Since 2008, the Ecumenical Water Network has been providing weekly reflections and other resources on water for the season of Lent. These Seven Weeks for Water are a way of raising awareness around World Water Day on 22 March.

Resources include background papers, campaigning links and ideas for activities by churches, congregations and individuals. The reflections focus on the Biblical values of justice, love for one's neighbour and care for creation.

In 2012, the Seven Weeks for Water focus on the role of water in the emerging, and controversially debated, “Green Economy” concept. The Green Economy aims at reconciling economic development with environmental and social well-being. It is one of the key topics for debate in the run-up to the United Nations' "Rio+20" Conference on Sustainable Development, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012.

At first sight, economy and ecumenism may have little to do with one another, except sounding similar and perhaps sharing a common linguistic root. Yet economy and religion are profoundly interrelated. Religious people and communities are part of economic systems, contribute to them, shape economies and are shaped by them.

Economic and environmental realities, and in particular, the “economy of water” have been shaped by religious practices and understandings. Think of the impact of medieval technologies such as crop rotation and irrigation developed and spread by monastic communities around Europe and beyond: their effects on global politics, religion, and economies reverberate to this day.

In these times of economic and environmental crisis, there is a fresh urgency for  Christians to engage in reflection and action on the “economy of water”.

Please note: Opinions expressed in Biblical reflections or background resources do not necessarily reflect EWN and WCC policy.