Concerned about justice issues and aware of the impact of the global water crisis on the lives of billions of people, the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) adopted a corporate stand on water in 2008. The congregation affirmed its commitment to promoting universal access to safe water, especially for vulnerable populations. It advocates for the recognition of water as a human right and a public good and opposes any policy that could undermine this access.
Beyond the numbers that underscore that 2.2 billion people live without access to safe water, the SNJMs are concerned about the consequences inflicted on populations deprived of clean water. The situation in Lesotho, where people are struggling with the dual problems of drought and contamination, requires direct action. These take the form of financial assistance to counter the effects of the famine and working with others to implement measures such as the construction of wells.
The impacts of the water crisis are equally dramatic for marginalized populations in Brazil and Peru. The same is true in several regions of the United States and Canada. Studies and reflections lead some experts to assert that the difficult or non-existent access to drinking water in these countries is the result of “systemic racism”.
On a collective level, SNJMs are committed to working with agencies to provide training and equipment to villages without access to clean water. In their responsible investments, they favor companies that can develop solutions to provide clean water to communities affected by drought or water contamination.
Among the actions of an individual nature, we encourage people to review their lifestyle and consumption habits in order to reduce their negative impact on the Earth by 1%. Of course, we continue to raise awareness in many ways, including the integration of an ecological component into educational programs and participation in the awareness activities of the SNJM Water-Ecology Committee, involving sisters and SNJM affiliates.
Let us recall that in the Christian tradition, water has a strong spiritual meaning. It is perceived as a source of life.
