Humanity's Right to Water
Humanity’s Rights to Water
Alex Kwan
History 10IB
Robert Gardner
May 30, 2012
Alex Kwan
History 10IB
Robert Gardner
May 30, 2012
Humanity’s Right to Water For the past five thousand years, humanity has been using water without any problems at all. However, as we step into the twentieth-first century, you may think that through the technological advances of the modern world, everyone should have equal access to clean water. The truth is, with the seven billion humans alive today; over one billion people lack the access to adequate clean water according to the World Health Organization. Humanity is currently dealing with a global water crisis that leaves billions without access to safe drinking water. Air, food, and water are the most fundamental needs of the human species — and none of these are indicated as absolute rights for the entire population of Earth. As a result, if we are going to work towards a future that enables humans to possess certain rights, we must first consider these biological needs as their undeniable foundation. Therefore, humanity should be recognizing water as one of our fundamental human rights. Throughout much of the developing world, the absence of clean drinking water is a common sight. Hence, it is particularly noticeable of how the need for safe and sanitary water impacts people’s quality of life. In accordance to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.2 billion people worldwide do not have access to clean drinking water, and a further 2.6 billion people lack adequate sanitation services. Moreover, these numbers are expected to rise. The United Nations have estimated that by the year 2025, 2.8 billion people in 48 countries will be living in conditions of water stress and scarcity. As for now, millions of people living in water shortage and sanitation situations are affected by a wide range of water-borne diseases. Inadequate water is accountable for one tenth of the world’s disease burden, and that six
Alex Kwan
History 10IB
Robert Gardner
May 30, 2012
Alex Kwan
History 10IB
Robert Gardner
May 30, 2012
Humanity’s Right to Water For the past five thousand years, humanity has been using water without any problems at all. However, as we step into the twentieth-first century, you may think that through the technological advances of the modern world, everyone should have equal access to clean water. The truth is, with the seven billion humans alive today; over one billion people lack the access to adequate clean water according to the World Health Organization. Humanity is currently dealing with a global water crisis that leaves billions without access to safe drinking water. Air, food, and water are the most fundamental needs of the human species — and none of these are indicated as absolute rights for the entire population of Earth. As a result, if we are going to work towards a future that enables humans to possess certain rights, we must first consider these biological needs as their undeniable foundation. Therefore, humanity should be recognizing water as one of our fundamental human rights. Throughout much of the developing world, the absence of clean drinking water is a common sight. Hence, it is particularly noticeable of how the need for safe and sanitary water impacts people’s quality of life. In accordance to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.2 billion people worldwide do not have access to clean drinking water, and a further 2.6 billion people lack adequate sanitation services. Moreover, these numbers are expected to rise. The United Nations have estimated that by the year 2025, 2.8 billion people in 48 countries will be living in conditions of water stress and scarcity. As for now, millions of people living in water shortage and sanitation situations are affected by a wide range of water-borne diseases. Inadequate water is accountable for one tenth of the world’s disease burden, and that six