Fighting for water of life

The spirit of Ramadan is exemplified by the UAE government’s gesture to ensure access to drinking water for five million people across the globe. The UAE Suqia Water Aid campaign, which kicked off on the first day of the holy month seeks to help five million people who don’t have a regular supply of potable water. This truly will make a huge difference in the world and five million people is no small number; therefore, I want to convey my heartfelt gratitude to all concerned for this global life-saving project.

So many amongst us have donated huge sums for this very worthy cause, which is really commendable. However, I feel that there is more that needs to be done to supplement this life-saving project on a larger scale. In our own homes, we see this precious resource being wasted. Cliched though it may sound, leaving the water running whilst brushing one’s teeth, and washing hands or utensils is a daily thing in most households. I have seen tap water being criminally wasted at restaurants and hotels whilst washing hands. We as responsible citizens need to make these habits part of out lives and take corrective steps wherever necessary — for example, we can put up a board in our homes and acknowledge family members who demonstrate water conservation with brownie points and eventually an actual reward.

These simple acts will supplement the efforts made by the authorities as we need to conserve this precious resource for our next generations, or else they will only see the beauty of Mother Nature in books and Her wrath in reality.

The choice is ours, so go make that difference and save for a future, while contributing to smiles across the globe! This starts with you and me! Let us be the ambassadors and harbingers of water-saving wherever we go!