CAFOD calls on Cameron to put water poverty on G8 Agenda

CAFOD is calling on its supporters to write to David Cameron to help turn the tide of access to clean water.

The Catholic development charity has today announced a new initiative called ‘Thirst For Change’ to halve the number of people without access to clean water and sanitation by 2015.

CAFOD says that currently 884 million people around the world are unable to access clean water, and it is urging its supporters to write to Prime Minster David Cameron, to call on him to put water poverty on the agenda at this year’s G8 summit of world leaders.

CAFOD director Chris Bain said: “Access to clean water is one of the most fundamental human needs, and it should be one of the most automatic human rights. Yet every day hundreds of millions of people are still going without clean water and sanitation; and for millions more, every day is consumed by walking and queuing for hours to carry water home.

“A decade ago, the world made a promise to halve this problem, but even that target is off track. It doesn’t have to be this way: what we lack is simply the political will and the financial commitment from the world’s most powerful countries to get clean water and safe sanitation to the people who need them. That’s why we’re calling on David Cameron to put water poverty on the table at the next G8 summit, and we ask everyone who can to add their voice.”

Throughout the campaign, CAFOD supporters will be backing ’Thirst for Change’ by sending their own personal messages to David Cameron. There will also be a range of events taking place around England and Wales to raise funds for the charity’s overseas water programmes and to raise awareness of the urgent need for action.

The G8 (Group of Eight) consists of the governments of eight leading economies, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the UK and the USA who meet as a group every year to discuss world issues. Although now overshadowed by the G20, the G8 represents around 50% of the world’s GDP.

The 38th G8 summit is to be held in Chicago, USA, on May 19-20 this year.