by Mac a'Bhaird

Created on: March 21, 2009

I don't look at access to clean water as a 'right', as much as I view it as a personal as well as a collective social responsibility. In other words, one person living in a community can do very little to change their environment by themselves; it takes the cooperation of others, but it does start with the individual. It is more a tenant of civilization. People can live in close proximity together in a city, but certain things that affect clean water like how to deal with sewage, garbage collection, zoning, and other things such as electricity, police protection, must be tackled by the citizens or they're not civilized! These things are not rights, but responsibilities of the citizens of the community. In less advanced communities, people are still dealing with sewage and garbage in their streets, wherein advanced communities are enhancing their environment with parks, libraries and cultural centers for the fine arts!

In order for these standards of civilization to be lifted, it takes two things; education and initiative. It not only takes a leader, someone to initiate the action, it takes cooperation of other members of the community. It is up to the citizens to pass responsible laws that govern the conduct of industry, as it affects our ecology. Without these laws, sewage and toxic waste is drained into the watershed areas, air is polluted, and natural resources can be affected, altering the quality of living of the community.

Access to clean water is a personal ethic or responsibility. I recall as a child, we took many memorial camping and backpacking trips. My dad taught me about my individual responsibility to the wilderness. He said,

"Now, whatever you do, multiply that by a thousand other people doing it, and what do you have?" And all of a sudden, that small candy wrapper made a horrible mess! Or the moment I chose to wash something small in a creek I saw the creek as a polluted stream! So I began the habit of stashing that candy wrapper until I could burn it in the campfire that night, and washing by taking water out of the stream or lake, far enough away so that the dirty soapy water absorbed into the ground instead of polluting the stream or lake.

What a great thing it is to walk around a lake or on a pier at the ocean and gaze down into pristine crystal clear water. Clean water is an accomplishment of cooperation, responsible people working together for the betterment of all. As human beings we have more responsibilities than we do rights. Or perhaps another way to put it is, those rights we think we have we may have to forfeit if we are not responsible. This certainly does include access to clean water.

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