Today is Blog Action Day, October 15th. This year, bloggers around the world are posting about “Water”.
I take water for granted. I’m guessing you do too.
I normally have a glass of water on my desk, and fill a bottle to pop in my bag if I’m going out for any length of time.
It takes seconds to walk to the tap and grab a drink. And it’s what I’ve always known: water that’s available for pennies, that’s clean and safe to drink.
A billion people – one eighth of the world – don’t have that luxury.
I donate monthly to Water Aid. In part, I’m ashamed to say, because it was as convenient as switching on a tap. There was a handy form in my water bill in 2009, and I thought about how I take water for granted, and how so many people around the world can’t do that.
Back in 2007, I went to Madagascar with my family. We were flown out to tiny, remote villages to see the work of MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship, a Christian charity getting medical support and other help to people who desperately need it). Even when the villages had wells, there was little or no understanding of good water hygiene - how to keep water safe and clean to drink. I saw first-hand that clean water sources simply do not exist for many people.
The figures about water are shocking. This is the one that saddens me most (you can find more at the Blog Action Day homepage):
Every week, nearly 38,000 children under the age of 5 die from unsafe drinking water and unhygienic living conditions.
Imagine if 38,000 children died in America or in Europe in one week from something so preventable. There’d be an outcry. There’d be a solution.
However little you have to give, you could help save a child’s life. I like to give to Water Aid by monthly direct debit because the money goes out of my account without me needing to remember.
Whether you can make a large commitment or a small one, a regular donation or a one-off, I’d urge you to consider giving whatever you can today.
You can donate at http://www.wateraid.org – or simply search online for any water charity.
I'm Ali Luke, a writer and blogger living in Oxford in the UK. I blog here about writing and the writing life. 
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Ali, This is such a telling point: “Imagine if 38,000 children died in America or in Europe in one week from something so preventable. There’d be an outcry. There’d be a solution.” Thanks very much for this excellent article. I’m moved that you’ve already been donating to Water Aid for so long even if it was easy!
.-= Sandra Lee´s last blog ..My magic potion for knocking anxiety on its head =-.
Thanks, Sandra. It’s so difficult to see statistics like that — I feel like my efforts can’t do much — but I know I’m part of a much bigger picture. To really make a difference, thousands or millions of people just need to do a tiny bit each!
Hi Ali,
Yea we have to be thankful that we really have clean water over. Some people in some parts of the world, don’t even have water all the time (clean and unclean). Some have to wait for a few days till they get it. It is really sad that 38,000 kids die from drinking unclean water. Thanks for sharing Ali
.-= Dia´s last blog ..5 Ways to show respect =-.
Thanks Dia. It makes me sad too — and shocked that this is going on in the 21st century. Clean water seems like such a basic thing — but one which much of the world can’t take for granted.
oh, that’s new news for me,
its good that we blogger unite and serve a good purpose such as this one
Yep! You’ve not come across Blog Action Day before? I’m surprised — it’s pretty big! Maybe less so this year because it fell right in the middle of BlogWorld; I’ve not seen quite so many posts as usual.
Well, Ali, I am not really surprised….it is in your nature to contribute to the common weal and you have been doing this for quite a while now.
Anybody who knows you can vouch for your sense of generosity toward those who are less fortunate. It is also a part and parcel of your Christian upbringing and voluntary activism in the Church you have been part of.
Bless you heart.
And thist post is well-intentioned and right on the money, so thanks.
If we don’t act fast, we may have water wars now in the world instead of conventional wars and that’s sad. The way we treat the natural habitat and the system that perpetuates those mishaps, well, enough said. Cheers.
Thanks, Archan. And yes, my parents (and church) have always set a great example for me in terms of giving to charity and helping those who aren’t so lucky as we are.
I feel that if we have a lot of good things — even such basic things as clean water, shelter, friends, food — then it’s our responsibility to share some of our abundance with those who have so little.
It would be awful to see nations warring over water. And yes, I agree with you that our treatment of our world is partly to blame for the problems we’re facing now.