Table of content
Editor's note
Feature story: Water governance a global challenge
Global updates
Coming up: People’s Water Forum in Bali
EWN highlights Water for Peace on World Water Day
Seven Weeks for Water 2024 concludes on the concept of resurrection
UN Assembly in Kenya “a collective leap towards sustainability”
New Blue Communities website: www.blue-community.net
New WCC Commission on Climate Justice
Regional updates
Ethiopian Church forest project wins 2023 ACT Climate Resilience Award
Africa Water Justice Network launches newsletter
Stories of change
Water makes dream of music come true
Jordan: Efficient irrigation gives hope to farmers
A moment for water: Waters meeting at the shore
Upcoming
People’s Water Forum in Bali, 21-23 May
Recommended resources
UN World Water Development Report 2024: Water for Prosperity and Peace
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As I write this note, the Orthodox community is celebrating Easter. In the Western tradition, Lent was observed from mid-February, culminating in Easter celebrations at the end of March. Since 2008, the WCC has been observing the Seven Weeks for Water during this period. This year, we continued our Lenten campaign on water justice, and I would like to express my gratitude to all the authors who contributed to this year's edition.
We also would like to thank you all for following the campaign and making it meaningful. March is a big month for the water community, as World Water Day is observed on 22 March every year. The theme for this year was “Water for Peace”. WCC EWN organized and participated in several webinars in India and Africa, and you will find updates and reports in this newsletter.
This year marks the first meeting of the newly formed Church’s Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development (CCCJSD) of the World Council of Churches. From now on, WCC's EWN will operate under this Commission, representing a significant step forward in our journey. The Commission has established a new working group called "Land, Water, and Food Justice," thereby strengthening the nexus of the three issues vis-a-vis climate justice in WCC's work.
Later this month water justice movements from around the world will gather at the People’s Water Forum (PWF) in Bali, Indonesia from May 21st to 23rd, 2024 to challenge the corporate capture of global water governance at the 10th World Water Forum, consolidate the global network of water justice movements and champion public and community water alternatives that can truly realize water justice for all.
WCC EWN will participate as a member of the International Organizing Committee, organizing numerous workshops and events. We hope many of you will join us, either in person or online. Stay tuned for more details.
Dinesh Suna
Editor, Together for Water
Coordinator, Ecumenical Water Network
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Water governance a global challenge
Women carry water home from a well in Geles, an Arab village in Darfur where an ecumenical coalition has provided wells and a variety of other services. While the Darfur Emergency Response Operation is focused primarily on responding to the needs of Darfur's internally displaced people, most of them Africans, it also is helping Arab villages, many of them host communities for displaced camps, as a contribution toward reconciliation and peace. Photo: Paul Jeffrey/Life on Earth
Water sustains ecosystems, supports agriculture, and is essential for human health and development. However, across the globe, access to clean and safe water remains a pressing issue, with enormous disparities in how water is governed and managed.
Read the blog co-authored by Maseera Khan and Maike Gorsboth here |
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Coming up: People’s Water Forum in Bali
From May 18-24, 2024, Indonesia will host the 10th World Water Forum (WWF), a triennial event convened by the corporate-driven World Water Council (WWC). This event, dominated by Northern donor countries, International Financial Institutions (IFIs), and multinational corporations, aims to pressure governments, particularly in the Global South, to privatize water and sanitation systems.
Evidence shows that market-based solutions often exacerbate the water crises, especially for the poorest and marginalized. Despite this, the WWF continues to prioritize the interests of the wealthy and powerful. The WWF registration fee is 900 Euros per person and it costs several thousand euros to organize any side events. This underlines that only the rich and powerful can attend the WWF.
In response, water justice movements worldwide will gather at the People’s Water Forum (PWF) 2024 in Bali from May 21-23. This gathering aims to challenge corporate influence at the WWF, strengthen the global network of water justice movements, and advocate for public and community water alternatives.
WCC EWN, along with partners and members, will participate in the PWF as part of the International Organizing Committee, organizing workshops and events. We encourage your participation, either in person or online. Stay tuned for updates on WCC-led events.
Register for PWF 2024 here
For more information on PWF programs
EWN highlights Water for Peace on World Water Day
A student refills his reusable water bottle at the Assalafiyyah Mlangi Eco-Boarding School in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The Islamic school has done away with single use plastic and taken several other measures in response to the climate crisis. It's one of a growing number of eco-peasants around the country. Photo: Paul Jeffrey
On 22nd March, World Water Day, WCC-EWN drew attention to this year’s theme "Leveraging Water for Peace". Three online events, organized in collaboration with global partners, highlighted the vital connection between faith, international cooperation, and the pursuit of sustainable Blue Communities.
The day commenced with an online gathering of the YWCA of India promoting water, sanitation, and hygiene initiatives. Dinesh Suna from the WCC reiterated the right to clean water, countering its commercialization.
Another event launched, "Just Water," a newsletter by the Ecumenical Water Network - Africa. Discussions emphasized water's cultural and religious significance. They advocated for water diplomacy to address conflicts, as evidenced by collaborations with the India Peace Center and the National Council of Churches in India.
Read more
Seven Weeks for Water 2024 concludes on the concept of resurrection
Photo: Sean Hawkey/Life on Earth
As this year’s Seven Weeks for Water series came to an end, the Rev. Audra Hudson Stone and Jacob Stone delved into the profound connection between human-induced disasters and the groaning of the earth. Reflecting on the parallels between the crucifixion of Jesus and the current climate crisis, they urge us to heed the cries of the earth and marginalized communities.
Their reflection highlights the hope we find in the transformative power of resurrection. Just as Jesus rose from the shackles of death, they implore us to join in the resurrection work—to actively bring about justice, mercy, and renewal in the face of destruction.
