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Editorial
We thank you, Almighty God, for the gift of water to sustain, refresh and cleanse all life. Over water the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation, Through water you led the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the promised land. In water your Son Jesus received the Baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us from the death of sin to the newness of life.
These words, taken from an Anglican Baptism service, make clear the importance of water both as a source of life and a Christian symbol. For those living in rain-drenched countries, imagination is sometimes needed to grasp the importance of water. But in many parts of the world, water is a matter of hard labour and survival. As articles written by expert contributors from USA show, the global water situation concerns us all. It should particularly concern Christians.
"Wherever there are water shortages, accessibility problems, or pollution within a country, it is the poor who suffer most." Joanne Green, Public Policy officer, Tearfund.
We all know the importance of water in sustaining our physical bodies, yet in the twentieth century the industrialised countries have come to take it for granted. Although water is a renewable source, we are using it faster than it is being naturally replenished. The reasons for the dramatic increase in water usage in the last century are the enormous population growth, industrial development and the expansion of irrigated agriculture. Water is not only fundamental for our physical bodies it has enabled countries to modernise and improve standards of living. Simultaneously, increased industrial activity has caused pollution of the water supply, although in developed countries this problem is being remedied.
A recent UN Environment Programme report, GEO – 2000, stated that “full-scale emergencies” now exist as a result of water shortages, land degradation, tropical forest destruction, species extinction, overfishing and urban air pollution. It argued that in the next 25 years the world would begin to run out of fresh-water and water wars over scarce resources could spread across a wide belt of North Africa, the Middle East and Asia. This theme is echoed in a book entitled Water Wars1, which points out that water is already an important cause of tension. For example, Egypt, dependent on Ethiopia for the source of the Blue Nile, has made clear that it will fight for its interests and much strife in the Middle East is rooted in water. The author suggests that there are some signs of hope:-
- America has reduced its overall water consumption by 35% since 1950 and by 9% between 1980 and 1995.
- Israel now reuses 70% of its sewer water, while the Florida town of St Petersburg recycles 100%.
- Desalination is a further option – expensive, but a scheme to supply fresh water to 100,000 people costs only as much as a fighter plane.
- Population control as women choose – and are able – to have fewer children is another way forward.
In almost every country, projects have been undertaken to deal with the scarcity and better use of water. Most of the main international aid and support agencies, such as the World Bank, the World Health Organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, are involved in assisting countries in the developing world to improve water and sanitation. In addition, many charities are making water one of their greatest priorities and many churches have made donating to such charities a cornerstone of their Christian giving. In March 2000, the World Water Forum, an organisation comprised of governments, NGOs, the UN and business, will set crucial international targets regarding water resources. It will try to start making the vision of the sustainable use of the earth’s water into a practical reality. A vital part of the process is the on-going consultation with regions and local communities via the Global Water Partnership network. It is hoped that this event will help generate the political will necessary for the paradigm shift in the use of water needed to avoid a nightmare scenario.
The understanding of the Christian Church, shared by other world religions, is that water is a gift of Creation. It is a symbol of life and a sign of hope. All of us, in water-rich countries as well as in countries where its importance needs no imagination, must share responsibility for ensuring the wiser use and appropriate conservation of water.
1Water Wars by Marq de Villiers, (Wiedenfield and Nicholson) information from review by Colin Tudge in The Times July 29th 1999.
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