When he wakes up in the morning, the first thing he looks for is water: lukewarm or hot drinking water. When drinking coffee, he prefers hot coffee over iced coffee. Unlike the past, as we age, our tastes and constitutions change. But what if there is not enough or no water to drink right now? Water constitutes 70% of the human body and is it not essential for maintaining life? Just to imagine this is disconcerting and terrifying.
He remembers World Water Day on the 22nd of last month. It was established by the United Nations in 1992 to prevent the increasingly serious shortage of water and water pollution and to remind us of the importance of water. One of the biggest crises facing humanity is water, and more than two-thirds of diseases are caused or transmitted through water.
Before and after 'World Water Day', the 9th 'World Water Forum' was held for one week in Dakar, the capital of Senegal. This forum, with the theme of "Water Security for Peace and Development," is also part of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Pope Francis' message from the forum came as a big echo. "The world is thirsty for peace. Water security today is threatened by a variety of factors, including pollution, conflict, climate change, and overuse of natural resources. Nevertheless, water is a valuable asset for peace. Therefore, water must not be subject to mere commercial gain or the laws of the market." He also emphasized that the right to drinking water and sanitation is directly related to the right to life.
98% of all water on Earth is seawater and the remaining 2% is fresh water. Of freshwater, 99% of freshwater is groundwater. However, there are frequent water fights between countries over groundwater that crosses national borders into the ground. He was surprised by some of the claims made on this forum. More than 2 billion people around the world are excluded from safe water.
The world's population is 7.5 billion, which is one in four. It's not an exaggeration to see TV commercials and videos in Africa and Southeast Asia where muddy water is used as drinking water. His daughter and son-in-law who visited the Maldives, the dream destination of Koreans, talked about the water situation there. "If you walk a bit from the accommodation, you can see the sea, but there is not enough water. Even the water from the showers and faucets in the new four-star hotel has a salty taste."
We also lost valuable forests turned to ashes due to a series of large-scale wildfires last month. Although it is due to the severe spring drought and strong winds, water is essential for preventing forest fires.
He often enjoys cycling along the Han River. When you see the vast Han River running through the middle of Seoul, you feel grateful. Imagine if Seoul, the capital city, existed without the Han River. This is because the Han River serves as a water source for more than 9.5 million Seoul citizens.
Are we conscious of the value of water when we use it both in the home or office? He hopes that the faucet or shower is used at the right amount when necessary. 'Leaked or spilled water' is lost.
Although Korea is not a "water-scarce country" as defined by the United Nations, it should be kept in mind that the water situation is not sufficient.
(上善若水), an acronym meaning the highest form of goodness is like water: humble, relaxed, flexible, and benefits all things. He hopes we can resemble the properties of water and flow smoothly and communicate with each other. Let's not just look at water as water, but as an oasis in the desert. Let's save, preserve, and share the water, which is life-giving. We believe that our mindset and actions will protect the "common house" of our Earth and contribute to the common good of mankind.
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