Water is the most fundemental life need, and as such
must be accorded the most serious of attention. Considering that we live on a planet whose surface is made up of about 70
percent water, it seems ludicrous that we should have a problem with too little
of it. Yet of this vast quantity of water only a very small percentage is fresh or
drinkable. Over vast areas rainfall is either sporadic or goes in cycles of
drought and monsoon, so we in northern North America truly live in the
fortunate world. Especially in Canada where we enjoy a huge
reserve of fresh and pristine water.
Are we prepared to share
what is a large percentage of the worlds' remaining fresh
water, much of that in pristine shape, with an increasingly
parched and still rapidly growing human population?
It would not be feasible, or ecologically sound, to ship Canadian water to countries
where it would be needed. Likewise, other such large scale projects are not
where the solutions lie. The needed trend in all areas these days is
toward small projects that will leave as small an environmental impact as
possible while providing the greatest human benefit.
This brings us to the purpose of the World Water Project. We believe as
world leaders in the development of water purification systems, as well as the
caretakers of all of this fresh water, that we are in a unique position to do the
right thing. With recent developments in the use of ultraviolet disinfection and
advances in the ability to provide alternate sources of power, wecan now apply
this technology where it is so desperately needed.
We believe that we can accept our deep
responsibility and take personal action; as well as perhaps set a national objective.
One of the prime functions of the WWP will be to expedite available materials
and expertise from manufacturers and researchers able to provide it, and make
those resources available to the groups as they need them for a project. In this
way it is hoped that very little money will be needed. The
main needs are of the treatment equipment itself, and individual effort.
If you prefer dealing with solutions rather than problems, then the WWP is for
you. What we are doing is not charity in the traditional sense, but rather seeing
that we have the solution and, in the seeing, are driven to action.
Traditional forms of aid, international or otherwise, have
the unfortunate tendancy to form bureaucracies that increasingly suck up
resources. By being as decentralized as possible, the WWP will ensure that maximum
effort goes where it is needed.
If you think that you can make a contribution please
contact us.
This is a request for a commitment of
time and energy, materials, an attitude of tolerance (even
for the intolerant), and an ability to go beyond politics and
ideologies; suffering knows no such bounds.
Financial donations are also welcome, but even better would be starting your own project.
This is an excerpt from the First World Forum on Water: Since the dawn of the 20th century, the world's population has doubled, whereas the consumption of water has
increased sixfold. It is estimated that the planet will have 6 billion inhabitants by the year 2000, 8.3 billion in 2025,
and close to 10 billion in 2050.
Furthermore, climatic changes that are threatening to wreak havoc on the water supply and on the
rainfall in many regions of the world will only aggravate problems regarding water accessibility and
distribution.
