Our Water, Our Lives

Water knows no boundaries, not even ours, and because of this what we do with and to our water affects everyone. Our rivers flow into the oceans, carrying with them everything we put into them - including garbage, human waste and chemicals. The more there are of us, the greater the effect we have - and there are a lot of people in this world.

The same water - rivers, marshes, oceans, water flowing above and below ground - is also what sustains us. One part of the equation is very basic - we need water just to survive. So do the animals, fish and plants on which we depend for food.

Knowing this, you would think that everyone would do whatever they could to keep the waters of this earth clean. Instead there are many who still think that water can be used as a place to dump garbage and chemicals, without consequences to themselves.

Experience has shown that if we wait for change then change will not come. The greatest change comes when people take responsibility for learning, understanding and acting on their understanding.

Our actions matter. There are so many of us, doing so many things, that no body of water can absorb the results of what we do and remain unaffected.

The Gulf Gusher is an extreme example. It’s size and impact could be seen around the world. Now that the gusher has been capped, many will assume that the problems caused by the oil it released will disappear quickly.

There is no way of knowing how long recovery will take, until it happens. Even though the sheen has disappeared from the surface oil lingers below, and tar balls continue to wash up. That is why health experts in the US continue to stress the need to monitor the health and needs of people and communities closest to the spill. And why there will continue to be questions about the health of sea life in those waters and wherever the oil has traveled, above or below the surface.

In the meantime, there are things we can do to help protect the oceans we rely on for food, transportation and so much more. A lot of small things can have a very large impact. You may even be doing some of them already.

Care2.com has an interesting article on the things people do, how they affect the oceans, and some of the changes people can make to help keep the oceans alive. I hope you’ll see a way to help - in fact, I’d be surprised if you weren’t doing some of the things suggested already. I know we are.