SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER OF ITALY
WORLD SECTOR of the Missionary Center SFO

National Campaign

“Sister Water”
For a conscientious and responsible use of the most precious resource of the Third Millennium

“Sister Water”
Francis of Assisi considered water as an indispensable resource and, by defining it “Sister Water” in his Canticle of the Creatures, he in fact invites everybody to “shift from the temptation to exploit to the Franciscan concept of universal brotherhood” (Reg. SFO, article 18)

What Future?
How can we deny that today’s humanity is, unfortunately, experiencing an ecological emergency?

  • About 1 billion people (16% of humankind) does not have access to potable water
  • 10 million people die each year from using non-potable water
  • Each year we consume about 45,000 gallons of water per person

With such alarming data about the status of the water resources of the planet the majority of experts claim: “the wars of the 21st Century will break out because of disputes over access to water.”

WATER: THE OIL OF THE 21ST CENTURY?
Emergency is also huge business!

You can!
The water crisis can be addressed adequately with a new awareness of the role of water for life and development because our future, if we want to make it possible, will have to be unavoidably characterized by sobriety.

For this reason we urge you to follow, with us, the indications of the DECALOGUE on the next page, for a life-style you can concretely adopt in your daily life.

A MORE JUST WORLD BEGINS WITH YOU

FAUCET DECALOGUE

  1. Shower instead of bathing (it saves 30 gallons of water) and turn off the faucet when we are not rinsing ourselves
  2. Apply a spray nozzle to the faucet (it saves 1600 gallons per family per year)
  3. Wash vegetables by dipping, rather than under running water
  4. Turn off the faucet when brushing teeth or shaving
  5. Use washing machines or dishwashers only if fully loaded
  6. Wash cars with a bucket rather than a water pump
  7. Put in a plumbing system with two circuits: one connected to the aqueduct and the other to rain water
  8. Check for leaks in the drain pipe of the toilet
  9. Purchase water-saving appliances
  10. Join the National Campaign for a Water Contract

FOR COMMON ACTIONS OF CONSCIOUSNESS RAISING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF EU POLICIES:

  • Gather signatures for the National Committee for a Water Contract
  • Spread the initiative “Sister Water”
  • Commit to the formation and education to a just use of water

TO CARRY OUT AND PROMOTE THE CAMPAIGN:

“Water, humanity’s common resource”
Campaign promoted by the Italian Committee for the World Water Contract www.contrattoacqua.it

National Campaign promoted by CIPSI: www.cipsi.it

“Water, a good to be shared”: National Campaign promoted by the Italian Caritas www.caritasitaliana.it

“W like Water”
Dossier compiled by “Grass-root Campaign for the equitable use of resources” www.unimondo.org/bilanciogiustizia

“Water that is not there”
Dossier compiled by “Volunteers for development”
www.arpnet.it/volosvi

“Responsibility Toward Creation:” Subsidy promoted by the National Office for Social Issues and the work of the National Service for Cultural Project. Torino-Leumann, LDC, 2002

The Jo’burg-Memo. Johannesburg Memorandum for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Heinrich Boll Foundation, Bologna, EMI 2002.

MISSIONARY CENTER SFO
Via Cappuccini, 8 – 50032 Borgo San Lorenzo (Florence)
Tel. 055 8495030 – cemiofs@virgilio. It – www.cemiosf.it