Water: love for life, pople, and the planet

"Water is the lifeblood of our planet. It is the essential condition for the life of every plant, animal, or human being. Without it, we could not conceive how the atmosphere, climate, vegetation, culture, or agriculture would be."

In June 1992, Brazil hosted the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, known as ECO RIO 92. This conference, considered by many as the most significant environmental event of the last century, achieved the remarkable feat of gathering representatives from 175 countries and Non-Governmental Organizations.

It was at this conference that the United Nations published the document “Universal Declaration of Water Rights,” a portion of which is quoted above, introducing this article.

Although late, the Declaration seeks to highlight the importance of water for the planet's sustainability. Without water, there would be no life in this part of the universe. It’s that simple.

NASA scientists, while investigating the existence of life on other planets, primarily search for the presence of water because life originated here in the same way.

The ancient East encompassed many civilizations, including the Egyptians, Sumerians, Akkadians, Assyrians, Persians, Phoenicians, and Hebrews.

These civilizations developed such a significant dependence on rivers that they became known in history as “hydraulic civilizations.”

The state model adopted was fundamentally based on the ownership of water and agricultural land.

But even before the existence of organized states and peoples, water was already a natural resource accompanying human evolution. Since the dawn of existence, the species has remained close to water sources, a sine qua non condition for survival.

Without water, the planet would be an inhospitable desert. All animals living on land today, and those tracing majestic and elegant flights in the skies, evolved from ancestors that lived in seas and oceans. When these species left the water to migrate to land, they still had to rely on it. The evolution of humans and living beings, in general, has always been connected to the availability of water.

The Earth's surface is covered by water for no less than three-quarters of its area. This fact has led to the mistaken belief that water resources are unlimited and inexhaustible. This belief is dangerous, considering that less than 3% of the world's water is fresh. More critically, over 99% of this fresh water is frozen in polar regions or located in underground rivers and lakes, limiting its immediate use.

Humanity’s connection to water is so profound that ancient legends spoke of the suppression of death through the existence of the fountain of youth—a source that would ensure eternity for those who managed to drink even a small portion of its waters.

The fountain of youth was believed to have the power to work miracles, heal diseases, and combat aging, keeping those who found it in a state of eternal youth.

History records several references to this search for miraculous water. The oldest is a Sumerian work, “Gilgamesh,” estimated to have been written over 3,000 years B.C.

Water is like the air we breathe—indispensable for human life. So indispensable that it makes up 70% of our body weight. A starving person can survive for several weeks without food, but without water, they will die in a few days.

Brazil holds about 12% of all the fresh water in the world. Meanwhile, the number of countries suffering from water scarcity is increasing. Some already import this precious liquid. Japan, for instance, imports part of its water from South Korea.

While the abundance of fresh water is a vital asset for Brazil, the imbalance in its distribution is one of our main challenges. The Amazon, which hosts only 7% of the Brazilian population, contains 70% of the country's fresh water. On the other hand, the Northeast region, which accounts for around 30% of the Brazilian population, has only 3% of the country's fresh water.

Rodoux Faugh often jokes that the human species proliferates on the planet like rats. He justifies this by noting that, in 1650, there were around 500,000 inhabitants on the planet, and by 2050—according to UN projections—there will be 9.7 billion people. That's too many people for too few natural resources.

Brazil is also fortunate to have one of the largest underground reservoirs in the world, the Guarani Aquifer. It is estimated that this colossal natural reservoir covers an area of 1.2 million km², equivalent to the combined territories of France, England, and Spain.

The major problem—which is already evident in many regions around the world—is that the resource that makes life on the planet possible is showing signs of exhaustion. Much of this is due to demand pressure, population growth, and increased agricultural and industrial production. But there’s no doubt that waste is one of the factors responsible for this red alert—a danger signal that is already loudly warning us. A striking fact reveals the gravity of water waste in urban centers, particularly in developing countries: 60% of the water distributed through supply networks is lost along the way. In Brazil, 45% of the water treated for supply in the 27 state capitals is wasted before it even reaches consumers.

Judging by current trends, scientists estimate that by 2025, 30% of the world's population will be subject to the hardships and sufferings of complete water scarcity.

While water represents life, when untreated, it can also mean death. The main diseases affecting the poorest segments of the Brazilian population are waterborne, such as gastroenteritis, cholera, leishmaniasis, malaria, schistosomiasis, diarrheal diseases, and many others. In certain circumstances, even hepatitis and salmonellosis.

Worldwide, 10 million people die annually, half of them young people and children under the age of 18, due to diseases spread through untreated water.

Therefore, caring for water is a matter of responsibility, respect, love for life and others, and sustainable commitments to the planet. This is something that cannot be postponed.

Universal Declaration of Water Rights

1.- Water is part of the planet’s heritage. Every continent, every people, every nation, every region, every city, every citizen is fully responsible in the eyes of all.

2.- Water is the lifeblood of our planet. It is an essential condition for the life of all plants, animals, or humans. Without it, we could not conceive how the atmosphere, climate, vegetation, culture, or agriculture would be.

3.- The natural resources that transform water into drinking water are slow, fragile, and very limited. Therefore, water must be handled with rationality, caution, and frugality.

4.- The balance and future of our planet depend on the preservation of water and its cycles. These must remain intact and functioning normally to ensure the continuity of life on Earth. This balance depends particularly on the preservation of seas and oceans, where cycles begin.

5.- Water is not only a legacy from our predecessors; it is, above all, a loan to our successors. Its protection is a vital necessity, as well as a moral obligation of humanity towards present and future generations.

6.- Water is not a free gift from nature; it has economic value: it is important to recognize that it is sometimes rare and costly and that it can become scarce in any region of the world.

7.- Water should not be wasted, polluted, or poisoned. Generally, its use should be done with consciousness and discernment to avoid depletion or deterioration of the quality of currently available reserves.

8.- The use of water implies respect for the law. Its protection is a legal obligation for every person or social group that uses it. This matter should not be ignored by either individuals or the state.

9.- Water management requires a balance between the imperatives of its protection and the economic, health, and social needs.

10.- Water management planning must take into account solidarity and consensus due to its unequal distribution across the Earth.

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