Desmond M. Tutu
Archbishop Emeritus

To the people of the world,

Water is precious; it is the very source of life and a free gift from the Creator. It comes in the morning dew, the soft drizzle and the drumming of heavy drops running into water pipes.

In Africa rain is always regarded as a blessing. It is auspicious for rain to fall on an important day in the life of a community. In places where there are few facilities water is carried long distances.  

In the West, where there is prodigal consumption of natural resources, especially by industry, they would do well to learn from Africa. How very differently we would regard water if we had to carry every drop we used ourselves.

Our planet home, like ourselves, is not static, it is always changing, always becoming, always being created. We are called to be stewards of that creation and to acknowledge our interdependence with the natural environment.

The moon dearly shows us what our world would be like without water. The gift from God, which sustains life and for which we should always give thanks.

God bless you,