The Global Citizen is a joint project of New Voices and the American Jewish World Service (AJWS). Throughout the year, a group of former AJWS volunteers will offer their take on global justice, Judaism, and international development. Opinions expressed by Global Citizen bloggers do not necessarily represent AJWS.
This blog post was inspired by the documentary Flow. For more information, please visit www.flowthefilm.com.
On the one hand, there’s enough water for every person in the world to drink every day, to wash, to grow a certain amount of appropriate crops, to wash clothing, and to feed livestock. On the other hand, according to the film Flow, thousands of people die in one single state in India every year from water poisoning. How will we ever solve this problem? I know you can see what I can see, the only, the inevitable, solution.
It’s about not showering.
I’ve created the No-Bathe Campaign as my part of the battle to encourage my fellow citizens to boycott showers, washing stalls, sinks, and other areas of potential water consumption. The No-Bathe Campaign, following the motto Reduce, reduce, and reduce, will serve to reduce the water consumption of one of the richest and most wasteful nations on the planet. It will also raise olefactory awareness of problems of water shortage worldwide. You’ll believe it when you smell it.
In order to bring more to those who “have-not,” necessarily, those who “have” will need to lose a little bit. This struggle is difficult for many Americans. You may be among them. Do you shirk at the thought of giving up bottled drinks? Giving up a larger car in favor of a carpool? Giving up meat in favor of plants?
Then start with something easier: a shower.
If you’re undecided, just look at our beautiful tradition to help you make the figurative dive. We Jews grew to maturity in a hot, arid land, learning how to farm with limited resources and dig into the ground for water. Two of our ancestors, Rachel and Yaakov, met over a well (and I bet they hadn’t showered beforehand). From now until Pesach, we pray three times a day about the rain that G-d sends along with the wind to our beloved lands.
More seriously, it is our duty as Jews to live a life of Torat Hayyim, the living Torah. I encourage you, with a new awareness of the real and serious problems facing global water supply, to make steps with me toward a more just society with water for all. Know that I will stand by you completely with whatever you try, in support of your willingness to change yourself in order to change the world.
Find your own Re’ach Nichoach and live it. Comments are welcome!
