The water cycle, or how does water move about? - Global ...

ISBN: 978-0-9872581-8-2

Published by: Professional Teachers' Council NSW, Science Teachers' Association NSW and Global Education Project NSW ? Commonwealth of Australia, 2011 This project was funded by the Australian Government's Overseas Aid Program. Written by: Margaret Watts Edited by: Professional Teachers' Council NSW, Global Education Project NSW All rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Global Education Project, or the Australian Government.

Water and the World

Contents

Background

1

The Millennium Goals

1

Activity 1: How much water is available?

2

Activity 2: The water cycle, or how does water move about?

6

Activity 3: Water for life and only life?

11

Activity 4: Water changes everything

14

Activity 5: Conflict over water

17

Activity 6: Water and cultural identity

23

Activity 7: Earth's resources and the rights of people to share Earth's resources 25

Activity 8: Aquatic ecosystems and water quality

30

Water and the World

Water and the World

Water and the World

Background

The General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and signed the Millennium Declaration at its eighth plenary meeting on 8 September 2000. This declaration outlines the goals to be achieved if all peoples across the world are to have a better standard of living and freedom. The declaration can be read and downloaded from:

The Millennium Development Goals

This is the historic promise 189 world leaders made at the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000 when they signed onto the Millennium Declaration and agreed to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs are an eight-point road map with measurable targets and clear deadlines for improving the lives of the world's poorest people. World leaders have agreed to achieve the MDGs by 2015. The full list of MDGs and, via hyperlinks, further explanations about these goals, can be found at: This resource about water relates specifically to Millennium Development Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability, which is outlined in its entirety at: Within this goal, target 7.C aims to halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. The above link sums up the 2011 status of the achievements of this goal. ? The world is on track to meet the drinking water target, though much remains to be done

in some regions ? Accelerated and targeted efforts are needed to bring drinking water to all rural households ? Safe water supply remains a challenge in many parts of the world ? With half the population of developing regions without sanitation, the 2015 target appears

to be out of reach ? Disparities in urban and rural sanitation coverage remain daunting ? Improvements in sanitation are bypassing the poor. By working through the following activities, students will be able to apply their knowledge and understanding of science concepts related to water to the broader applications of sustainable water supply and safe drinking water within Australia and across the globe.

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