World Water Day 2010 - Polluted water is more dangerous than war

Polluted water is killing more people each year than all forms of violence, including war, according to a United Nations report released today, World Water Day.

The report, titled "Sick Water," said that 3.7 percent of all deaths are linked to diseases that stem from 2 billion tons of contaminated water discharged daily across the world, including fertilizer runoff, sewage and industrial waste. More than half of the world's hospital beds are occupied by patients sick with water-related diseases, which will translate to millions of deaths, the report said.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the casualties are preventable if world leaders focus more on clean drinking water and wastewater management. A United Nations report released today said dirty water kills more people each year than war.

"These deaths are an affront to our common humanity and undermine the efforts of many countries to achieve their development potential," Ban said in a statement. "The world has the know-how to solve these challenges and become better stewards of our water resources."

Ban said clean drinking water is a key element in enabling the U.N. to achieve its goals, including "improved maternal and child health and life expectancy, women's empowerment, food security, sustainable development and climate change adaptation and mitigation."

It takes three liters of water to produce one liter of bottled water, and that bottled water in the U.S. requires the consumption of some 17 million barrels of oil annually, according to the report.

Deal of the Week 22 - 28 March 2010

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Kenyans hope strength in numbers can raise money for World Water Day

A Kenyan non-governmental organisation is mobilising people to participate in the World’s Longest Toilet Queue this Saturday ahead of World Water Day on Monday.

Maji na Ufanisi supported by the African Civil Society Network on Water and Sanitation (ANEW) said in a statement that the event would be held in Kibera Soweto East Village.

“This is a crucial moment in fighting against the global sanitation and water crisis that is killing 4,000 children every single day,” said the statement.

Around 500 people comprising communities, pupils and different institutions are scheduled to take part in the event to mark UN World Water Day and to stand in solidarity with 2.6 billion people worldwide who are still waiting in line to use a safe and dignified toilet.

“This event is taking place in many other countries across the world and by this in Kenya we will be calling the Government to think about the millions of Kenyans without access to safe water and sanitation, and to prioritise,” said ANEW.

Globally, the World’s Longest Toilet Queue will be pushing politicians to prioritise water and sanitation by committing aid and resources at the first High-Level Meeting on water and Sanitation to be held in April 2010 in Washington DC.

Lack of access to clean water and basic sanitation is killing more children than HIV/Aids, malaria and measles combined, said the NGO.

Actress aiming high with toilet rolls in charity world record bid

Singer, actress and playwright Eleanor Bennet is aiming for a Guinness World Record on Saturday 27 March when she builds the world’s tallest toilet roll tower at the Broad Street Mall in Reading to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Research Trust.

Members of the public will be able to sponsor a toilet roll for £1 and watch the tower grow to a height of over 15 metres. Eleanor explained her motivation behind the unique idea and for supporting the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, the UK’s leading dementia research charity:

“In between acting, writing and singing, I have worked in a care home and witnessed first hand the devastating effects of dementia. So I’ve decided to do something really eccentric and fun to grab people’s attention and to raise awareness of the hundreds and thousands of people across the country who live with this dreadful condition.

"At the same time I want to raise money for vital research. I plan to use up to 6,000 toilet rolls to build the tower - it’s certainly going to make a statement!”

Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, added: “We can’t thank Eleanor enough for coming up with such an original idea to help us beat dementia. The money raised will make a real difference by bringing a cure ever nearer and hope to those people living with the daily reality of this devastating condition.

“There are over 1,200 people in Reading alone with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and 820,000 people across the UK, and this is a number that will rise massively in the next generation. Dementia research is making progress but it is hugely underfunded.

"Anyone who is unable to get along to the Broad Street Mall on 27 March can support Eleanor’s efforts to raise money for vital dementia research online at www.virginmoneygiving.com/worldstallesttoiletrolltower or by telephoning Sharon Mansion at the Alzheimer’s Research Trust on 01223 843899."

The sales proceeds of her CD Single 'We Wipe Bums' will go to the Alzheimer's Society!