World Water Day - March 22, 2021
Today is World Water Day…and this year’s theme is “What does water mean to you?”. That’s a pretty big question and a great one to get us thinking about water. Depending where you live, who you are and even depending on the day, water can mean different things to different people.
For me, I don’t ever have to think about access to water or having enough drinking water. I am mindful of the water I use – but my first thoughts about water aren’t worries about whether I will have enough that day. Or whether the water I have will be clean. I have lived with the privilege of never really having to worry about water.
But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be thinking about water. As readers of One Well: The Story of Water on Earth you understand that all the water on Earth is connected. So whether turning on a faucet in Canada, pulling water from a well in Africa, or bathing in a river in India – it is all the same water. Water issues – whether it’s lack of clean water, access to water, or water pollution impacting habitats – affect us all…and for some people, access to or availability of clean water is something they have to deal with every single day. And it may surprise you to know that these water issues are as prevalent in North America, as they are in other parts of the world.
So – this year for World Water Day, I encourage you to think about how water is important to YOU…and what it means to you. And then start thinking bigger… What does water mean to your family? How is water part of every single day of your life (not just because you drink it or clean with it – but because it’s used to make nearly everything you have in your home). And then stretch your thinking even further – how is water important in your community? In your country? Around the world? Think about a single bucket of water – and what that bucket may mean to different people…and even animals…around the world. There is only one source of water on Earth – one global well – and every species on the planet – depends on that water. World Water Day is the perfect day to take a moment to reflect on water, share your stories, and take action to protect Earth’s One Well. I would love to hear about your stories and your actions!
You may remember that last spring, One Well: The Story of Water on Earth was named to the UN Sustainable Development Book Club. Well, I am delighted to share that in honour of World Water Day, the UN SDG Book Club will be reposting the video reading I did of One Well. Please be sure to check it out. My understanding is that they will keep the post live for a few weeks. And if you are interested in an online author visit, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Chatting with classes is one of my favourite things about being a writer – and while we still cannot do that in-person, I am very willing to meet your students online!
I am also excited to share that my publisher Kids Can Press one of Canada’s leading children’s book publishers, and home to the acclaimed CitizenKid collection of books on global issues (which One Well is a part of), has just become a signatory on the UN’s SDG Publishers’ Compact. This means that Kids Can Press, along with other publishers who’ve signed on from around the world, pledge to develop sustainable practices and act as champions of the SDGs both in their publishing programs and their day-to-day business. Nice work KCP!
Read More,
