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Can you remember Storm Dennis and the widespread flooding through much of the UK? – much has happened since then, but it was only 2 months ago! Water can cause enormous damage yet water is also fundamental to life. In many parts of the world people can feel overwhelmed by too much water, and yet months later wait in desperation for the next rains to ensure they can grow enough food to eat.
Have you noticed any dripping taps recently? Do you leave your tap running when you brush your teeth? Do you indulge in a super long shower? Your challenge is to save water this week – can you be super vigilant and turn it off? Can you set a 5-minute maximum time limit on your showers? One Young Climate Warrior told us he plays a favourite song and makes sure he finishes his shower before the song ends! We’ve all had to make many changes to our routines and habits over the last few weeks of ‘social distancing’ – can you use this opportunity to change another habit? If you leave the tap running whilst brushing your teeth… have you ever thought that you are wasting 5 litres of water for every minute that you leave it on … Can you switch it off this week?
Remember to HIT THE RED BUTTON and tell us when you have switched off those taps!
Climate Change will mainly affect people through water: storms, droughts, melting glaciers, rising sea-levels. In many parts of the world it will affect the availability of clean drinking water and food; give rise to hygiene and sanitation problems including water-borne diseases; and impact on children’s educational opportunities and overall poverty levels.
In 2015 the United Nations launched the Sustainable Development Goals – you may have heard of them? They are an international commitment to end poverty in all forms and dimensions by 2030. Goal number 6 is ‘clean water and sanitation’, number 13 is ‘climate action’ – they all need to be undertaken simultaneously to achieve an end to poverty.
https://www.globalgoals.org Many charities are helping achieve these goals – you may like to watch this Wateraid video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOCIzoeZ1gU&feature=youtu.be
At the moment we’re all very aware of the importance of handwashing to help prevent germs spreading, however around the world 2 in 5 people don’t have the facilities to wash their hands in their homes, and over 900 million school children can’t wash their hands at school.
In the UK we are very fortunate to have fresh drinking water, or the ability to wash our hands whenever we need to, at the turn of a tap, and the resources to help our communities deal with floods. When you have saved water this week, and thought about worldwide water issues, then don’t forget to HIT THE RED BUTTON.
And if you’re asked to wash your car… remember to use a bucket and sponge and not the hosepipe!
Have you yet added a green heart to your ‘NHS rainbow’ in your window? Can you draw or paint a ‘green heart’ to show you care about our planet?
