Ecumenical water consultation sees hope for action in Asia

Experts, activists and church representatives met at the Asia consultation of the Ecumenical Water Network and debated on what it means to give a Christian witness on water issues.

Meeting in the Philippines’ national capital, Quezon City, from 28 November to 3 December, over 40 participants from various churches, faith-based and secular organisations from 12 countries in Asia had come together to “formulate strategies to address the issue of communities’ rights to water and sanitation in Asia.”

They also visited three local communities and exchanged experiences of local initiatives and advocacy related to the right to clean water and sanitation.

They identified various forms of actions, which they vowed to pursue in their own communities and home countries. The participants particularly stressed a human rights-based approach to ensure just distribution of and access to water for vulnerable and poor communities. High up on the 19-point list of pledges made at the conference was the commitment to compile “cases of violation and issues affecting the communities’ rights to safe and adequate water and sanitation, and develop campaigns around these.”

Local communities have often been left out from the debate on development concerns affecting them, the participants noted. They therefore want to help ensure “equitable decision making processes” in which local communities can participate strongly and effectively and be actively involved in “realising their right to safe and adequate water and sanitation through sustainable development”.

The participants recognised the need for “global ecumenical co-operation for effective strategizing and implementation of water justice initiatives”, and “the imperatives of alliance building and networking at the national, regional and global levels for water justice and rights.”

The Ecumenical Water Network, an international network of churches and church-based organisations supported by the World Council of Churches had organised the regional consultation, which was hosted by the National Council of Churches in the Philippines.

Among the “good practices” which were shared at the consultation and which other participants will seek to promote and adopt in their own communities, was the use of a tropical grass species that has helped curb soil erosion and purify water in India. Called vetiver, the grass, if planted along river banks, can absorb E. coli bacteria from human wastes and other toxic water contaminants such as phosphates, nitrates and heavy metals, said Dr Mathew Koshy Punnackadu, the convenor of the Church of South India’s ecological concerns committee.

Punnackadu, a scientist and the principal of Bishop Moore College in southern India, has been helping popularise what he described as a “wonder plant” to help rehabilitate polluted and biologically dying rivers not only in India but also in other parts of Asia and Africa.

As Christians and representatives of faith-based organisations, the participants expressed their aspiration to “develop a strong theological perspective of water justice within the spectrum of integrity of creation, seeing creation as the primary revelation of God.”

Such a theological foundation, they hoped, could help equip them to educate and mobilise community members “to be responsible citizens of God’s creation.”

From this theological perspective, the participants pledged to “reaffirm earth’s rights along with human rights to water and sanitation.”

“Inter-generational justice” or ensuring the wellbeing of future generations was another concern expressed by the group. They particularly want “national governments and corporate entities to be governed by respect for and consideration of responsible and sustainable development in their long term business initiatives”.

Industries involved in mining and power generation in Asian regions rich in biodiversity and natural resources, including water, are of special concern.

The participants agreed that it was key to “harness the energy and enthusiasm” of those who eventually would inherit the earth and its resources – the youth within and outside the churches.

They likewise called on all stakeholders to be accountable, transparent and responsible in using what they called “global communitarian resources” such as water and biodiversity.