but hopefully not a dollar short…
On a typical day at my house growing up in the 1970s I’m certain we used gallons and gallons of water we didn’t need to use. All five of us showering, flushing high flow toilets, watering a pristine lawn (one of my father’s obsessions), washing the family cars every Saturday morning, boiling eggs and pouring the cooking water down the drain…I could go on but already I’m getting a stomach ache thinking about it.
Even though I’m older and wiser now, I’m certain there are things I could still be doing to reduce my water consumption even more, but I am eternally grateful that I know what I know. That I don’t take this precious resource for granted. I have been lucky to travel to other countries and realize first hand how my experience of having water whenever I want it is an anomaly. A luxury. Decadent.
Kathryn Grace reminded me that it is going to take the efforts of those of us who do have access to this precious resource in order to bring it to everyone. I know that the founders of our country didn’t specifically note water as a basic human right (truth, justice, pursuit of happiness…), but I’m certain it’s on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and I’m not sure how to pursue happiness without being free of disease. Please visit Kathryn’s blog and see how you can help. Even though yesterday was technically Blog Action Day for this issue, I’m pretty sure that they won’t mind if you sign the petition a day late. Or start your own efforts, however modest, a day late.
It's never too late to do the right thing.
Maybe it's because I've been under the weather with a nasty cold for the second time in a few weeks, so I'm more vulnerable, but your post brings tears to my eyes. It's never too late! The UN is more or less on track with its 2015 goal of reducing by half the number of people worldwide who live without safe drinking water and sanitation, and they'll achieve that goal because ordinary people–one more person and one more person and one more person–talks about it, encourages their friends to take one little step here or there. Every voice counts. Your post made my day! Thank you for taking the time to post about water today.
Kathryn's blog is such a powerful thing – a wonderful way for us all to learn how to better care for our Mother.