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World Water Day - March 22, 2012
On World Water Day, assess your "water footprint". As the coordinating agency for this year's World Water Day, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations will be host to the official ceremony of UN-Water World Water Day 2012 at its Headquarters in Rome, Italy on March 22. Do you know how much water you actually consume every day? How can you change your diet and reduce your water footprint? Join the World Water Day 2012 campaign "Water and Food Security" and find out more! |
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Water, Food Security, and Drip Irrigation
Whether it is a small backyard in South Africa or a remote high school in Lesotho, in the dry north of Cameroon or at a school near the city dump in Guatemala City, drip irrigation has been shown to improve lives one drop of water at a time.
Growing vegetables using drip irrigation can be done with a bucket kit or with a pressurized system. Using 16mm round pipe and external emitters both systems supply water directly to the base of the plant so that every drop is absorbed by the roots and little is lost to evaporation. Plants have a stronger root system and higher yields. The growing season can be extended contributing to food security. Read More...
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 Linking Child & Maternal Death to Sanitation
A new study shows that child mortality in countries with the poorest sanitation is nearly seven times higher than in countries with the best access to sanitation. Researchers analyzed data on access to water and sanitation across 193 countries and compared them with maternal and child deaths. Countries ranked in the bottom 25% in terms of sanitation access had about 6.6 more deaths per 1000 children under five years old compared to countries in the top quartile. Read More...
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 On the countdown to Bangkok
The Wasrag team is very excited about this year's convention in Bangkok. In an earlier newsletter we explored the idea of hosting a Wasrag reception on the evening of Friday May 4th, but unfortunately most people will not arrive until Saturday and we have reluctantly cancelled plans for that event.
However - there will be other opportunities for Wasragians to meet and share their ideas on WASH! In the next few days we'll send an update on Wasrag activities during the convention.
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 Even Simple Latrines Can Cut Parasite Infections in Half
A new study shows that infection with hookworm, ringworm, and similar parasites can be dramatically reduced with a sanitation program. The researchers found even installing the simplest latrine can cut infection rates in half. Read More... (via Sanitation Updates)
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 Lebanon: WASH in schools In Lebanon, Rotary Clubs have installed water filtration systems in some 120 public schools. Starting in the South where 45 installations were done by the Rotary Club of Saida and and some 75 installations were done by other Rotary Clubs in public schools all over Lebanon. Over 1,200 schools need to have the same and this can be done through multiple Water Matching Grants (MGs)! Please help! Read More... | |
 Regional Team established in Guatamala
We are delighted to announce that a Wasrag Regional Team has been formed for Guatemala in Rotary District 4250. Two Team Leaders are working together: Juan Carlos Pinto of Guatemala City and Aldo Villanovich of Bolton, Ontario, Canada. Also Jurg Egli of Guatemala City is the new Wasrag Liaison for Guatemala. The team is beginning to review areas for a potential multi-club WaSH project in a rural area which can be a model for future sustainable WaSH projects in Guatemala. Read More... | |
 Honduras Regional Team formed
A Wasrag Regional Team has been formed for Rotary clubs in Honduras, led by Tony Medina of the Rotary Club of Usula. Tony is the District 4250 Water Committee chair, a Board member of Wasrag, and led his club in its recent completion of a 3H project in the mountainous El Merendon region above San Pedro Sula. He presented the first FV Global Grant to provide microcredit, also in El Merendon. Tony is also one of the 3 District Trainers and a Future Vision instructor. Read More...
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 New Projects...
One new project has been posted on the Wasrag website in the last month:
Ndandini (Kenya) Water Distribution Project
This project request is for US$10,000 of additional funding required to complete an already approved TRF Global Grant (#25462) which has run short of funds. The reasons for the shortage were mainly currency devaluation and inflation, and improvements to the project design which have resulted in the ability to deliver 50% more water per day than originally anticipated. The approved Global Grant project will deliver water from a previously drilled well to six schools, where 10,000 liter water tanks will distribute clean water to some 3000+ villagers who currently walk miles to a dry river to scoop for polluted water. Everything has been already completed except for the installation of the last three water tanks.
See www.ndandini.blogspot.com for full details of work done in Ndandini since 2007 by the RC of Sunshine Coast-Sechelt, BC, Canada, its partner clubs and other supporting non-Rotarians. And check out the Wasrag project listing at: Ndandini Project.
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 Wasrag needs your membership. Membership revenue helps cover our administrative costs, website upgrades, training, development of support materials etc. To check whether your membership has expired, email Anna. To become a member, simply click on the button.
Interested in Upcoming Events?
Click here to see the Calendar. To submit items for the calendar, please email info@wasrag.org
To submit stories and pictures for our newsletter, please email marcom@startwithwater.org |
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The Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action Group is a group of Rotarians whose purpose is to support Rotary clubs to effectively plan, finance, implement, monitor and evaluate water, sanitation, and hygiene programs, where they are most needed in a collaborative, cost-effective, timely, and sustainable manner, true to the principles of Rotary International. Wasrag operates in accordance with Rotary International policy but is not an agency of, or controlled by, Rotary International.
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