For many of us living and raising our families in a developed country, food security is something most of our kids will never have to face. However, even in developed countries there are children, every day who suffer from lack of food security. So if you aren’t discussing this FACT with your kids, now may be a good time to start!
According to the UN, “Food security is when all people at all times have both physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs for an active and healthy life.” This is a fact and a reality that most people in the world DO NOT enjoy. Why not use World Water Day as a day to begin a new tradition with your children, a day to focus on how precious water is to us, and how too often, we take this precious resource for granted. This year, explain to them what food security is – Let them know, that by 2025 it is estimated that 2/3’s of the world’s population won’t have adequate food security. That’s only 13 years from now!! As a starting point, sit down and watch this wonderful, fun, fast paced UN World Water Day “official video” with the kids in your life. Regardless of their age, they will enjoy it. You won’t have to do too much explaining, as this video does much of it for you!
According to the official UN World Water Site: “Climate change is expected to impact both rain fed and irrigated agriculture, including feed and fodder for livestock, as well as forests and aquaculture. Severe reductions in river runoff and aquifer recharge are expected in the Mediterranean Basin and in the semi-arid areas of the Americas, Australia and Southern Africa, affecting water availability and quality in already stressed regions. High latitude areas will see an increase in their potential, whereas regions near the equator will experience more frequent and severe droughts, excessive rainfall, and floods which can destroy crops and put food production at risk. Populations who live in fragile environments and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods face an immediate and increasing risk of crop failure or loss of livestock.”
In the USA this year, 252 of 254 counties in Texas experienced wildfires due to drought conditions. Access to peanut butter, a stable for many American kids, was impact as the peanut crop was affected by this drought, with prices doubling in some locations around the country. As well, you may have had a hard time finding mistletoe this year, as this crop was also impacted by the drought in the American south and west. This is but a small example of how climate change can impact each of us. Our extremely warm winter this past year will also have an impact on spring run off, reservoir levels and water access. So, do talk about water with the kids in your life, and think about things that each of us, regardless of age, can do to conserve and recognize this precious resource; a resource that too many of us still take for granted.
What are YOU doing this World Water Day, let us know!