Se non lo facciamo noi, chi lo farà? Crisi mondiale dell’acqua
If We Don’t Do It, Then Who Will? Il 10th World Water Forum has come to a close, but the issues we face are far from over. Reflecting on our journey and the recent events, I am compelled to share my thoughts and the profound frustration we experience in trying to be heard despite our unwavering commitment and substantial efforts over the past 15 anni.
My name is Alex Wettstein, and I founded the Fair Future Foundation. Last February, we celebrated fifteen years of uninterrupted activity, serving the poorest in the world’s most rural regions. We have been active in East Sumba since 2019, working tirelessly to improve people’s lives by addressing the critical issues di acqua, malattie infettive, e severe malnutrition.
Our mission is clear: finding simple and innovative solutions to these immense problems. About 65% of families in East Sumba do not have access to pulito acqua. On average, people have only two litres of acqua per day per person for everything – drinking, cooking, and washing. In these conditions, washing becomes a monthly luxury, and every drop of water is recovered and reused.
Our voices are often not heard despite our significativo work, engaging with ultra-rural communities, building Infrastrutture come ad esempio ferro-cement reservoirs e sanitary installations, and educating entire communities. The recent 10th World Water Forum allowed us to share our experiences and seek collaborative solutions. Still, our request was met with silence and an exorbitant registration fee, which we cannot afford.
Our 15-minute documentary film, “Matawai, Gli Sfumature dell’Acqua,” was created to highlight the critical and vital problems faced by the populations of East Sumba. Sumba is one of the driest regions in the world, and finding acqua here is a Herculean task due to logistical challenges: no access, no electricity, and, paradoxically, no water for drilling.
Il acqua here is a matter of life or death before all. The people in these regions are accustomed to drinking contaminated water without understanding why they fall ill or why so many bambini, pregnant women, and vulnerable individuals die. Our work involves educating these communities, drilling fori profondi, and providing the necessary infrastructure to ensure access to Acqua pulita.
We are frustrated but not discouraged. This frustration fuels our Determinazione to do even more for those we help with so few resources. We know that such forums’ sponsors are among the world’s wealthiest companies e il biggest polluters. They sell acqua that no one here can afford, turning a vital resource into a commodity that should be accessible for free to those who need it most.
“If we don’t do it, then who will?” This question drives us every day. We are the ones on the ground, facing these challenges head-on. We cannot rely on those who prioritize profit over humanity. Acqua should be used to live, not to make others live off it. It should be available for drinking, washing, and growing verdura fresca, to sell and create small opportunities, and to feel good in body and mind.
Thank you for listening. Together, we can make a difference. We will continue our undeterred mission to bring Acqua pulita e migliore salute to the most remote and disadvantaged communities.
Alex Wettstein – Fair Future Foundation Campo medico-sociale in East Sumba – Casa Kambera, Lambanapu – Il 31 maggio 2024
