With us human beings existing out of it for 60% and our complete eco-system depending on it, it is unbelievable to see how we take the existence and availability of water for granted the way we do nowadays. The 22nd of March is a day to change that ignorance and let us celebrate freshwater during World Water Day, with this year’s theme ‘leaving no one behind’. As a web-shop with sustainability as one of our core values, we of course want to pay attention to this day.
A future of Scarcity
Although Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) established by the UN aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water for all by 2030, current developments show that that is far from a fait accompli.
The plastic soup that really gained attention this year is just the first problem that really makes it hard to achieve that goal, let alone the scientific prognoses that growing world population, growing water consumption and shrinkage of freshwater stores are warning us for a future of freshwater scarcity.
Local Water Projects
With us living in the (water scarce) desert, there should be a daily act of gratitude once we open our water tap, take a shower or drink a glass. In the mean time water consumption here shows high levels of self-evidence: we buy excessive amounts of PET-bottles and the UAE has one of the highest rates of water consumption per capita in the world (550 liters per day).
Luckily awareness is growing and a lot of initiatives pop up to make a change. On a small scale we have initiatives like Azraq for beach-cleaning and other marine conservation projects. On a more governmental level it is not surprising to see that, innovative as the UAE wants to be, lots of different projects try to make a difference. New energy efficient seawater desalination is being developed, Badia Farms’ hydroponic farming got launched and the Dubai Future Accelerators has a DEWA-cohort on solutions for water sanitation, to name a few.
But in the end all change has to start somewhere and every consumer can change his or her behavior a little so that we together can make a big difference.
Leaving no one behind: Tiny Miracles Foundation
Let’s start with these plastic soup causing PET-bottles: is it necessary to keep buying water in bottles? Or can you install a filter so you can start using your tap? And IF you have to use bottles: why not re-use them instead of throwing them out immediately?
It’s exactly this that triggered Pepe Heykoop to start with paper vases for his Tiny Miracles Foundation. These vases are basically plastified paper covers for your empty (PET-)bottles at home, to upgrade them to very modern and fresh-looking vases. At least these bottles now are granted a second life. Besides that Pepe lets his vases being fair-trade produced by women in one of the most impoverished areas of Mumbai, granting them a chance in life.
To celebrate world water day, we at Urban Nest offer 20% discount on all paper vases for Friday, Saturday and Sunday (from 22nd of March from 00:00h until 24th of March 23:59h).
Make the best of your 22ndof March with mindful water-usage and by buying our paper vases!
Use this code to avail 20 % off in your shopping cart on all papervases:
Discount Code: WORLDWATERDAY
Find the whole Tiny Miracles collecting here