In 1993 the United Nations designated March 22 as World Water Day, a day to raise awareness and inspire action to tackle the water and sanitation crisis in our world. The theme for this year’s World Water Day is Leveraging Water for Peace.
More than three billion people worldwide depend on water that crosses national boundaries, but only 24 countries have cooperation agreements for their shared water. With the critical impacts of climate change and the growth of populations, there is an urgent need, within and between countries, to unite around protecting and conserving this most precious resource. Public health and prosperity, food and energy systems, economic productivity and environmental integrity all depend on a well-functioning and equitably managed water cycle.
Water can create peace or spark conflict. When water is scarce or polluted, or when people struggle for access, tensions can rise. By cooperating on water, we can balance everyone’s water needs and help stabilize the world by fostering harmony, generating prosperity and building resilience to shared challenges.
Prosperity and peace rely on water. As nations manage climate change, mass migration and political unrest, they must put water cooperation at the heart of their plans.
Water can lead us out of crisis. If we play our part, we can create a positive ripple effect. We can foster harmony between communities and countries by uniting around the fair and sustainable use of water – from United Nations conventions at the international level, to actions at the local level.
En 1993, las Naciones Unidas designaron el 22 de marzo como Día Mundial del Agua, un día para concienciar e inspirar la acción para hacer frente a la crisis del agua y el saneamiento en nuestro mundo. El lema del Día Mundial del Agua de este año es Aprovechar el agua para la paz.
Más de tres mil millones de personas en todo el mundo dependen del agua que cruza las fronteras nacionales, pero sólo 24 países tienen acuerdos de cooperación para el agua que comparten. Con los impactos críticos del cambio climático y el crecimiento de la población, hay una necesidad urgente, dentro y entre los países, de unirse en torno a la protección y conservación de este recurso tan preciado. La salud pública y la prosperidad, los sistemas alimentarios y energéticos, la productividad económica y la integridad medioambiental dependen del buen funcionamiento y la gestión equitativa del ciclo del agua.
El agua puede crear paz o desencadenar conflictos. Cuando el agua escasea o está contaminada, o cuando la gente lucha por acceder a ella, las tensiones pueden aumentar. Cooperando en materia de agua, podemos equilibrar las necesidades de agua de todos y ayudar a estabilizar el mundo fomentando la armonía, generando prosperidad y creando resiliencia ante los retos compartidos.
La prosperidad y la paz dependen del agua. A medida que las naciones gestionan el cambio climático, las migraciones masivas y los disturbios políticos, deben situar la cooperación en materia de agua en el centro de sus planes.
El agua puede sacarnos de la crisis. Si ponemos de nuestra parte, podemos crear un efecto dominó positivo. Podemos fomentar la armonía entre comunidades y países uniéndonos en torno al uso justo y sostenible del agua, desde las convenciones de las Naciones Unidas a nivel internacional hasta las acciones a nivel local.
It is, in effect, our faith communities’ way of being in solidarity with those who are actively working for peace and justice around our world.
March 8, International Women’s Day, is a global day celebrating the social, cultural, economic and political achievements of women. It also issues a call to action for the acceleration of greater parity in our world.
The Pope reminds us that God’s message is always one of freedom. He also cautions that the journey from slavery to freedom is not an abstract one. It requires us to open our eyes to the reality of our world.
Bahkita, who is also the patron saint of Sudan, her homeland, was kidnapped and sold into slavery at a very young age – a victim of human trafficking. Eventuaslly freed, she became a Canossian nun and was declared a Saint in 2000.
Sister Mary Teresa was professed in May of 1884 and in August of that same year she became part of the founding community of St. Bride’s Convent, Littledale. Her keen interest in the schools and her remarkable business aptitude prepared her well for the ministry ahead.
