Today is the 19th annual World Water Day, a day designated by the U.N. to highlight the importance of fresh water and to focus our collective attention on global water and sanitation challenges. This year’s theme, Water for Cities: Responding to the Urban Challenge, focuses on how governments, organizations, and communities can take action to improve access to safe water and basic sanitation in towns and cities.
While the main global event will be taking place in Cape Town, South Africa, people around the world have organized more than 700 events to celebrate World Water Day 2011.
The Coalition for World Water Day, composed of 23 U.S.-based organizations, has organized “One Week for Water” from March 18-26. In addition to events held in Washington, D.C., the coalition has developed an online campaign asking Twitter and Facebook users to donate their voices to the cause of safe water and sanitation.
Today, as part of “One Week for Water,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and leaders at the World Bank will discuss how the U.S., the World Bank, and the philanthropic and corporate sectors can collaborate to help solve challenges associated with sustainable access to clean water.
For people who would like to participate in World Water Day online, here a a few ways you can:
- The U.N. has created Twitter and Facebook accounts where users can write about water in their respective cities, as well as a Flickr group to gather photo submissions.
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Gowalla, the social service that allows people around the world to share their stories and experiences around the places that they go has created a World Water Day pin. Individuals can create an event by going to the Spots menu. Make sure to select the World Water Day category when creating your event. Once you have created the Spot, make sure to check-in and share it on Twitter and Facebook so people around the world will know that you are celebrating World Water Day. Let others know they can “Check In” to your Spot. If enough people check-in, your Spot will be featured for people throughout your city to see!
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Learn how water changes everything from charity:water.
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Send a free Water for People e-card to family and friends to show care about the global crisis in water and sanitation. Also, check out the video below with Water For People CEO Ned Breslin's thoughts on fixing the water crisis.
For more information, including additional reading, a list of worldwide events and campaign materials, visit www.worldwaterday2011.org.
Are you doing anything to celebrate World Water Day? Let us hear about it!
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