The majority of our planet may be covered in water, but there are over 1 billion people on this planet that don’t have access to safe, clean water to use for activities that many of us take for granted: bathing, cooking, and simply drinking, all of which are necessary to survival. Although that number continues to grow exponentially every year, a shortage of water is nothing new to the people of Earth. That’s why the United Nations General Assembly decided on March 22, 1993 that the public’s attention must be drawn to this global crisis. On this day every year since, the UN and its member nations strive to implement strategies for water conservation and promote activities that bring this fundamental need to the world’s consciousness. As a show of solidarity, a tradition of eschewing the use of tap water for the entire day is practiced in many nations the world over that have unlimited access to clean water, highlighting the plight of so many others we share the planet with.
Here is a fantastic infographic, provided to us by our friends at Able Skills, that breaks down every detail of how much of an impact clean water (or the lack thereof) can have on whole societies, and ways in which you can participate in World Water Day, not just today, but every day of the year.
See the interactive version by Able Skills
Image via ND Strupler
