
community?
- Do you have
"pretty weeds"
along your roadways
that siphon off the
water supply for
other plants?
- How safe is
the water at
your beaches?
- Do you know if
your city
(community) has a
water plan (for
drinking water and
sanitation
purposes) in case
of disaster? How
quickly could
services be
restored in case of
a disaster? What
would people do in
the meantime?
As you focus on
water issues, when you are
brewing your pot of
coffee, taking your
shower, or doing
laundry, give God
thanks for all the
ways water blesses
your life. Then,
remembering your
baptism and your
membership in the
body of Christ, pray
for those who suffer
due to contaminated
or insufficient water
resources.
Internet
connections for the
stewardship of water
www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/
World Water
Monitoring Day is
October 18.
Consider
purchasing a
monitoring kit
and checking the
water resources
in your
community. It's a
good way to start
your exploration
of water issues
in your area.
Get information
on the Water
for Life Decade
(2005–2015) and
learn about
areas that you
could be
involved in,
including water
and sanitation,
water and
gender
equality, water
and health, and
water and
disasters.
www.worldwaterday.org
Plan for an
observance in
your area on
March 22, World
Water Day.