Commission
Projects
Pass the Pitcher Program:
Raising Funds for the Water For Life
Campaign
Most people know that 75% of the world’s surface is covered by water, but few people know only 2.5%
of that is freshwater. Most of the freshwater, 75% of freshwater, is in the ice caps. Humans are left with
less than 1% of the world's water to use for drinking, washing, irrigation and manufacturing. Water is
not necessarily renewable at the rate of human consumption; thus, water use exceeds available
quantity. This has caused water to be considered a scarce resource.
The United Nations Water Department reported in 2006 that almost 20% of the world’s population
lack access to safe, potable water. The UN observes this water scarcity is due to failed local, national
and global water policy, lack of good water management and lack of prioritized water resource
development, all of which have negatively affected entire geographic regions. This means, “one billion
people do not have clean drinking water and 2.6 million people are without any sanitation systems.” A
rapid growth in population and the movement of people from the rural to the urban areas has put
enormous strain on what little water resources are available. In fact, the human population is
increasing so fast, that in 24 years, the world will need to produce 55% more food than it does at
present. In order to produce that much food, more water for irrigation is needed because agricultural
irrigation consumes 70% of all freshwater. This is but a small glimpse of the whole picture.
Catholic Relief Services works in 98 countries, most of which have a water and sanitation
development project. Water is the basis for life and survival. CRS recognizes this incredible need for
good water infrastructure to enable people to have access to clean and safe drinking water.
As a result, CRS, in partnership with the National Council of Catholic Women, has created a new
DVD, called Water for Life. The nineteen minute DVD shows the broad picture of water use in the
United States, then moves to Malawi, Africa and Brazil, South America. In Malawi, CRS and its
partners worked together on a water well project. CRS illustrates how access to water has enabled a
school to be built and education for children to begin. Without the water project, these children would
be too sick from water-borne diseases or would be walking as much as 8 hours a day to retrieve
water for their families. In Brazil, CRS and its partners have developed many ways to capture rain
water, develop efficient irrigation, and create other sanitary water management systems. The film also
provides an overview of the connection between land rights, water rights and migration.
You can preview the DVD on the CRS website. The DVD is free and comes with a free downloadable
lesson/discussion guide. These can be ordered on the CRS Education website. If you have any
questions regarding the DVD, please contact Christine Smith at chsmith@crs.org.
The Seattle ACCW has pledged to increase
their funding of the Water For Life program.  
Each Affiliate was given a Pitcher at the 2009
Convention to begin collecting spare change
at each meeting.  Individuals are encouraged
to do this at home also!  Monies are turned in
to each Deanery Treasurer who will then turn
it in to the Board Treasurer.  The total amount
raised over the course of the year will be
announced at the 2010 Convention.
For more information about how you can
participate, click here!  Please join us and
make a difference!!!