Monday, December 04, 2006

Giving the gift of Water this Christmas

Water the gift of life is the theme of this year’s Christian World Service Christmas Appeal.

Water is literally a gift of life for many of the world’s poorest communities in places like Southern India, Sri Lanka, Palestine and Africa. In the dry districts of southern Zimbabwe women walk for miles every day in search of a supply of water, or in Palestine, Israeli authorities place tight restrictions on the supply of water to Palestinian communities.

In New Zealand we take water for granted, we turn on a tap, yet the majority of the world’s citizens, 1.1 billion people, struggle daily to access safe clean drinking water.

 Traditional water sources are drying up, being polluted, tightly controlled or diverted for large-scale irrigation schemes affecting many of the world’s poorest communities.
 Often under the direction of the World Bank, countries have been pressured to privatise the provision of water despite large-scale opposition. More than 80 countries with 40% of the world’s population are subject to water shortages.
 Without adequate and safe water, people’s health suffers and millions die from water-borne disease. The United Nations estimates that up to 6,000 children die every day from drinking unsafe water and having poor sanitation.

With projects such as rainwater tanks in Zimbabwe and water cisterns in the West Bank of Palestine, CWS partners are working to improve people’s lives.

Christian World Service is calling on member churches and the public to support this years’ Christmas Appeal. Donations directly support the building of water tanks and other more long-term development projects, in twenty-one countries around the world, with a 4:1 subsidy from the New Zealand government.

Your donation will benefit families and communities for years to come, ensure active and immediate emergency relief work in conjunction with ACT International (Action by Churches Together) and, promote education and campaigns which address the root causes of injustice and poverty.

ENDS

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