It is so easy to take everyday essentials for granted: I am fortunate to be able to wake up in my own bed, with a roof over my head; there is fresh food in my refrigerator and I have plenty of clean water to drink and bathe with. As of recently, we are reminded daily (hourly?!) of these necessities to live; especially following the shocking earthquake that has turned Haiti upside down. (The other day Earth Promise posted how we can help Haiti after the devastating earthquake that occurred.)
Let’s take something as indispensable as water, whether it be for drinking or bathing. I was listening to NPR early this morning and one company, Shelterbox.org, sponsored by service clubs such as Rotary Clubs, has been sending large sealed boxes containing various contents (depending on the disaster ) to Haiti. The Shelterboxes are providing Haitians with such items such as tents, blankets, mats and water purifying tablets. Although each item included in the Shelterbox is greatly appreciated and used, the water tablets are invaluable.
“water purification tablets or a water purification kit; and one 5 gallon flat-pack water container (Each tablet will purify a full container of water providing 1,800 gallons of clean drinking water which should be sufficient for a family of ten for up to three months).”
It is difficult to fathom that a first world countries’ water supply is waning. It is easy to push these gloomy thoughts to lesser developed countries, like Haiti, Africa, or India. Although we constantly hear that three quarters of the earth’s surface is covered by water, you would think the process of the water cycle would allow the balance of water on the earth to remain constant. The big problem is that we are consuming and utilizing water faster than Mother Nature can replenish for us.
Over the past years, the environmental movement has focused more on the emissions of greenhouse gasses, air pollution, pesticides in our food, and trying to eliminate plastics from our daily routine compared to our dwindling water supply. But if you do some research, water is inextricably linked to all of the above. We need to stop using more water and take the time to figure out how to use less.
Here are some water crisis activists that we admire. Some have even been featured on our Earth Promise blogs and interviews:
Christopher Swain, who is creating a healthy ocean planet through education.
Change Agent, Denise Russo produces events and concerts that raise $$ and awareness for the global water crisis.
Alexandra Cousteau “a globally recognized advocate on water quality and policy, continues the work of her renowned grandfather Jacques Yves and father Philippe Cousteau. At 32, she has already mastered the remarkable storytelling tradition handed down to her through the generations, and has the unique ability to draw audiences into the weighty issues of policy, politics, and action. Alexandra is a National Geographic Emerging Explorer and a CNN International Principal Voice, a graduate of Georgetown University, and a lifelong explorer and activist. She established Blue Legacy in 2008, an organization dedicated to inspiring people around the world to take action on critical water issues.”
A young student from Dubai International School travelled to the India-Bangladesh border to raise awareness about water conservation. He made a short video clip illustrating, via photos, the devastating effects of un-sanitized water. His goal is to make people empathize through his captivating photography. He states, “They bathe, they drink, they excrete and they urinate in the exact same pond or lake…”
Unfortunately, the photos this young student took could have been in any one of the many poor countries in the world. It is time to truly look at how we use (or shall I say, waste?) water. How long are we in the shower? By now, it should be second nature to brush our teeth without the faucet running. What do we do with that half consumed water bottle? Are your sprinklers on a timer? Try to imagine your life without a clean water supply: how will you flush your toilets, bathe, wash dishes, water your plants?
Earth Promise offers a plentitude of simple ideas on how you can reduce your water consumption.
But more needs to be done. The disaster in Haiti has given a new focus to our water crisis. Time to do your research: not only make an effort to lessen your water consumption but see how you can participate in creating safe water supplies in developing countries. Below are some sites that offer such information:
I came across the blog, 
The Cruising Caddy Water Bottle Carrier
What will you be thankful for this Thanksgiving? Family, friends and health always seem to top the list. Reducing your impact on the environment and educating others by example is definitely something to be thankful for! Here are some great tips (I have gathered from various sites) to lessen your impact. As you know, holiday time can create an abundance of waste and therefore a larger footprint. Did you know that according to 
Kudos to my blogging comrade, Stefani Newman, who now writes for Seventh Generation’s 
It is frightening to think that one individual in the FDA is in charge of overseeing all regulations for bottled water in our country. Environmental documentary, 
