# Clean Water: A Human Right for Everyone

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2015/09/clean-water-a-human-right-for-everyone/
- Published: 2015-09-17T22:23:00-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

## HuffPost’s Sustainable Development Goals Series: Matt Damon on Clean Water and Sanitation

The Huffington Post’s [“What’s Working: Sustainable Development Goals”](https://www.huffpost.com/impact/topic/sustainable-development-goals)
blog series is focusing on the [UN’s Goal 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all](https://web.archive.org/web/20180915141958/https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/).
With one in three people on the planet lacking access to clean water, the implications
of this issue are dire and far-reaching. Access to clean water is fundamental not
only for drinking but also for sanitation and hygiene practices, which are crucial
for preventing disease and promoting health.

Furthermore, inadequate sanitation services further jeopardize public health, highlighting
the urgent need for improved infrastructure and community education. As we strive
to meet Goal 6, it becomes evident that this issue is not just about water; it encompasses
various aspects of human dignity and well-being.

![A group of five women and girls smiling and posing around a water source in a 
rural landscape showcasing joy and community engagement in accessing clean water](
https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_5561.webp?resize
=400%2C300&quality=50&ssl=1 "IMG_5561 - The Green Living Guy")

A group of smiling women and girls joyfully collect clean water highlighting the
importance of access to water for health and well being

Goal 6 cannot be ignored. It demands immediate action, requires teamwork, calls 
for innovation. Clean water and sanitation are basic rights for everyone, everywhere.

Access to water sustains health. It also supports hygiene, lowers disease, feeds
food production and drives economic stability.

The challenge grows. Climate change strains resources. Urbanization pushes demand
higher. Population growth intensifies pressure. We must act with both old methods
and new technology.

Partnerships are key. Governments must work with NGOs and communities. Together,
they can build systems that last. These systems provide clean water. They ensure
sanitation. They empower people to manage their own resources.

The path is clear. A healthier and fairer world is possible. Goal 6 brings that 
future closer for the next generation.

### Featured bloggers for today include: 

 1. Actor/Activist, Matt Damon and Gary White, CEO of Water.org [http://huff.to/1Mb6J4p](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/its-expensive-to-be-poor_b_8095176?1441805779=)

### As they write:

Can you imagine asking your child to walk miles under the beating sun to find water
and carry it home? Then imagine praying that your family does not get sick from 
drinking it.

These are the nearly incomprehensible questions and trade-offs that parents worldwide
face each day that illuminate the dire reality of the global water and [sanitation crisis](https://greenlivingguy.com/2012/03/lenny-kravitz-supports-unicefs-water-sanitation-and-hygiene-efforts/).

#### Proper Sanitation

Clean water and proper sanitation are the most basic building blocks to a healthy
life, yet one in three people on the planet cannot access one or both, underscoring
a pressing global crisis that affects health, education, and economic stability.
When it takes hours every day to find and collect water, individuals and families
are often left with little to no time for essential activities such as commerce 
and community engagement, ultimately stunting personal and societal growth.

This scarcity forces a family into an endless cycle of poverty, where the lack of
clean water leads to health issues that further hinder their ability to work and
learn. Consequently, children miss school, adults are unable to sustain employment,
and the overall quality of life deteriorates, perpetuating a desperate situation
that becomes increasingly difficult to escape.

Addressing these fundamental needs is not just a humanitarian concern; it is crucial
for fostering resilient communities and ensuring a sustainable future for everyone.

![The huffington post's ](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/
2023/01/9C667748-EBDB-49D6-BD27-6AC47B3F4A09.jpeg?resize=570%2C380&quality=52&ssl
=1 "Child using Water - The Green Living Guy")

Ethiopia Photo Credit Waterorg

 1. Jan Eliasson, Deputy Secretary-General, UN [http://huff.to/1VNjFiz](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tapping-the-power-of-water_b_8095190?1441807207=)

More is at stake than individual health; that’s because international security is
at risk. Experts have identified water as the number one global risk. Especially
in terms of significant negative impact on countries in the coming decade. Water
can either be a source of conflict or cooperation.

 1. Jack Sim, Founder, World Toilet Organization [http://huff.to/1QnRoMu](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/making-toilets-an-object-of-desire_b_8095188?1441807016=)

#### All the posts

Check out all of the posts [here](https://www.huffpost.com/impact/topic/sustainable-development-goals),
where you’ll find a wealth of information and insights. I mean, this series also
offers an incredible opportunity to delve deep into the ongoing discussions surrounding
sustainable development goals. You can also catch up on what some of today’s foremost
thought leaders have already contributed to the series, sharing their unique perspectives,
innovative ideas, and more importantly, inspiring stories that can motivate us all
to essentially take meaningful action towards a more sustainable future.

![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/df91669667126e1290c21ee0342c386e2da19d588d4d9ca6560bd82ed59a9641?
s=300&d=monsterid&r=g)

 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant
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