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Faith in Water Conference

First Ever

Hosted at Sarum College from 5th to 7th July 2009.

Developing Partnerships Between Faiths and the Secular World on Water-Related Issues in Schools and Creating a Guide to Ideas, Inspiration and Stories

The immediate goal is to produce a useful guide to help faiths and secular groups work together to protect water resources and the environment, to preserve hygiene and promote the safe management of water and waste, specifically in the context of schools.

In the longer term the meeting will forge strong partnerships and reinforce the faiths’ ability to help communities improve their water facilities for many years to come, and encourage international secular agencies to see them as natural partners – something that has not happened before.

Why?

The water issue is very broad and very complex. It affects billions of people, the problems are horrendous, it involves a wide number of necessary strategies and solutions, and the cost of not sorting it out are many deaths, illnesses and much suffering by humans, animals and the environment.

Linking faith with water facilities and school toilets does not sound like an obvious step, yet it is important. Water is central to many religions: as the source of life, it often represents birth and rebirth. It cleans the body, and by extension purifies it, and these two main qualities confer a highly sacred status on water. This is reflected in the way people use water, in the way they design water systems and the need for accessibility of water for cleansing after toilet use or washing hands

Who?

The event was hosted by the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC), together with the Dutch Ecological Management Foundation (EMF) and the International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC).

More information about ARC, EMF, IRC

More than 40 people representing seven key traditions (Buddhists, Catholics, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Protestants and Zoroastrians) from 15 countries attended the first-ever Faith in Water conference held at Sarum College, Salisbury from 5 to 7 July.

Naiade water filtering unit from the Netherlands

The Naiade is a blue box about the size and shape of a Tardis, which works with solar energy and no chemicals to filter up to 2,500 of drinking water a day. A child can have 2.5 litres of drinking water a day, for less than 1p a week.

The Naiade was on display at Sarum College and in Salisbury Cathedral during the Faith in Water conference.

www.cleanwaternow.nl

Faith in Water conference participants enjoy some filtered water from the Naiade in front of Sarum College.