At their meeting this week the WCC Central Committee issued a statement strongly welcoming the recognition of water and sanitation as a human right by the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council.

Geneva. Water shortages in the Middle East could lead to social unrest unless urgent action is taken to transform a potential crisis into an opportunity for a "new form of peace", according to a new report presented in Geneva.

Staff at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland, had their offices blessed today on the feast of the Theophany following the celebration of a service of the Great Blessing of the Waters.

Experts, activists and church representatives met at the Asia consultation of the Ecumenical Water Network and debated on what it means to give a Christian witness on water issues.

Community elder Danilo Torvator and his family have one misfortune in life. They opted to settle in a river valley in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain range on the Philippine island of Luzon.

The burden that the water crisis in Asia puts particularly on vulnerable and marginalized communities will be the focus of a regional consultation organized by the Ecumenical Water Network and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines.

People around the globe are called to put their names and faces behind the call for strong international action on climate change. An international coalition of Christian organizations is organizing a photo petition that will bring the messages of all those who care for creation to the United Nations climate talks.

On Thursday, 30 September, the UN Human Rights Council has by consensus adopted a resolution affirming that water and sanitation are human rights. “This is a solid base for churches and other supporters of the right to water worldwide to hold their governments accountable for its implementation,” commented Michael Windfuhr, chair of the Ecumenical Water Network.

Washington, September 28, 2010 -- This Sunday, October 3, is a day to seek God's grace for the Gulf in thousands of congregations related to the 36 member communions of the National Council of Churches in the USA.

By Judith Sudilovsky

Jerusalem, 22 September (ENI)--The European Parliament has expressed concern at devastation to the Jordan River and has called on Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority to "cooperate and rehabilitate" it.