Around the world, many are realizing that we are not only experiencing a climate emergency but a water crisis too. People are boldly standing up to defend our precious water from the extractive violence of corporations and governments worldwide.
Will you join the struggle in 2021? Will you take action to declare your solidarity with water and your thirst for justice?
In every place that CPT works—Colombia, Iraqi Kurdistan, Palestine, Turtle Island, Lesvos, the U.S.-Mexico borderlands and elsewhere— water is a prime issue. For water is life, and those who wish to control life will seek to monopolize and abuse water.
In 2021, CPT wants to bring increased attention to the water crisis and the critical work of Water Protectors. We invite you to make a New Year’s resolution that will keep the focus on the continued desecration of our planet’s waters and help you and others learn about and defend the water where you live. To work towards this goal, we invite you to take the “Water is life!” pledge.
In 2016, many watched in amazement as Water Protectors from 300 Native Nations, together with thousands of activists, made their way to North Dakota to join the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in a valiant effort to stop a pipeline from transgressing their sacred waters. “Mni Wiconi!” “Water is life!” was the rallying cry heard around the world. CPT was present at Standing Rock. Yet, it wasn’t the first time we listened to that compelling call to defend our planet’s waters.
For years, Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank have experienced a severe water crisis, as Israel prevents source access and settlers consume ten times more than the territory’s residents. In Iraqi Kurdistan, oil extraction pollutes the waters. At the same time, Turkey and Iran have built dams along the Tigris River and its tributaries choking the water before reaching Iraq.
Since the 1960s, Grassy Narrows First Nation on Turtle Island has suffered the severe effects of mercury poisoning due to the contamination of their river system. Today, they continue to call on Canada to clean it up— for “Water is life!”
Stand with CPT in 2021 and uplift the courageous and ongoing work of water protectors while Honoring the life-giving waters of our planet.
Take the Water is Life Pledge.
Choose a personal action
Challenge a friend to join you
Sign the pledge
Self-educate.
Do you know the source of your water?
Do you know who the traditional stewards of the water are?
What is the current status of the water?
Is it in danger, and if so, why?
Is your household treating water with respect and care?
Are you consuming a fair share?
Water usage is both direct (what we consume) and indirect (the water used to produce the things we use).
Calculate your water footprint and see how you compare globally
If you are able to reduce your water consumption, experiment with ways to do so. Individual conservation efforts will not solve the water crises that fuel conflict. But used with intention, they will remind us that we are members of a global family, that many struggle to access clean water, and that our quest for “just water” is deeply interconnected. Choose one or more of the following actions:
Recycle Your Water
Put a bucket in your bathroom to collect the cold water you run before it is hot enough to shower; use it to water plants or flush the toilet. Rinse-water from dishes and food preparation can be collected and used to soak other dishes.
Put Plastic Bottles in Your Toilet Tank
To cut down on water waste, put an inch or two of sand or pebbles inside each of two plastic bottles. Fill the bottles with water, screw the lids on, and put them in your toilet tank, safely away from the operating mechanisms. Or, buy an inexpensive “tank bank” or “float booster.” This may save ten or more gallons of water per day. Be sure at least three gallons (11 litres) of water remain in the tank so it will flush properly.
Take Shorter Showers
Turn off the shower after soaping up, then turn it back on to rinse. A four-minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water.
Decrease Consumption of Bottled Water
If you’re able, commit to not buying bottled water. Plastic bottles are a major source of pollution.
Reducing your water consumption could save you money each month. Consider giving that money to frontline water protectors who are doing critical work around the world. Here are some possibilities:
In Turtle Island: Wet’suwet’en land defenders are protecting the Wedzin Kwa River from the Coastal Gaslink Pipeline – Yintah Access
Grassy Narrows continues to fight against the corporate pollution of their waterways that has led to Mercury poisoning and deaths in their community – Free Grassy Narrows
Save the Tigris is a civil society advocacy campaign that led by a coalition of Iraqi and international non-governmental organisations that is seeking to defend the Tigris River from the impacts of dams and other destructive megaprojects – Save the Tigris
Water Keepers Iraq is an NGO doing frontline work to protect the Tigris-Euphrates Water Basin – Water Keepers Iraq
Self-educate.
Do you know the source of your water?
Do you know who the traditional stewards of the water are?
What is the current status of the water?
Is it in danger, and if so, why?
Is your household treating water with respect and care?
Are you consuming a fair share?
Water usage is both direct (what we consume) and indirect (the water used to produce the things we use).
Calculate your water footprint and see how you compare globally
If you are able to reduce your water consumption, experiment with ways to do so. Individual conservation efforts will not solve the water crises that fuel conflict. But used with intention, they will remind us that we are members of a global family, that many struggle to access clean water, and that our quest for “just water” is deeply interconnected. Choose one or more of the following actions:
Recycle Your Water
Put a bucket in your bathroom to collect the cold water you run before it is hot enough to shower; use it to water plants or flush the toilet. Rinse-water from dishes and food preparation can be collected and used to soak other dishes.
Put Plastic Bottles in Your Toilet Tank
To cut down on water waste, put an inch or two of sand or pebbles inside each of two plastic bottles. Fill the bottles with water, screw the lids on, and put them in your toilet tank, safely away from the operating mechanisms. Or, buy an inexpensive “tank bank” or “float booster.” This may save ten or more gallons of water per day. Be sure at least three gallons (11 litres) of water remain in the tank so it will flush properly.
Take Shorter Showers
Turn off the shower after soaping up, then turn it back on to rinse. A four-minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water.
Decrease Consumption of Bottled Water
If you’re able, commit to not buying bottled water. Plastic bottles are a major source of pollution.
Reducing your water consumption could save you money each month. Consider giving that money to frontline water protectors who are doing critical work around the world. Here are some possibilities:
In Turtle Island: Wet’suwet’en land defenders are protecting the Wedzin Kwa River from the Coastal Gaslink Pipeline – Yintah Access
Grassy Narrows continues to fight against the corporate pollution of their waterways that has led to Mercury poisoning and deaths in their community – Free Grassy Narrows
Save the Tigris is a civil society advocacy campaign that led by a coalition of Iraqi and international non-governmental organisations that is seeking to defend the Tigris River from the impacts of dams and other destructive megaprojects – Save the Tigris
Water Keepers Iraq is an NGO doing frontline work to protect the Tigris-Euphrates Water Basin – Water Keepers Iraq
Let others know what actions you are taking to both care for water and honor water protectors (near and far).
Go on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook and
Let your circle know that you’ve taken the “Water is Life Pledge!”
Take a picture of the REDUCE action that you’re going to take, or share what Water Protectors you’ll support
Invite people to join (specifically calling on friends – kind of like the “Ice Bucket Challenge”)
Use the hashtags #IPledge and #WaterIsLife and tag @CPT_intl
This year I pledge to make a practice of honoring the Earth’s waters. I will bring attention to the ongoing water crisis and global wars fueled by water extraction. My actions will honor the courageous actions of the Earth’s Water Protectors
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