Foreign Policy Blogs

World Water Day, 20 March 2008

In a statement issued by UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon's message on World Water Day targeted a lack of political will as the main reason for failure to achieve basic sanitation.  However with today is marked to bring awareness to the plight of some  2.6 billion people world wide who are without proper sanitation facilities and clean drinking water.

What can proper sanitation and hygiene do:

  • Lower morbidity rates in the population.
  • Lower mortality rates due to diarrhea.
  • Better nutrition among children.
  • Cleaner environment.
  • Safer food and increased impact of improved water supplies.
  • Better learning and retention among school children.
  • Dignity and privacy, especially women and girls.
  • UNICEF and UNDP will hold a ground braking event, 'stand up for those who cant sit down’, today in NYC's Central Park;

    Please see the official World Water Day site, and yesterdays post for more information, resources and ways you can help those in need of clean water and sanitation.

     
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    1. Cassandra Clifford Thursday - 20 / 03 / 2008 Reply
      World Water Day 2008 - The Link Between Clean Water and Health Time and Place Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 Time: 12:30pm - 2:00pm Location: Rayburn House Office Building - Room B338 City/Town: Washington, DC More than 1 billion people live without access to safe water and 2.6 billion people do not have access to basic sanitation. Please join the Global Health Council in commemorating World Water Day at a briefing focusing on the importance of clean water as a health intervention. Diarrheal diseases - in large part caused by unclean water - result in the deaths of 1.8 million people annually and contribute to the deaths of many more. In addition, the burden of collecting clean water more often than not lies with women, increasing their vulnerability to neglected diseases and violence. Host: Maurice Middleburg Please fill out registration form at: http://www.globalhealth.org/view_top.php3?id=646 Direct Link: http://www.globalhealth.org/news/article/9706

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    Author

    Cassandra Clifford
    Cassandra Clifford

    Cassandra Clifford is the Founder and Executive Director of Bridge to Freedom Foundation, which works to enhance and improve the services and opportunities available to survivors of modern slavery. She holds an M.A., International Relations from Dublin City University in Ireland, as well as a B.A., Marketing and A.S., Fashion Merchandise/Marketing from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.

    Cassandra has previously worked in both the corporate and charity sector for various industries and causes, including; Child Trafficking, Learning Disabilities, Publishing, Marketing, Public Relations and Fashion. Currently Cassandra is conducting independent research on the use of rape as a weapon of war, as well as America’s Pimp Culture and its Impact on Modern Slavery. In addition to her many purists Cassandra is also working to develop a series of children’s books.

    Cassandra currently resides in the Washington, D.C. metro area, where she also writes for the Examiner, as the DC Human Rights Examiner, and serves as an active leadership member of DC Stop Modern Slavery.


    Areas of Focus:
    Children's Rights; Human Rights; Conflict