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Waterwise and Muslim Aid have joined forces in a partnership to promote the need to save water. The Love Water, Love Life campaign, endorsed by Christian Aid, aims to spread awareness of the conditions faced by people in developing countries and provide useful tips on how to conserve water. The campaign involves a walk across London to raise awareness of how far people in the third world have to walk for their daily water. In addition, Muslim Aid have produced a leaflet on saving water.
‘We are very pleased to be working with Muslim Aid on this campaign and welcome the initiative. The average daily water consumption in the UK is 150L and of this we waste around one third which is more than most people in developing countries have available. By conserving water and energy, you can help tackle climate change, which in turn can reduce the frequency of natural disasters such as flooding and droughts.’ Says Jacob Tompkins, Director of Waterwise.
‘Water is an issue that affects us all regardless of religion. People of faith must work together to raise awareness of water issues in the developing world, the way those issues affect women and the links between climate change and water supply. Christian Aid congratulates Muslim Aid on the Love Water Love Life campaign which deserves to be a big success.’ Nigel Varndell, Inter-faith Manger, Christian Aid.
The walk takes place on Thursday 20 March at Piccadilly Circus, under the statue of Eros. Women from Somalia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, wearing their national attire, will begin their walk at 12.30. They will each be carrying an empty water carrier. The journey will take the women down Regents Street, through Oxford Circus, then Marble Arch until they end up by Serpentine Lake, Hyde Park.
Muslim Aid has been working on water projects in some of the world’s poorest countries. By digging wells, building sustainable water supply systems and creating hygiene awareness schemes, they are upholding the communities’ right to access clean drinking water.
Both Christians and Muslims believe that water is considered a blessing from God that sustains life and our earth and purifies mankind, so we should do all we can to conserve it. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) forbade waste even if seeming plentiful when he said ‘Do not waste water even if performing ablution (wudu) on the bank of a fastflowing (large) river.’ Al-Tirmidhi 427. There are lots of things we can do to save water. We should really think twice before taking this precious gift for granted!
Media invite
Photo opportunities for media:
1145 Piccadilly Circus, under the statue of Eros – start of the walk
1430 Serpentine Lake, Hyde Park - Somalian, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi women will fill their buckets and pots with water.
In the car park area next to the Serpentine a spokesperson from each organisation will be available for comment and to say a few words about the event and what it is trying to achieve.
Notes to Editors
1. Waterwise is an independent, not for profit, non-governmental organisation focused on decreasing water consumption in the UK by 2010 and building the evidence base for large scale water efficiency. We are the leading authority on water efficiency in the UK. We sit on the UK Environment Minister’s Water Saving Group alongside the water industry and regulators. Our aim is to reverse the upward trend in how much water we all use at home and at work by 2010. For more information please visit www.waterwise.org.uk
2. Muslim Aid is an international relief and development agency with its roots in the humanitarian teachings of Islam. The Qur’anic verse “… And whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all of mankind” (Qur’an 5:32) demonstrates the value of each individual life and is the ethos by which we operate. Our mission is to tackle poverty by developing innovative and sustainable solutions enabling people and their communities to live in dignity and independence.
3. Christian Aid is a development agency working with some of the world's poorest communities in more than 50 countries. We act where the need is greatest, regardless of religion, helping people build the life they deserve.
Contacts:
Jacob Tompkins
Director, Waterwise
0207 344 1841
07793 709 567
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Chris Philpot
Communications Manager, Waterwise
020 7957 4615
07702 598 074
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Jonaid Jilani
Communications Manager, Muslim Aid
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020 7377 4228
Nigel Varndell,
Inter-faith Manager Christian Aid
0207 523 2251
0771 567 0912
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