World Water Day: Over 350,000 walk for water
Over 350,000 people – spanning 60 countries – are this week taking part in the World Walks for Water.
In support of CAFOD’s Thirst for change campaign, Bishop John Rawsthorne from Hallam diocese and Bishop Michael Bhasera of Masvingo diocese in Zimbabwe joined in the walks – alongside CAFOD supporters and local community members carrying water.
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By walking for water, the Bishops are standing in solidarity with the millions of people – overwhelmingly women and children – who walk great distances every day to collect water for their basic needs.
Zimbabwe walks for water
Bishop Bhasera from Masvingo diocese in Zimbabwe commented, “This is a vital campaign because water is a basic need and everyone has the right to it. It is easy to take water for granted when it is there, but it is so much more than just water – it is a lifeline and foundation for communities and individuals.
“Here in Zimbabwe where we are facing droughts, water is important for domestic and commercial use; being able to have clean water reduces disease, it increases development and lets people be independent and have time to get on with their lives, and that means water empowers people socially and economically.”
Mutume Emmaculate, 32 from Zimbabwe makes a daily walk for water. She said, “I have to walk 5km every day for water and it’s painful. In the long run, I know I will get ill. My health will suffer because of carrying all this water.
“To anyone in the UK I’d say ‘Please assist us with water. We need a borehole in every village – closer to the people.’”
UK walks for water
Former CAFOD Chair, Bishop John Rawsthorne from Hallam, said, “It is astonishing that in 2012, hundreds of millions of people are living without something so fundamental as water. The UK government should do everything in its power to help communities like Bishop Bhasera’s who are not only struggling without water infrastructure but with repeated droughts.”
Grace Boyfield, from Sheffield who took part in a walk for water said, “I did a walk for water to show my support for the Thirst for change campaign.
“We have all been created out of love by God to be stewards of the earth, this campaign encourages us to do just that.
“We are all precious in God’s sight, so let’s show people in the developing world, that we want to change things.”
Support for World Water Day and Thirst for change
In the lead up to World Water Day, and throughout Lent this year, thousands of us in England and Wales have been getting together in our parishes to thirst for change. People like Rachel Wood in Sheffield, Jamie Lennon in North Wales and Father Rob Esdaile in Surrey, all of whom have shown their support through going without water or undertaking water pilgrimages to support our brothers and sisters worldwide and raise awareness of this crucial issue.
Act now
Show your support for the millions of women and children who have to make the journey to collect water every day. Email David Cameron today and call on him to lead the world in demanding clean water and safe sanitation for everyone.
Find out more about Thirst for change events near you.
