Since 1993, World Water Day—celebrated every March 22—has raised awareness about the global water crisis. Presently, 2.2 billion people worldwide don’t have access to safe drinking water and over 4 billion lack clean water for sanitation. Currently, there are 26 First Nations Communities in Canada who lack safe drinking water.
World Water Day encourages people to take action to address the global water crisis. This year’s theme is Glacier Preservation. As global temperatures increase, glaciers are melting quicker than ever, creating an unpredictable water cycle. Meltwater flows are changing, causing floods, droughts, landslides and sea level rise—threatening billions of people and fragile ecosystems. The United Nations reports that by 2030, global water demand will exceed supply by 40%!
The Blue Community Schools project encourages schools to protect water as a human right and public resource. Our partnership with Council of Canadians has supported this project in providing schools with teaching resources to help them commit to promoting public water access and infrastructure, as well as eliminating bottled water sales.
For over eight years, Council of Canadians has been running a Water Drops program, inviting students to write messages to the federal government about the urgent need for safe water in all communities. Many have called on former Prime Minister Trudeau to honour his promise to end drinking water advisories in First Nations communities—yet this commitment remains unmet.
You can support this important work by encouraging your local schools to become Blue certified, inviting students to share their messages on a printable Water Drop or by donating to the Blue Community Schools project.
Together, we can make safe water a reality for all!
Newsletter summary:
Every year on March 22, World Water Day raises awareness about the global water crisis. Right now, 2.2 billion people lack safe drinking water, and over 4 billion don’t have clean water for sanitation. Here in Canada, 26 First Nations communities still don’t have access to safe drinking water.
This year’s theme, Glacier Preservation, highlights the rapid melting of glaciers due to climate change—disrupting water cycles and causing floods, droughts and rising sea levels. The UN warns that by 2030 global water demand will exceed supply by 40%.
The Blue Community Schools project, in partnership with the Council of Canadians, helps schools encourage water as a human right by promoting public water access and infrastructure, and eliminating bottled water sales. For over eight years, the Water Drops campaign has empowered students to urge the federal government to end drinking water advisories in First Nations communities—a promise yet to be fulfilled.You can support this important work by encouraging schools to become Blue certified, inviting students to share their message on a printable Water Drop or by donating to the Blue Community Schools project.
