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WORLD WATER DAY 22 March 2006-“WATER AND CULTURE�
“Sega na wai, sega na bula�
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“Sega na wai, sega na bula� no water no life is a Fijian saying that reflects the importance of water in Fijian culture.
Sayings and proverbs exist in all cultures and express the beliefs, values and lifestyles of the people. Proverbs are rich in tradition; are generally passed from generation to generation and often represent the collective wisdom of a culture. Because we are all dependant on water, proverbs related to observations about water are present in all cultures.
Consider the Hawaiian proverb,
“ hahai no ka ua i ka ulula’au� the rain follows after the forest meaning that if you destroy the forest, the rain will cease to fall and the land will become a desert. Proverbs provide insight into a culture and indicate a people’s awareness of and relationship with water.
In the Pacific, people still hold great reverence for water. Local folklores passed down over time, tell stories of Gods and Goddesses, water and other elemental spirits and magical animals wreaking havoc on those who fail to respect the earth, water, wildlife and trees. These cultural values and beliefs are learned from village elders as part of childhood experience, as a mean of conveying appropriate social behaviour towards nature. They are embedded in the local language, including songs and stories, and reflected in art.
Water has streamed through history shaping the very course of mankind. Water is not only an ingredient in human history, it is our sacred heritage. If we lose our heritage, we lose ourselves entirely.
Water for Life
Refers to the Water for Life Decade of Action 2005- 2014 and the reflection and fore-thinking that each Pacific person is responsible to ensure that water is available for a clean, fresh, happy and healthy life for our current and future generations. The Water for Life Decade encourages us to view water not only as a shared resource, but also as a shared responsibility.
Water and Culture Stickers
Posters
River Story Poster
Water Prophecy Poster
World Water Day
World Water Day grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). In recognition of the freshwater goals agreed to in the conference the United Nations declared 22 March each year to be observed as World Day for Water. The theme for World Water Day 2006 is ‘Water and Culture’.
The South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) together with Live and Learn Environmental Education and other stakeholders are coordinating various World Water Day activities in the Pacific region. In Fiji, the WWD campaign has begun with poetry and essay competitions in primary and secondary schools and will intensify with radio talkback shows, quizzes, training and awareness programmes using materials produced and TV sessions. The annual World Water Day celebration will be held on the 22nd March at the Fiji Museum.
For more information please Click on Logos below
For further inquiries, please contact:
Kamal Khatri
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Officer
Community Lifelines Programme SOPAC
Private Mail Bag
GPO
Suva
Fax: (679) 337 0040
Ph: (679) 338 1377
Email: kamal@sopac.org
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Marie Fatiaki
Programme Manager
Live and Learn Environmental Education
Private Mail Bag
3/87 Gordon Street
Suva
Fax: (679) 3305868
Ph: (679) 3315868
Email: marie@livelearn.org |
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