1.2 billion people or almost 1 out of 5 people in the world are without access to safe drinking water and half of the world's population lacks adequate water purification systems. Whether or not you live in a country with these problems, it is everyone’s problem and everyone’s responsibility.

1. Throughout 2003 there are several international days celebrated (Volunteer Day on December 5th, Youth Day on August 12th, etc.). Think of planning your events around the theme of water!

2. Organize events around World Water Day on March 22. The theme is Water for the Future! Action is needed now to ensure a better future.

3. Support youth events aimed at protecting water resources and campaigns by youth for youth. This is the future generation, and real change will come from them.

4. Organize your own events in your community. Write an article on your event and send it to your national focal point or to us so that you can share your ideas with the world.

5. Make presentations to your community, classrooms, schools, businesses, etc. on anything from the importance of preserving water in the working place, to making a presentation on a particular activity or problem to your school class.

6. Encourage your school system and local government to help develop and promote a water conservation ethic among children and adults.

7. Organize events to clean your local river banks and beaches.

8. According to the UN and the World Health Organization, 80% of diseases in developing nations stem from consumption of and exposure to unsafe water, which kills more than 25,000 people each day. No matter what country you are in, Water Quality is an important issue. Push your local decision makers to ensure that you have access to clean safe drinking water and that in the future you will also be protected.

9. Look at past promises made by your government in terms of protecting the water resources of your country and see if these promises were kept. If not, follow up on this and start campaigns to remind your government of these promises, and to push your own community to get started on ensuring that these agreements are kept. It is all of our responsibility.

10. Push your governments to make some real promises and changes at the upcoming 3rd World Water Forum to take place in Japan in March 2003.

11. If you are working within a community group, organization, network etc., organize some events relating to freshwater during the year, public awareness campaigns, speaking series, letter writing campaigns etc.

12. Create stickers, posters, songs, plays, radio messages, tv spots, anything that can be used by your community to educate people about water and to tell them what they can do.

13. Take pictures of your community doing concrete action to protect your water resources, write 150 words describing what the picture represents and send it to us. Not only will you have a chance to share your stories and experiences with others around the world, but could be part of a special travelling exhibit for the year.

14. If you have access to the internet, organize Water Information Days for youth and adults to give those who do not have access to the internet a chance to learn about water issues through the different websites and to learn more about water in their country. Visit the International Year of Freshwater national pages.

15. When organizing conferences, symposiums, workshops etc., make sure you incorporate an action element. While discussing the subjects it is also important to seriously and realistically discuss how you can make a difference in your communities with these findings.