Water Here, There and Everywhere

It rained today ... I think it was in honour of World Water Day. Still hard to fathom that something as basic and essential to human life - and all forms of life - is not readily accessible to all who need it. As a child in school I remember laughing in disbelief as our teacher told us how people in France actually bought water to drink in bottles. That people couldn't drink the water that flowed from their taps was inconceivable to us - never mind that many others didn't even have taps.

To this day I am shocked by the imbalance of accessibility to clean water and sanitation that exists around the planet. What is an everyday occurrence to us in Canada - flushing toilets and drinking clean tap water - is a pipedream for others who drew the short straw in the birthplace lottery. I can't think of any more basic human right than clean water and proper sanitation systems - the foundation for good health and sustenance. We have been spared the hardships of walking miles for water and then lugging it back on our backs or heads; we have the luxury of privacy and clean washrooms when nature calls and as a woman, I can't even imagine how my sisters in developing countries cope with their menstrual cycles.

It was sheer good fortune that I was born in this land of bountiful resources; most are not so fortunate. Most of the human race struggles with the daily challenge to survive - let alone thrive.

So it is our responsibility to appreciate these gifts that have been so generously bestowed upon us, with every sip and flush.

You may be interested in Not For Granted.