24. May 07
Melting ice caps on Mt Kenya and Kilimanjaro need action now
"In my childhood, the water was so clear that you could see the hard rock at the bottom. Fishing for trout was so easy. We enjoyed it. When we used our fishing rods, we could see ourselves catching the fish," says Professor Jesse Mugambi, a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) working group on Climate Change. "But then we started to grow coffee and tea. First the rivers were polluted because of erosion, and then there was...
17. May 07
Ecumenical Water Network conference on churches' response to Africa's water crisis
According to some estimates, over 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lack adequate access to safe water. What can churches do to help ensure sufficient and safe water - a basic human right - for all the continent's inhabitants?
16. May 07
„Churches for Water in Africa", May 21-25
In sub-Saharan Africa, 314 million people lack adequate access to safe water. What can the churches do to assure water and life for the people of the African continent? Already next week, representatives of Churches and their partners from more than 20 different African countries are going to meet in a conference convened by the Ecumenical Water Network (EWN) in Entebbe, Uganda
2. May 07
Consultation on human rights obligations on 11 May 2007 in Geneva
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is hosting a consultation on human rights obligations related to access to water and sanitation on 11 May 2007 in Geneva. Participants in the consultation will include representatives of States, inter-governmental organizations, civil society and business. The Ecumenical Water Network will also participate.
19. April 07
"Thirst for Life" in Manhattan, New York, on April 27th
An exciting all-day event entitled Thirst for Life is taking place in downtown Manhattan at Pace University on Friday April 27th from 10am-6pm. The event is organized by Church World Service and is co-sponsored by Pace University and the United Nations' International Decade for Action: Water for Life. The conference will feature speakers from the United Nations (including Frederik Pischke from UN Water) and civil society. Films will be shown...
19. April 07
Churches develop common platform on climate change
Focusing on how to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to real change in the lives of communities through new forms of development, a 12-15 April WCC/Christian Aid consultation in London worked to determine elements of a common platform for churches' involvement in the UNFCCC COP 13 climate change negotiations in Brazil next November-December.
30. March 07
UN study on the right to water: submissions possible until April 15th
The UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) has requested civil society to provide information with relevance to the OHCHR’s study on the human right to water. The deadline is short: Any information needs to be submitted by April 15th. The completed study will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in November 2007 and it is likely to have an important impact on the way the human right to water is interpreted and...
15. February 07
March 16th: "Access to water – a human right"
Talking about the human right to water, what does it mean? What needs to be done so that people can claim their right? Leading up to World Water Day (March 22nd) a half-day conference organized by the Swiss working group "Water - a public good" and supported by the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches and the Ecumenical Water Network will try to tackle these and related questions. Among the speakers will be Maude Barlow, winner of the...
2. February 07
World Social Forum 2007: Another World is Possible!
Almost 60,000 people from all over the world came together at the World Social Forum (WSF) from January 20th to 25th in Nairobi, Kenya. Though fewer than expected, the spirit was good and the common call for another, a better, world was strong. The Caritas/AACC Ecumenical Platform provided a visible space for churches to stand "Together for social justice". Many events drew attention to the pressing problems of dwindling water resources and lack...
26. January 07
A story in a glass of muddy water
A glass of water could tell a whole story. Like the glass Dunstan Ddamulira was offered recently in the Ugandan countryside. "In my country [Uganda]," Ddamulira says, "you can't be refused water to drink. So I stopped by at this house and asked for a glass of water. A girl gave it to me. It was 50 percent mud." And to prove what he says, he shows a picture he took with his cell phone. It is 50 percent mud.