Today is Blog Action Day. And the topic of conversation among bloggers today is “Water”. The point of Blog Action Day is to get all of us to collectively discuss one topic that merits our attention. A global theme, if you may. And water was the choice topic this year.
While those of us who live in developed nations take for granted the availability of good, clean water that reaches our lips or bathes our bodies and possessions through advanced plumbing systems, infrastructure and even convenient bottles (fortified with anti-oxidants!), countless more people are struggling to get their daily quota from wells, rustic pipes and their local waterhole.
In many places around the world, there’s no such thing as “extreme” when you’re living in the thick of it. For instance, I often pay a visit to my native country and find myself crossing bridges and side streets where I come across bodies of water and canals where little children bathe alongside trash and heaps of garbage. I’ve even heard of tragic stories involving people who accidentally drown in these rivers due to the debris and refuse that pollute these waters. The waters here are hazardous in more ways than one.
In the most populous countries, you’ll see sights like this.
Bridge Over Troubled Waters: Keeping Our Rivers Clean
What can we do to save our rivers, lakes and streams? Those of us living comfortably in our homes may seem far removed from some of these concerns. Such troubles seem so far away. But when accidents like the Gulf oil spill disaster hits closer to home, we’re reminded about what we’re doing to our natural resources. So if you’re wondering what it is that we can do for this cause, here are some ideas:
- Keep our waters clean with these pointers.
- Build wells. Check out charity: water and Water.org to see what is being done to improve conditions in developing countries.
- Recycle. Less consumption overall may mean less impact upon our environment — including our oceans and rivers.
- Reduce bottle waste. Some cities are limiting their spending on bottled water.
- Conserve water. Here are some resources and tips on water conservation.
This is what we wish we ALL could have and enjoy. Wouldn’t it be great if this were the case everywhere?
Let’s do what we can to keep our waters clean.
More on Blog Action Day from years past:
- Reflecting On Climate Change on Blog Action Day (Blog Action Day 2009)
- 10 Simple Ways To Save Money And The Environment (Blog Action Day 2007)
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I think that this is a great cause that really needs to be done.
I think that river is connected to the Pasig river which was once very pristine. The Philippines has been trying to do something to clean the river and there are noticeable improvements compared to before.
Just recently, they had an info-drive to raise awareness. They broke a Guinness record for a marathon for a cause.
@JZ,
Yes, it’s the Pasig river. I actually heard of some guy who jumped in that river when he was being chased by some muggers. He sank like a stone because of the filth in there (the water was so dense). I actually spent part of my life in the Pasig area. Pollution was intense. I’m hearing that things are a bit better!
At first glance, I thought the first picture was one of a bridge overlooking a littered street. I didn’t realize it was water! How awful. And you’re right, it’s easy to fall into the “out of sight, out of mind” way of thinking, but this does indeed affect us all.
No, this was not what I meant either. It’s one of my favorite songs, especially the version sung by an American Idol singer (Clay Aiken). I had to save this pic for posterity.