World Water Day is coming up. March 22 is the day set aside to celebrate freshwater and further the discussion on the importance of safe water, sustainable access and practices. This year, the focus is on the link between food security and water security. Drought is the leading cause of food shortages - it is especially hard on communities relying on local agriculture for food.
Del Norte County is fortunate to have a large supply of freshwater, but that doesn't mean everyone always has access to safe, clean water. Sodas and other sugary drinks are sometimes the most accessible beverages at parks, schools, hospitals and other public spaces. A 20 ounce bottle of soda has 17 teaspoons of sugar, and soda is the number one source of sugar in the American diet. Consuming a lot sugar has known health risks. To address this, DHHS, First 5 Del Norte and the North Coast Nutrition and Fitness Collaborative teamed up to put on a "ReThink Your Drink" forum and training event for community members yesterday.
The afternoon was both informative and interactive, providing participants with materials and activities for furthering the campaign message, that water is best, and we can get it best from the tap. A "photo journey" through the "State of Our Water in Del Norte," with Sara Haug as Field Guide, showed that some places were better at providing access to the tap than others. This photo from Little School of the Redwoods, shows a girl taking advantage of hers.
If you're interested in learning more about the virtues of water, or getting involved in the campaign, click on any of the above links. There are some great materials already available. Maybe you'd like to do something special for World Water Day!
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