"Waters for life Not For Death!"

What a powerful image in this season of Lent! It has lead me to reflect on both the reality it presents, and other realities it symbolizes.

When Ricardo, a farmer in Southern Brazil who is working to oppose the building of dams on thirty of their rivers, gave me his card I was struck by it.

Whether the image speaks to us of Jesus crucified, the people of Brazil, or the waters, it is clear that the damming of rivers for electricity has horrendous effects. In fact, the farmlands of people like Ricardo are flooded and destroyed by these mega-projects. As in Columbia, where the lives of so many have been devastated by the damming of their rivers, so also are the lives of people in Brazil being destroyed.

Lent and Easter invite us to think of water and life. Just last Sunday we were reminded of the waters of life in Jesus' gift of new life to the Samaritan woman. The water that Jesus gives is precious in a unique and transformative way. It is the life-giving water he offers that enables us, his followers, to bring life, hope and healing to others. Lent is about being the kind of followers that will receive and share waters for life. In his conversation with the Samaritan woman Jesus says: "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks the water that I give him will never be thirsty...." John 4: 13-14

Jesus communicates the significance of his life-giving water, but he does not deny our human need to drink the waters given to us in creation. The message: "Waters for life, not for death!" speak of the gift of God in the waters of creation. For many people in the global south, the transformation of water into power is one that brings death not life, because not only do the poor not benefit, they lose. They lose land, livelihood, and sometimes life itself. The Portugese words around the image translate: "Movement of Dam-Affected People." The movement is global since the issue is global.

The recent murder of Sister Dorothy Stang, in Northern Brazil, although related to the destruction of the rainforest rather than to rivers, speaks of the risk faced by so many advocates, including Ricardo.

"The 74-year-old activist (Sister Dorothy) was assassinated by two gunmen on Saturday at a remote encampment in the jungle about 30 miles from the town. Sister Dorothy - the most prominent activist to be murdered in the Amazon since Chico Mendez in 1988 - was shot ... at close range. 'She was on a list of people marked for death. And little by little they're ticking those names off the list' said Nilde Sousa, an official with a local women's group who worked with the nun." Andrew Buncombe February 15, 2005 in the Independent/UK

When Ricardo visited our Motherhouse the Sisters sang a blessing over him. I am grateful to our Sisters who were so ready and willing to bless him and pray for him. He was touched and strengthened by that simple gesture.

Jesus' offer of life-giving water to the Samaritan woman was such a simple gesture. Jesu was filled with compassion for her. His response was to offer her the waters that he alone could give. Do we not in faith give life-giving water by our simple efforts to "do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with God"? Micah 6:8

In our care for the elderly, our care for creation, and our compassion for those who suffer abuse, indignity and violence in our world we can quench the thirst of those who long for compassion and peace.

Focus on Women

March, in both secular and religious circles, is known as the month to focus on women. International Women's Day of Prayer is usually held on the first Friday of March. International Women's Day is March 8, and in many places the first week of March is considered International Women's Week. It was with this in mind that the Lost in Traffic tour was scheduled in early March. In addition the Canadian Religious Conference has provided a prayer service for March 8. It is enclosed in this mailing with the hope that you will find a way to join others in prayer on, or near, March 8th. The focus of the prayer is on our solidarity with victims of trafficking.

Water and women are closely connected. In the Ojibway tradition, and many other traditions, women have a particular responsibility to care for water. It is the women who go out searching for water in many countries who do not have either water resources, water services or water facilities. March is also special in relation to water.

Water for Life

The following information is quoted from http://www.worldwaterday.org

The United Nations General Assembly at its 58th session in December 2003 agreed to proclaim the years 2005 to 2015 as the International Decade for Action, "Water for Life", ... beginning with World Water Day, March 22, 2005.

Water is critical for sustainable development, including environmental integrity and the alleviation of poverty and hunger, and is indispensable for human health and well-being.

The Water for Life decade sets the world's goals on a greater focus on water-related issues, while striving to ensure the participation of women in water-related development efforts, and further cooperation at all levels to achieve water-related goals of the Millennium Declaration, Johannesburg Plan of Implementation of the World Summit for Sustainable Development and Agenda 21.

The assembly called upon the relevant United Nations bodies, specialized agencies, regional commissions and other organisations of the United Nations to deliver a coordinated response, utilizing existing resources and voluntary funds, to make "Water for Life" 'a decade for action."

The first water decade from 1981 to1990 brought water to over a billion people and sanitation to almost 770 million. Much more still needs to be done. Safe water supply and adequate sanitation to protect health are among the basic human rights. Today, there are still almost 1.1 billion people who have inadequate access to water and 2.4 billion without appropriate sanitation.

Research and practical experience from the Gender and Water Alliance (GWA) have demonstrated that effective, efficient and equitable management of the available water is only achieved when both women and men are involved in making decisions on how to best share, supply and protect water.

A gender sensitive approach shows that women and men have distinctive roles and responsibilities in water. Striking a gender balance ensures that:

old and new roles and responsibilities of all women and men are mobilised to best effect for the well-being of all;

the creativity, energy and knowledge of both sexes contribute to making water schemes and eco-systems work better; and

the benefits and costs of water use accrue equitably to all groups.

Development and Peace in its "Thirsting for Justice" resource book quotes the Brazilian Bishops. Here is one of their prayers.

Prayer of Water

Blessings, O God of Creation, for water, the spring of life for the Earth, human beings and all creatures. Blessings, Creator, for rivers and immense seas, for the blessing of the rains, for the refreshing springs and for the secret waters in the bosom of the earth.

Blessings, God of Salvation, for water made into wine in Canaan, for the washing of the feet at the Last Supper and the regenerating spring of Baptism.

Forgive us, God of Mercy, for the contamination of water, for the waste and for the selfishness that deprives our sisters and brothers of the necessities of life.

Give us, Spirit of God, a wise and sympathetic heart to use water with wisdom so that not one of your creatures goes wanting.

O Christ, You who also experienced thirst, teach us to give water to those who are thirsty. Give us all an abundance of the living water that flows from your heart. Amen