30 July 2010

UN recognizes the human right to water (and how you can help)

Water is supposed to be a natural resource, necessary for our survival. But, in many places, water has become privatized and scarce.

According to Water.org, some 884 million people (approximately one in eight) lack access to safe water, and 3.575 million people die each year from water-related disease.

And so, on June 28, the United Nations General Assembly voted to recognize the right to water and sanitation. 122 states voted in favor of the resolution. Sadly, 41 states abstained, including the U.S.

This resolution won't solve the world's water problems. It's merely a formality. But it gives clout to the cause.

While our water rights will continue to be trampled by the world's corporations, we don't have to support their bloody profits.

Kicking the bottled water habit is a good place to start. Not only does it make good moral sense, it could be healthier as well. Most people don't seem to realize that bottled water is less regulated -- and therefore possibly lower quality -- than tap water, and the plastic bottles they come in are a whole other horror story. Instead, invest in a reusable stainless steel bottle, and refill it with plain or filtered tap water. It's better for the planet, better for your health, and better for your wallet.

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