The International Day Of Action For Rivers 2024

Blog Credit: Trupti Thakur

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The International Day Of Action For Rivers 2024

 

Every year on March 14th, people around the world observe the International Day of Action for Rivers. This special day, now in its 25th year, focuses on protecting our rivers, celebrating their importance, and making more people aware of why they matter so much. It’s a day to remind everyone that if we want to keep our rivers safe and use them wisely, we need to work together, no matter where we live. People in communities that rely on rivers for their way of life need to join forces and tell leaders that rivers are crucial.

International Day of Action for Rivers 2024 Theme

The 2024 theme for the annual International Day of Action for Rivers on March 14th spotlights the urgent need to preserve these endangered ecosystems while also cultivating wider public awareness of their ecological and cultural significance.

 History of International Day of Action for Rivers 2024

The idea for the International Day of Action for Rivers began in 1997 during a meeting in Curitiba, Brazil. Experts from 20 different countries got together to talk about the problems caused by building dams. They agreed that something had to be done to stop the harm being done to rivers, water, and the areas around them. So, they picked March 14th as a day to take action for rivers.

In March 1997, the First International Meeting of People Affected by Dams was held in Curitiba, Brazil.  Representatives from over 20 countries agreed to proclaim March 14 as the International Day of Action Against Dams and For Rivers, Water, and Life, to band together against the degradation of rivers, other bodies of water, and watershed areas. The day is known today as the International Day of Action for Rivers.

The date was chosen as it was Brazil’s Day of Action Against Large Dams. Since 1997, the International Day of Action for Rivers has been annually observed all over the world.

“The International Day of Action Against Dams and For Rivers, Water, and Life was approved at the first International Meeting of People Impacted by Dams in March 1997 in Curitiba, Brazil,” according to internationalrivers.org. On March 14, river experts from 20 different nations announced the “Day of Action for Rivers”. The aim of the participants was to form a coalition against the degradation of ecologically sensitive water bodies, rivers and watersheds.

International Day of Action for Rivers 2024 date and theme

The International Day of Action for Rivers is observed every year on March 14 and this year it will be celebrated on Thursday. This year’s theme is “Water for All”. Water is essential for life and should be shared by all, regardless of the issues your community is facing: water rights, access to clean water, fighting dams, water grabs and privatisation, or removing dams and restoring salmon runs.

Why Do We Mark International Day of Action for Rivers?

Rivers are a crucial source of freshwater for drinking and irrigation. They create lives and enrich the ecosystem around us. Rivers are key to restoring and maintaining the world’s biodiversity. Freshwater ecosystems like rivers are not only the zone of Earth’s highest biological diversity but also the zone of our most intense human activities.

Nowadays, freshwater ecosystems are the most degraded on the earth’s surface because of excessive construction, encroachment activities, and dumping of industrial sewage into rivers. Globally, more than two million tons of sewage and industrial and agricultural waste are discharged into the waters every day. Most rivers across the world are being polluted each day due to the greed of some humans, impacting communities that depend on the rivers for their survival. For sustainable development of the planet, thus, river bodies must be protected from such activities. global action is needed to turn this around.

The International Day of Action for Rivers is significant since it can raise and spread awareness about the value and importance of rivers. It also brings people from across the world to discuss conserving rivers, river management, pollution, and equitable access to clean and flowing water.

 

The International Day of Action for Rivers is a day of solidarity when people from all walks of life come together to declare that rivers are essential and deserve our protection. It highlights the importance of ensuring that communities have access to clean, free-flowing water and that everyone has the fundamental right to participate in decisions that affect their lives and their water. It is our collective responsibility to defend these rights and protect our rivers now more than ever. As we celebrate the 27th anniversary of the Day for Rivers, let us also recognise the importance of water availability in all aspects of our lives.

 

 

Blog By: Trupti Thakur