Thursday
Dec032009
Ted Turner's UN Foundation Sponsors Major "Water" Climb Up The Kilimanjaro
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 12:16PM
In an effort to promote the growing global need for clean water, the United Nations Foundation launched a major appeal in partnership with UNHCR (UN High Commission for Refugees) and celebrity ambassadors working with SummitontheSummit.com.
The appeal calls for support of a seven day climb in January 2010 ascending Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro--a stunning 19,340 ft, with the goal to promote safe access to water for all.
Educators, celebrities including actress Jessica Biel, Grammy award winner Kenna, and a list of other notables, will climb the mountain while advocating for fair access to drinking water. Water-related diseases are the leading cause of death, taking the lives of over 3 million people per year. Water disease also claims 80 percent of sickness across the globe--in particular in developing countries--and more specifically in Africa. Every 15 seconds a child dies from a preventable, water-related disease.
The message from the UN Foundation and Summitonthesummit.com is clear:
1. Water is a precious resource that even those of us who have it, must learn to conserve.
2. There are still over ONE BILLION people who do not have access to clean, safe drinking water.
3. The most affected are children.
"In Ethiopia, women walk an average of 6 hours per day to get water," said Elizabeth Gore from the UN Foundation.
A UNHCR representative added that most often, women walk far distances and can encounter dangerous situations like rape while on these trips. UNHCR is boosting its global program to get water facilities set up no further than 200 meters from camps to ensure the safety of women and girls.
"The UN Foundation does not see this as a one off event, but as a serious campaign to promote the great global need for clean water," Gore added.
The group will visit refugee camps in Tanzania and Ethiopia before and after the hike.
Kenna emphasized: "For me, Ethiopia is where my father was born and is the center of my attention. At the age of four, he contracted a water-borne disease--but luckily survived. His close friend was not so lucky."
In Ethiopia, people use only 12 litres of water per day compared to a person in the UK who used 50 litres of water per day to flush a toilet.
Summitonthesummit.com calls on local communities to reduce their water blueprint by showering less than 5 minutes per day to save 1,000 gallons of water per month and to be mindful of the amount of water consumed for dish and clothes washing.
For more information on the climb and how to support the group go to: summitonthesummit.com
The appeal calls for support of a seven day climb in January 2010 ascending Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro--a stunning 19,340 ft, with the goal to promote safe access to water for all.
Educators, celebrities including actress Jessica Biel, Grammy award winner Kenna, and a list of other notables, will climb the mountain while advocating for fair access to drinking water. Water-related diseases are the leading cause of death, taking the lives of over 3 million people per year. Water disease also claims 80 percent of sickness across the globe--in particular in developing countries--and more specifically in Africa. Every 15 seconds a child dies from a preventable, water-related disease.
The message from the UN Foundation and Summitonthesummit.com is clear:
1. Water is a precious resource that even those of us who have it, must learn to conserve.
2. There are still over ONE BILLION people who do not have access to clean, safe drinking water.
3. The most affected are children.
"In Ethiopia, women walk an average of 6 hours per day to get water," said Elizabeth Gore from the UN Foundation.
A UNHCR representative added that most often, women walk far distances and can encounter dangerous situations like rape while on these trips. UNHCR is boosting its global program to get water facilities set up no further than 200 meters from camps to ensure the safety of women and girls.
"The UN Foundation does not see this as a one off event, but as a serious campaign to promote the great global need for clean water," Gore added.
The group will visit refugee camps in Tanzania and Ethiopia before and after the hike.
Kenna emphasized: "For me, Ethiopia is where my father was born and is the center of my attention. At the age of four, he contracted a water-borne disease--but luckily survived. His close friend was not so lucky."
In Ethiopia, people use only 12 litres of water per day compared to a person in the UK who used 50 litres of water per day to flush a toilet.
Summitonthesummit.com calls on local communities to reduce their water blueprint by showering less than 5 minutes per day to save 1,000 gallons of water per month and to be mindful of the amount of water consumed for dish and clothes washing.
For more information on the climb and how to support the group go to: summitonthesummit.com
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