Water
has always been an important and life-sustaining drink to humans and is
essential to the survival of most other organisms. Excluding fat, water composes approximately
70% of the human body by mass. It is a
crucial component of metabolic processes and serves as a solvent for many
bodily solutes.
Drinking
water or potable water is water safe enough to
be consumed by humans or used with low risk of immediate or long term
harm. In most developed countries, the
water supplied to households, commerce and industry meets drinking water
standards, even though only a very small proportion is actually consumed or
used in food preparation. Typical uses
(for other than potable purposes) include toilet flushing, washing and
landscape irrigation.
Over
large parts of the world, humans have inadequate access to potable water and
use sources contaminated with disease vectors, pathogens or unacceptable levels
of toxins or suspended solids. Drinking
or using such water in food preparation leads to widespread acute and chronic
illnesses and is a major cause of death and suffering worldwide in many different
countries.
Although
covering some 70% of the Earth's surface, most water is saline. Freshwater is available in almost all
populated areas of the Earth, although it may be expensive and the supply may
not always be sustainable.
Water is considered a purifier in most
religions. Many major faiths incorporate
ritual washing including Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Taoism and Wicca. Immersion of a person in water is a central
sacrament of Christianity, Judaism and Sikhism.
In addition, a ritual bath in pure water is performed for the dead in many
religions including Islam and Judaism.
The waters of life run through our bodies in our
blood, which is as salty as the oceans.
For many Norse dead, they were cremated on a funeral pyre together with
all their belongings. The ashes were to be spread either at sea or on the
ground. Some higher ranked Norse, were
honored with a sea burial.
Water is often associated with emotions, art, time
and especially healing
and philosophy. In
rituals, it is represented in the forms of pouring water over objects, cups,
brew making, healing spells, ritual bathing, and tossing objects into of
water. The manifestations of the element
of water are rivers, oceans, lakes, wells, snow, streams and all drinks. Animals, especially the seal, dolphin, frog
and all types of fish are also thought to personify the water element.
Water
is a feminine energy and highly connected with the aspects of the Goddess. Used for healing, cleansing, and
purification, water is related to the West, the color blue, and associated with
passion and emotion. In many spiritual
paths, including Catholicism, consecrated water can be found – holy water is
just regular water with salt added to it, and usually a blessing or invocation
is said above it. In Wiccan covens, such
water is used to consecrate the circle and all the tools within it.
World Water Day has been observed on 22
March since 1993 when the United Nations General Assembly declared 22
March as "World Day for Water".
Events are organized on or around this day to
increase people's awareness of water's importance in environment, agriculture,
health and trade.
This
day was first formally proposed in Agenda 21 of the 1992 United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil. Observance began in 1993 and has
grown significantly ever since; for the general public to show support, it is
encouraged for the public to not use their taps throughout the whole day. The day has also become a popular Facebook
trend.
WaterAid
works in 26 of the world’s poorest countries helping communities to set up and
manage practical and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene projects. W e
also campaign locally and internationally to change policy and practice to
ensure water and sanitation’s vital role in reducing poverty is recognized. www.wateraid.org
Water
and energy are closely interlinked and interdependent. Energy generation and transmission requires
utilization of water resources, particularly for hydroelectric, nuclear, and
thermal energy sources. Conversely, about
8% of the global energy generation is used for pumping, treating and
transporting water to various consumers.
Without
water, we would die. Water is essential for life on earth, not just human life
but all life. Water is needed for
drinking, cleaning, washing, and making crops grow. There is no substitute for this precious
resource, and yet we waste it, we pollute it, and we even commodify it! Let's start anew, working towards clean water
for all.
- When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run. Fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water.
- Select the proper pan size for cooking. Large pans may require more cooking water than necessary.
- When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.
- When washing your hands, turn the water off while you lather.
- Learn how to use your water meter to check for leaks.
- At home or while staying in a hotel, reuse your towels.
- Plant in the spring and fall, when the watering requirements are lower.
- Collect water from your roof by installing gutters and downspouts. Direct the runoff to plants and trees.
- Leave lawn clippings on your grass, this cools the ground and holds in moisture.
- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean patios, sidewalks and driveways, and save water every time.
We pray
for those that we know who are in need
of your
life-giving water at this time... (add names
and
circumstances known to you). May their
thirst
be quenched.
Hear the
cries of those without clean water
And quench their thirst
So may it be.
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