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Class 1: September 21, 2006 7:00 p.m. Central Time A Trip Around the World: Water Clean water–Innovative yet simple technologies on three continents. Kathryn F. Wolford, President     Mr. Kirk Betts, Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Lutheran World Relief Listen to an audio presentation of this class by downloading this mp3 file. LARGE FILE 43MB Download A PDF of the class notes and transcript.   We are thirsty beings living on a parched planet. Water is 60 percent of our human bodies. It is 70 percent of the world’s surface. Water is the element in the Lutheran sacrament of Baptism, which together with the Word of God provides a “washing of regeneration in the Holy Spirit” according to Martin Luther’s short course in the Christian (aka the Small Catechism). And yet while water is vital to our health, earth, and faith, the hard truth is this: it is in short supply even as demand is increasing. Only 1% of the earth’s water is useable fresh water. Today, 31 countries around the world are in chronic water shortage; and by the year 2025, 48 countries (3 billion people) will have shortages, including Peru, India, & Kenya – among Lutheran World Relief’s target program regions. Population, pollution and privatization further threaten water resources. As water becomes scarcer and more expensive, we may witness increases in malnutrition, diseases, refugees and IDPs, habitat/biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, and internal and cross-border conflict, including wars. Unfortunately, the poor are the people who have least access to clean water which calls the question: Is water a commodity or a basic human right? In this class we’ll wrestle with that query and review the global issues that surround water. We will also introduce some of LWR’s innovative water solutions on all continents that range from simple soda bottle irrigation to regional watershed management to training local leaders in environmental conflict resolution. Pour yourself a cup of tea or a cool glass of water, put on your bunny slippers and call into this virtual U phone conference class for an hour’s douse of reality and hope around the issue of water. Suggested Reading:

NEWS RELEASES FROM LWR’S WEBSITE Emergency Alert: Drought in East Africa Updated September 11, 2006 Lutheran World Relief Celebrates World Water Day March 22, 2006 Clean Water for a Small Village in Southern Iraq June 22, 2005, Al Jazeera, Iraq Written for ACT International, a Lutheran World Relief partner, by Laurie MacGregor from Norwegian Church Aid Power, Water for War-Ravaged Liberian Hospital? Lwr Seeking Funds March 25, 2004 'Sweet' Water Will Replace The Salty Drops Of Drought In India April 11, 2004 OTHER LWR RESOURCES Water Management in India Water Management in Central and South America Non-LWR RESOURCES RESOURCES BBC News Website: “Planet Under Pressure” Series, Part II: World Water Crisis Part of a BBC series looking at the six “biggest problems facing the Earth.”  Includes map, quiz, photo journal, articles, stories, etc. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States: Water At a Glance A “ten-minute guided tour. . .intended primarily for people who are not familiar with the relationship between water, agriculture, food security and poverty.”  The website discusses “effective ways of managing agricultural water.” OXFAM America: Background Information on Water “Oxfam America is a non-profit organization that works to end global poverty through saving lives, strengthening communities, and campaigning for change.”  It is an affiliate of Oxfam International. ThinkQuest Library: Water, Water Everywhere An educational site exploring water from many angles, including its importance to life, the science of water, water management and water in art. The Water Barons Published by The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and The Center for Public Integrity A collection of articles about the privatization of water resources. Water Magazine Online magazine for water policy advice and ideas. ARTICLES AND PUBLICATIONS A Global Problem: How to Avoid War Over Water Kevin Watkins and Anders Berntell, International Herald Tribune (August 23, 2006) Map details global water stress BBC News (August 21, 2006) Global Issues That Affect Everyone: Water and Development Anup Shah (May 27, 2006) Scientists Call for Radical Action to Ease Water Scarcity Author Unknown (August 26, 2005) Managing Water Conflict and Cooperation Chapter 5 in State of the World 2005: Redefining Global Security Aaron T. Wolf, et al (2005).  The WorldWatch Institute. Washington, D.C. Why World's Taps Are Running Dry Alix Kirby, BBC News (June 20, 2003) Water Scarcity Could Affect Billions: Is This the Biggest Crisis of All? Michael McCarthy, The lndependent/UK (March 5, 2003) UNEP Vital Water Graphics: An Overview of the State of the World’s Fresh and Marine Waters United Nations Environment Programme (2002) Introduction to Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Water Systems Aaron T. Wolf (2002) AUDIO PRESENTATION Waves of Change, Rivers of Doubt: Global Water Issues and Solutions First broadcast August 23, 2006, on “Making Contact” a weekly international radio program ORGANIZATIONS International Water Management Institute United Nations Environment Programme: Freshwater World Policy Institute: Eco-Economy Indicators Clean Water Action “Clean Water Action is a national citizens' organization working for clean, safe and affordable water, prevention of health-threatening pollution, creation of environmentally-safe jobs and businesses, and empowerment of people to make democracy work.” Global Water “…an international non-profit, non-sectarian, non-governmental organization.”  “…focuses on permanent solutions to a region's water needs with two main programs- 1) drilling new wells to pump clean water; and 2) purifying and storage of existing sources of water.” Global Water Partnership “…a working partnership among all those involved in water management: government agencies, public institutions, private companies, professional organizations, multilateral development agencies and others committed to the Dublin-Rio principles.”  It’s mission is to “support countries in the sustainable management of their water resources." World Resources Institute: Water Online magazine for water policy advice and ideas.