Things we take for granted

This evening, we're finishing the course, "God's Mission in the World: An Ecumenical Christian Study Guide on Global Poverty and the Millennium Development Goals"

Goal Seven takes a look at issues of clean water and basic sanitation. Water Advocates tell us:

"More than 1.1 billion people lack access to safe water and 2.6 billion people lack even basic sanitary facilities. Diseases caused by unsafe drinking water and inadequate sanitation remain humanity’s most serious public health threat, causing 80% of the sicknesses in developing countries and annually killing between 2 and 5 million people, mainly young children. Lack of water and sanitation undermines the sustainability of other critical needs, including education, economic development, nutrition, environmental health and gender equality.
Although the challenge is great, the solution is known and doable. From individuals to civic groups, from faith-based organizations to Congress, each American is able to join with communities around the world working to meet these basic needs. Reducing water-related diseases hinges less on medical breakthroughs than on stronger political will and significantly increased funding." For more information, visit their website.