World Water Day Fresh water is essential to sustaining life. World Water Day is marked annually on March 22nd as a way of focusing attention on the importance of this fresh water and to encourage good management of fresh water resources like the St. Lawrence River. Initiated by the United Nations, 20 years ago, World Water Day annually focuses on a specific aspect of our planet’s fresh water supply. 2013 marks the International Year of Water Co-operation. As the United Nations points out, fresh water is not contained within national boundaries or restrained by man-made political borders. Our own St. Lawrence River flows through at least five distinct territories that include Canada, the United States, Akwesasne, Ontario and Quebec. This makes cooperation between nations, provinces and communities essential in ensuring that we all have the water we need to sustain life, industry and recreation. The United Nations says, “Cooperation is essential to strike a balance between the different needs and priorities so that we might share this precious resource equitably, using water as an instrument of peace.” They add,“ Promoting water cooperation implies an interdisciplinary approach bringing in cultural, educational and scientific factors, as well as religious, ethical, social, political, legal, institutional and economic dimensions.” In short, fresh water is not to be taken for granted. This is why area communities and organizations are working together towards providing a local approach in monitoring and remediation to ensure that the St. Lawrence River and its tributaries are becoming healthier. Local organizations such as the St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences, the Raisin Region Conservation Authority and the Akwesasne Department of the Environment are working side by side along the St. Lawrence River and Lake St. Francis to monitor and protect local fresh water today and for future generations.
World Water Day Fresh water is essential to sustaining life.
World Water Day is marked annually on March 22nd as a way of
focusing attention on the importance of this fresh water and to
encourage good management of fresh water resources like the St.
Lawrence River.
Initiated by the United Nations, 20 years ago, World Water Day
annually focuses on a specific aspect of our planets fresh water
supply. 2013 marks the International Year of Water Co-operation. As
the United Nations points out, fresh water is not contained within
national boundaries or restrained by man-made political borders.
Our own St. Lawrence River flows through at least five distinct
territories that include Canada, the United States, Akwesasne,
Ontario and Quebec. This makes cooperation between nations,
provinces and communities essential in ensuring that we all have
the water we need to sustain life, industry and recreation.
The United Nations says, Cooperation is essential to strike a
balance between the different needs and priorities so that we might
share this precious resource equitably, using water as an
instrument of peace. They add, Promoting water cooperation implies
an interdisciplinary approach bringing in cultural, educational and
scientific factors, as well as religious, ethical, social,
political, legal, institutional and economic dimensions.
In short, fresh water is not to be taken for granted. This is
why area communities and organizations are working together towards
providing a local approach in monitoring and remediation to ensure
that the St. Lawrence River and its tributaries are becoming
healthier. Local organizations such as the St. Lawrence River
Institute of Environmental Sciences, the Raisin Region Conservation
Authority and the Akwesasne Department of the Environment are
working side by side along the St. Lawrence River and Lake St.
Francis to monitor and protect local fresh water today and for
future generations.
