‘Walk for Water’ Campaign

Mana (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 10, 10 November 1977, Page 2

‘Walk for Water’ Campaign

Thirty thousand walkers in towns and cities throughout the country will be participating in a national sponsored “Walk for Water” on 3rd December. The Walk is being organised by CORSO in its role as the governmentappointed Freedom From Hunger Campaign/Action for Development Committee in New Zealand, to promote the fact that this

year is United Nations Water Year — “a fact that has gone virtually unnoticed in our well-watered society”, says the CORSO National Walk Organiser, Ms Marion Quinn. ‘‘Yet New Zealand too has its water problems — millions of gallons of polluted water are poured into New Zealand rivers and onto its coastlines every day.” While New Zealanders

consume over 100 gallons of water per person every day, 70 per cent of the world’s people lack access to clean water supplies. Ten million people die every year from diseases spread by filthy drinking water and lack of sanitary facilities. Five million of those who die are infants under the age of one. The United Nations Water Conference held in Argentina in March of this year called for a radical improvement in the management of the earth’s water resources, and stated that: “No longer can any nation continue to regard clean and plentiful water as an inexhaustible gift of nature.” CORSO hopes that as well as creating an understanding of the plight of the majority of the world’s people who lack access to clean water, the campaign will draw attention to the ways in which we, in New Zealand, overconsume, abuse and pollute our water resources. The campaign has attracted support from several Government departments, including the Department of Education which has circulated all schools in the country with posters and background material on water. The National Youth Council, representing all the major youth organisations in the country, is also supporting and promoting the campaign. Murray Bell has designed a brand new cartoon for the campaign — A delightful figure who has been christened “Wadi”, in keeping with the theme of the campaign. Money raised from the sponsorship of walkers will fund water related projects in Togo and Nepal. Many important individuals including MP’s ? civic leaders, sportsmen, etc. have already pledged support for the campaign. Contact: Ms M. Quinn, CORSO National Office, Phone: 859-585, Wellington.