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Seven Weeks for Water 2025, week 7: "Thirsty for justice"

The seventh and last reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2025 of the WCC’s Ecumenical Water Network is written jointly by Frances Namoumou and Netani Rika. In the following reflection, they have analysed the water scarcity situation in the Pacific region, worsened by climate change, with a justice perspective from the narratives of the persistent widow of the Bible. They challenge us not to give up our “thirst for justice” under any circumstances. 

Seven Weeks for Water 2025, week 6: Water in the Cosmic Dance!

The sixth reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2025 series of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network is written by Prof. Mathew Koshy of Church of South India.  In this reflection, inspired by the Psalm104, he argues that the life giving resource, the water of life, plays a vital role in the “divine choreography” with other elements in God’s creation to sustain life. He then invites us to renew our participation in the “cosmic dance of life”—where water flows freely, justly, and joyfully.  Furthermore, he illustrates the Church of South India’s good practices in this endeavour.

Seven Weeks for Water 2025, week 5: Lenten Sustenance: Jesus at the table

The fifth reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2025 series of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network is written by Phil Hildtich, with inputs from Sarah Larkin and Amanda Munoz from the PAAHC (Prayer & Action Against Hunger Coalition). He focuses on artwork chosen for this year’s Weekend of Prayer and Action against Hunger campaign. Linking climate change and melting glaciers with food production and hunger, he reminds us to be mindful of the food that we take for granted and draws our attention to the “10 Commandments for Food.” He also highlights the Christian witness to address hunger in times of climate change, being inspired by Jesus, who always had a concern for feeding the hungry.

Seven Weeks for Water 2025, week 4: Is the “Water Futures Market” the Future of Water?

The fourth reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2025 series of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network is jointly written by  Dinesh Suna and Prof. Susan  Smith. They reflect on the pressing issues surrounding water in the context of climate change,  especially the disastrous  recent wildfires in California. Ironically, in 2020 California had  introduced the water in the “futures market” as a tradable commodity like oil and gold.  They underscore, the importance of prioritizing water as a common good, and the ethical challenges surrounding water privatization.

Seven Weeks for Water 2025, week 3: "Symbiotic Guardianship: The Bond Between Humans and the Achachilas"

The third reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2025 series of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network is written by Jocabed Reina Solano Miselis, a daughter of the Gunadule nation in Panama. Being an Indigenous activist, she juxtaposes the indigenous spirituality and their integral connection with the nature, the “Achachilas” with the unsatiable desire of humans to exploit the nature for its resources, driven by capitalism. She introduces us to the indigenous belief system which is based on the reciprocity of mother earth and human beings, caring for each other. 

Seven Weeks for Water 2025, week 2: "Feminization of water poverty in Africa”

The second reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2025 series of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network was written by the late Dr Agnes Abuom, former moderator of the WCC central committee. Dr Abuom was the first woman and first African to hold this important position. She was also the executive director of TAABCO Research and Development Consultants, Nairobi, Kenya. In her reflection, being an African woman around the  International Women’s Day, she explores the linkages between poverty and water scarcity and their impact on women. In 2017, Kenya was reeling under a serious drought which was deteriorating the situation for women as they were mostly responsible for fetching water for their families.

Seven Weeks for Water 2025, week 1: "Sacred Waters: Honoring God’s Gifts in a Changing World"

The first reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2025 series of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network is written by Hella Tangu, a student of climate change studies from Uganda. In this reflection, she draws our attention to the importance of the glaciers, which are often not considered as a source of freshwater. She then challenges us to be mindful of how we use water, to take care of this precious resource as stewards of God’s creation, and to protect the glaciers, the ultimate source of freshwater on earth.

Seven Weeks for Water 2021, week 6: "A universe reborn: in the context of Standing Rock", by Archbishop Mark MacDonald

The 6th reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2021 of the WCC’s Ecumenical Water Network is written by Archbishop Mark MacDonald.*  In the following reflection, he recognises that Jesus and his ministry are closely associated with water. Then he goes on to recall his presence at the Standing Rock protests in 2016 along with other clergy and indigenous water protectors.  He felt, at that time, that Jesus was also present beside them at the Standing Rock to protect its waters.

Seven Weeks for Water 2021, week 5: "Water on Wall Street: the ultimate abuse of God’s gift", by Susan Smith and Dinesh Suna

The 5th reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2021 of the WCC’s Ecumenical Water Network (EWN) is written by Susan Smith and Dinesh Suna.*  In the following reflection, they condemn the recent listing of water on Wall Street as a tradable commodity.  Referring to the biblical assurance that God will quench the thirst of the poor and needy and that water should be made available to all even if they have no money, they proclaim the true value of water as a gift from God, a human right, a spiritual wonder and the source of all life. 

Seven Weeks for Water 2021, week 4: "Gendered water: women fight for safe drinking water in their communities", by Krystina White

The 4th reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2021 of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network is written by Krystina White.* In the following reflection, she narrates her experience of how people of colour are denied their right to clean water because of lead poisoning of tap water in Flint, Michigan (USA). She further demonstrates how ordinary women, though at the receiving end, can do extraordinary work, just like Deborah, the prophetess in the Bible.  White and her friends challenged the lead contamination of Flint’s waters through the Black Millennials 4 Flint and offered lasting solutions to communities facing the crisis.

 

Seven Weeks for Water 2021, week 3: "Water for creation: protecting water for the sacred C’iyaal, C’waam and Koptu", by Jesse Cruz Richards

The 3rd reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2021 of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Water Network is written by Jesse Cruz Richards.*  The following reflection draws inspiration from the restoration of the Israelites from Babylonian exile as promised by Ezekiel, and from hopes and prayers for the restoration of the Klamath Tribes and other indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest to their rivers, waters and fishes, namely the C’iyaal, C’waam and Koptu. 

Seven Weeks for Water 2021, week 2: "Water for life: not guaranteed for the indigenous people of the Navajo Nation", by Annika Harley

The 2nd reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2021 of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network is written by Annika Harley.*  In the following reflection, Harley highlights the challenges of mining and fracking in the Navajo Nation based on her conversation with Bitahnii Wayne Wilson, who not only challenges these unsustainable practices, but also provides small-scale solutions to indigenous communities in the time of COVID-19.

Seven Weeks for Water 2021, week 1: "The rainbow color of the pilgrimage of water justice in North America", by Michele Roberts

The 1st reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2021 of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network is written by Michele Roberts*, from the Environmental Justice Health Alliance. In this reflection, the author, based on several instances of large scale water contamination in many cities in the USA, comes to a conclusion that lack of access to clean water in USA is a result of systemic racism.