The year 2013 has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Water Cooperation.
The reason for making the declaration according to the resolution of the UN General Assembly is to "emphasise that water is critical for sustainable development, including environmental integrity and the eradication of poverty and hunger, and is indispensable for human health and well-being and central to achieving the Millennium Development Goals."
It also reaffirms "the internationally agreed development goals on water and sanitation, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration" and determines "to achieve the goal to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people who are unable to reach or afford safe drinking water, and the goals set out in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation to halve the proportion of people without access to basic sanitation and to develop integrated water resources management and water efficiency plans by 2005, with support to developing countries."
It's a big call but if the developed nations work alongside the developing nations there is a greater chance that these goals can be attained. We also have our own issues here in WA and the Water Corporation has embarked on a 10 year plan to drought-proof Perth. It's worthwhile reading this document and consider how we can work towards higher levels of sustainability.
I may not post about this subject again this year, but if I have helped in some way to make readers aware of the International Year of Water Cooperation, and through that to raise our awareness of an important environmental issue I think it is worthwhile.
One of Baptistcare's values is Stewardship of the responsibilities in our care, and sustainability at all levels, including water cooperation, is part of that stewardship. Take a look at this website for some tips about how we can be better stewards of this valuable resource.
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