SCHAKOWSKY CALLS FOR ACTION ON WORLD WATER DAY
MARCH 22, 2005
SCHAKOWSKY CALLS FOR
ACTION ON WORLD WATER DAY
CHICAGO, IL - On World Water Day, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today called on Americans across the country to take action to help solve the impending global water crisis. In a letter published in today's edition of the Chicago Sun-Times, Schakowsky wrote that readers can make a difference by learning more about the crisis and by going to www.worldwaterday2005.org.
Earlier this month, Schakowsky reintroduced "Water for the World Resolution" calling on Congress to recognize that access to safe and clean water is a basic human right.
Below is Schakowsky's letter to the Editor:
Letters to the Editor
Chicago Sun-Times
March 22, 2005
Don't take a drop for granted
In the minute it takes you to read this letter, 10 people will die from water-related disease in the developing world. But what you can do in the one minute after you finish reading your paper can make all the difference in the world.
Today is World Water Day, an opportunity for all of us to address the impending global water crisis and to ensure that all people have access to clean water to meet their basic needs.
We are experiencing a global crisis, where 1 billion people lack adequate access to safe drinking water, and 2.5 billion have no access to proper sanitation. Five million people, mostly children, will die unnecessarily this year because they do not enjoy the most basic of human needs: clean drinking water.
And just because we are living on the banks of Lake Michigan, among the world's largest sources of fresh water, we are not immune. This is not just a problem that affects other countries; it affects us right here at home. Three of our fastest-growing states -- California, Texas and Florida -- have limited fresh water supplies, a fact that means more demands will be placed on the Great Lakes.
The late and great U.S. Sen. Paul Simon (D-Ill.) believed that the United States is the only nation that ''has the capabilities and resources to lead'' the effort to solve the global water crisis. We must continue his life's work and take action immediately.
In his memory, I've reintroduced the ''Water for the World Resolution'' calling on Congress to recognize that access to safe and clean water is a basic human right. You can start by going to www.worldwaterday2005.org to learn more about what you can do to make a difference.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky
(D-Ill.)