World Water Day is March 22, 2009, and the theme for this year's annual celebration is "Transboundary Waters: Sharing water, sharing opportunities." Because water creates the boundary between many nations, countries, the 2009 theme focuses on presenting peaceful boundary, or border, water management.
The goal of World Water Day is to advocate the sustainment and management of the world's potable water. Because humans surviving on our earth require water to live, water could be a possible source of conflict for competing nations or cultures due to their own drinking water and navigational purposes. In fact, nearly half of the world's surface is covered by river basins that are shared by more than one country. Hidden underground water sources that can be tapped also lie under borders that could serve as sources of tension between communities.
This year, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) major message for the event is to educate people on the need for cooperation among communities that border freshwater sources all across the world. The organizations hope to deliver the message that with successful facilitation of conflicts, and by adopting notions of cooperation, negotiation and respect, all people can benefit from the life-providing waters they live on the shores of.
Events are planned for the 2009 international celebration, and include artistic presentations, educational campaigns and Walk for Water. Public events such as run/walk campaigns and fundraisers include:
March 19, 2009:
- Walk for Water in Hubli, India
March 20, 2009:
- Save Water, Drink Beer A Cabaret, Fundraiser and Public Awareness Campaign in Calgary, Canada
- World Water Day Event inWashington DC, USA
- New Technologies in Water Management inLagadas, Greece
- Newspaper feature on World Water Day inCanberra Times, Canberra, Australia
- Turn On The Tap Schools Challenge 2009 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
March 21, 2009:
-Cirque du Soleil 8th annual 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk in Springs Preserve, Nevada, USA
- World Water Day Video Screening in Punta Gorda Town, Belize
-World Water Day Water Walk in Malaysia
-The Walk for Water in Huizenga Park, Zeeland MI, USA
March 22, 2009:
- Walk For Water in City of Bellingham Public Works, Bellingham, WA
-World Water Day Walk in JC Bermudez Pard, Doral, Florida, USA
-The Thirsty for Change Benefit Jam in Solana Beach, CA 92075
- WALK FOR WATER in Baxter Blvd, Portland, Maine, USA
- March for Water 09 in Los Angeles, CA, USA
-World Water Day 2009 Celebration, a skit competition in Piedar, Islamabad, Pakistan
-Walk for Water in Pembroke Pines, Florida, USA
- San Diego Walk for Water in San Diego, California, USA
- Water for Life-2009 Year of the River in Akron, Ohio, USA
- IX Carrera Atltica por el Agua 2009 in Puerto Vallarta Jalisco, Mexico
-Diageo's Water of Life Half-Marathon in Marlow, England
- Los Recursos Hdricos Transfronterizos in Bogota, Colombia
-Water Awarenees Walk in Sanghar, Pakistan
-Portland Roasting Coffee World Water Day Walk in Portland, Oregon, USA
March 26, 2009:
-World Water Day Concert in Talca, Chile
Web site References, and more information: http://www.worldwaterday.org , http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday, http://www.transboundarywaters.orst.edu/