Read the full reflection here
UN Assembly in Kenya “a collective leap towards sustainability”
Kevin Maina, member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development and a representative of the Anglican communion, participated in the United Nations Environment Assembly's sixth session (UNEA-6) in Kenya. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC
Civil society's role in driving change was a central theme at the sixth UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) which took place from 26 February to 1 March 2024 at UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. The WCC, the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), and other faith-based partners were involved in the discussions at the Assembly which underscored the importance of inclusivity, sustainability, and collective action in addressing environmental challenges.
A special “Faith for Earth'' session enriched this narrative by highlighting the unique position of faith-based communities. ”I believe faith-based organizations have a unique reach and moral authority that can inspire and mobilize communities worldwide, a fact that was acknowledged through our collaborative efforts during the assembly,” finds Kevin Maina, a young WCC commissioner of the WCC Commission on Climate Justice, who participated in the Assembly. He welcomed the resolutions made at the Assembly as a “collective leap towards sustainability”.
Read more
UNEP: Six key moments from UNEA 6
New WCC Commission on Climate Justice
WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay speaks at an inaugural Joint Meeting of the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA), the Commission on Health and Healing (CHH), and the Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development (CCJSD) of the World Council of Churches, in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC
This year marks the formation of the new Church’s Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development (CCCJSD) of WCC. The WCC’s EWN is now placed under this Commission, marking a significant step forward in its journey as the nexus between land, water, and food in the context of climate change is strengthened. In its inaugural meeting in March 2024, the Commission established the “Land, Water, and Food Justice” working group, led by its convener Dr. Ingrid Jacobsen from Bread for the World. Dinesh Suna, Coordinator of the WCC EWN was appointed as the staff focal point.
Approaching these issues holistically rather than in isolation is essential. Achieving food security relies on the sustainable management of both land and water resources. At the same time, preserving the world’s water resources for future generations obviously depends on how agriculture and other sectors make use of soil, land and water. Understanding how these resources are interconnected and how their management affects sustainability, security, and resilience is crucial since actions in one area can have significant repercussions in others, leading to complex environmental, economic, and social challenges.
Stay tuned for further updates on programmatic announcements from this new working group.
Learn more about the new commissions and their joint meeting in March 2024:
WCC News - Three WCC Commissions Meet to Confront Emerging Global Challenges |
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Ethiopian Church forest project wins 2023 ACT Climate Resilience Award
Bale Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia: Dawn breaks near Ginnir in the Bale Zone of Ethiopia. Albin Hillert/Life on Earth
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church Forest Initiative, led by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Development and Inter-Church Aid Commission (EOC-DICAC) has won the 2023 ACT Climate Resilience Award.It was recognized for its innovative approach to climate adaptation, resilience building, and disaster risk reduction.
Rooted in centuries-old traditions, the project represents a harmonious fusion of spirituality and indigenous wisdom. Since its inception in 2018, this initiative has garnered widespread acclaim for its collaborative efforts in safeguarding Ethiopia's natural heritage while fostering climate resilience within local communities.
Read more
Africa Water Justice Network launches newsletter
Nairobi Water Justice Working Group Protest of Nairobi Water Justice Working Group against water privatization. Nairobi, Kenya. 9 October 2023.
The Africa Water Justice Network (AWJN) has released the first edition of the Africa Water Justice Network newsletter to provide information about the network and the activities of members.
The Ecumenical Water Network Africa is a member of AWJN which is a diverse coalition advocating equitable access to quality water, especially for marginalized communities. Rejecting water commodification and privatization, AWJN upholds water as a fundamental human right and calls for public ownership and management of water resources.
Find out more about the network in Christina Mfanga’s article “From Silos to A Pan-African Front: The Africa Water Justice Network” and at: https://africawaterjustice.org |
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Water makes dream of music come true
Photo: Håvard Bjelland/NCA
In Deir El Ghazal, Lebanon, Ali Bou's dream of a music master's degree seemed out of reach amid financial crises and a 40-year water shortage. Yet, with water finally flowing thanks to Norwegian Church Aid, Ali invested in a greenhouse, turning it into a thriving vegetable farm. Now, he not only teaches music but also supplies his community. Water transformed his aspirations, underscoring the power of resilience and resourcefulness.
Reflecting on his journey, Ali acknowledges the pivotal role of water in his success. The water facilitated agricultural productivity and provided hope for a brighter future amidst climate uncertainties. Despite achieving his musical dreams and becoming a music teacher, Ali finds fulfillment in farming, crediting the water for his multifaceted success.
Read more
Jordan: Efficient irrigation gives hope to farmers
Albin Hillert/Life on Earth
For Hosni Al-Rayahnah, a 63-year-old farmer in Northern Shouneh, Jordan, climate change and water scarcity is an everyday reality. “Things have changed over the past few years, as the climate has become hotter with less rain, which affected the quality and quantity of my crops,” says Al-Rayahnah, who started farming 20 years ago.
“For me and other farmers, we struggled to afford enough water to weather the impact of heat waves on our crops,” explains Al-Rayahnah. “Some of us were about to quit the profession,” he adds. Hope came in the form of new knowledge about irrigation methods which help expand production, grow new varieties of fruits and vegetables, and use water efficiently.
Al-Rayahnah and other farmers joined the Farmers Field Schools (FFS) supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nation. After implementing water efficiency methods including drip irrigation Al-Rayahnah increased the size of his farm. “I started using almost the same quantity of water to water more crops and plant more varieties,” says Al-Rayahnah.
For video and more information:
Jordan’s farmers respond to water scarcity woes with innovation (FAO) |
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