Come March and it's that time of the year again -- spring cleaning! On March 22, 2015, this takes on a slightly different meaning to some as it becomes a day to spring clean our attitudes towards water for yet another year. World Water Day looms large and with it, the current year's focus.
2015's theme is 'Water and Sustainable Development'. It is such a vast theme since nearly every action that we take can be discussed under this topic. Helpfully, the UN has unpacked this theme further into seven sub-themes that include health, nature, urbanisations, industry, energy, food and equality. Each of these represents one crucial area that impacts water, and is influenced by it in turn.
Last year, we gave you a primer on World Water Day itself. This year, rather than discuss these themes further, we present to you lessons from our travels and interactions with several people and organisations whose thoughts are dominated by water -- on all days of the year.
Happy World Water Day(s)!
Health
Animation video of how Anand and the doctor transform their village
Nature
Two teachers create a forest on sixteen acres of land
Urbanisation
Rainwater harvesting rescues Bangalore residential community
Energy
Sparkle in the mountains: The indigenous 'Hydroger'
Resurrecting the dying 'gharats' of Uttarkashi
Food
An oasis of hope in the land of suicides
Equality
Breaking a centuries-old curse in Uttarakhand
A non-violent anti-dam protest wins!
How can policy be more water-friendly?
‘Blue’ print for a model village
National River Linking Project: Dream or disaster?