March 22nd is World Water Day
Did you know that Canadians per capita are among the highest users of water worldwide? This behaviour largely results from the perception that Canada has an abundance of freshwater; a misleading perception, since the ability of our lakes, rivers, and even our oceans, to purify the waste dumped into them is much more limited than we once thought.
Water scarcity affects 1 in 3 people on every continent, even in areas where there is plenty of rainfall or freshwater. The lack of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation is the world’s single largest cause of sickness. At any one time, half the world’s hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from water and sanitation-related diseases.
Access to water is a critical need - and a human right. Access to water impacts poverty reduction, food security, sound environmental development, and gender equality. As such, it constitutes one of the most pressing health issues for the global community, requiring immediate attention and action.
Learn More About Water and What You Can Do!
Get involved in one of the following ways:
- Stop by UCU 203 to chat with our Global and International Student Health PEs, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-2 pm, and learn more about water & sustainability issues
- Join us at our Healthy Noon on March 13th (12-1 pm, UCU Agora), where our speakers will address topics such as water pollution and access to water. We will be joined by:
- Dr. Frances Pick, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa
- Andrea Helfer and Kyla Smith, WaterCan
- Use your voice and take action! Keep Your Promises is a global campaign calling on decision makers across the world to stick to the pledges they made on sanitation and water. The petition will be handed to world leaders at the Millennium Development Goals Summit in September 2013. Sign the petition here
Water & Sustainability Events on Campus
Check out our campus partners’ Facebook pages to learn more about the events they have planned in March for Bottled Water Free Day (March 15th) and World Water Day (March 22nd):
