photo credit: Sean Rogers1

The UN recently passed a resolution making access to clean water a human right. Like air and food, water is an essential to life, and clean water is essential for a healthy life. Every day, thousands die from illnesses caused by dirty water. Many of those are young children who have no say is how their water supplies will be treated.

By a text on the human right to water and sanitation, the Assembly expressed deep concern that some 884 million people were without access to safe drinking water and more than 2.6 billion lacked access to basic sanitation. Bearing in mind the commitment to fully achieve the Millennium Development Goals, it expressed alarm that 1.5 million children under five years old died each year as a result of water- and sanitation-related diseases, acknowledging that safe, clean drinking water and sanitation were integral to the realization of all human rights.

Introducing the text, Bolivia’s representative said the human right to water had not been fully recognized, despite references to it in various international instruments. Lack of access to water killed more children annually than AIDS, malaria and measles combined, while the lack of sanitation affected 2.6 billion people, or 40 per cent of the global population, he pointed out. The upcoming summit to review progress on the Millennium Development Goals must provide a clear signal that water and sanitation were human rights, he emphasized, reiterating that the right to drinking water and sanitation was essential for the full enjoyment of life.

Emphasis mine.

The numbers are appalling. More children die from a lack of water than from AIDS, malaria and measles combined. Water, something that many of us take for granted every time we turn on the tap. When you consider how much water the average American wastes each day – water running down the drain, used to water grass, tossed out – the realities of it become even more disturbing. We have an abundance of clean water, and there are children dying from lack of a single glass.

Yesterday I had the chance to write about PUR water filters donating resources to clean and sanitize water for children in areas where water is unsafe. If you got the go to BlogHer2010 (which I didn’t) you probably got to see this in action. One little packet can clean 10 liters of water, and costs only a dime. A dime! To give a child clean water for drinking and cooking with.

I’m actually a little personally stoked about this, because the PUR water filter is what we use in our house. We have the little pitcher with filter inserts, and a handy little water bottle that I carry on trips to the park or on walks. So you could say we’re PUR-ists. (Pardon the cheesy pun)

PUR, of course, is owned by Proctor and Gamble. Which, like any other major corporation, has it’s good and bad sides. There is a boycott against the company right now over animal testing, though I cannot find anything relating directly to PUR on this. So feel free to go with your own personal ethics on whether or not you feel PUR is a good company. (I’m also turning on comments for this post. Feel free to share other resources, but be polite and respectful. )

You can visit the Children’s Safe Drinking Water website to watch a demo of how the packets work, plus learn more about how they are helping those in need of water. If you want to help they have a donation button set up (very bottom, right side) that tells you just how far your dimes can go. $1 can give one child clean, safe drinking water for 50 days. $30 can care for an entire family a year.

I’ve made my donation. Can you spare a few dimes for clean water?

* I was in no way compensated for this blog post. My thoughts and words here are entirely my own, I was in no way contacted by PUR nor P&G on this topic. Though, if they’d like to send me a few extra filters for my pitcher out of generosity, I wouldn’t say no. What? I’m a cheapskate frugal.

I know I’ve got a part 3 due for my Who Owns a Woman’s Body series, but it’s not quite done yet. So instead let me bore you share photos from our Palo Duro canyon hike last weekend. It was wonderful to just relax, take in the scenery, and unwind.

The plan was just to drive to Amarillo for the fireworks, but along the way Michael saw a sign for the canyon and immediately turned off. Luckily it was an overcast and slightly damp day, because other than sunscreen and a couple bottles of water we were not prepared at all. Especially me, who was wearing a skirt and dress shoes. Needless to say, the hike was not as much fun as it could have been. Cactus on bare ankles, not a joy.

But the view was too much to pass up.

Especially all the little surprises that we found.

Luckily we’re just a couple hours away so we can go back sometime soon. Next time I’m wearing jeans and sneakers, yo.

I’m sure it feels like all I do is hang out on Twitter and pick fights, but that’s actually just the stuff that gets me by between moments like these. The heat of the day was fading, and a cool breeze was blowing, and Saffron was off to find new rocks to taste. So down to the alley we went, to the field that usually is full of cows, to sniff flowers and inspect caterpillars and eat dirt.

Not bad for a Monday.