This isn’t what you may think it is. Get your mind out of the gutter. Women in fact have a very unique connection with water. Nelson-Creston MLA Michelle Mungall recently hosted a CBC radio show titled “Women and Water” last spring that led to an online televised talk-show featuring local female activists. The show, which was meant to raise consciousness about the threats to our most important resource, took place Tuesday, March 22, 2011, on Granville Island.

Michelle describes her show as a place to highlight the work that women are doing. She was most inspired by her time living in Africa where women would walk four of five kilometres a day just to bring back the dirtiest water for their families. This continues to have a huge impact on women’s role in society in places like Africa, not to mention their health and well-being.

Michelle lives in a beautiful water-rich community in the Kootenays and is passionate about water sustainability here in British Columbia, much like the citizens she represents. Though BC residents may seem concerned about our water usage, it hasn’t stopped us from over using it.

“The people I represent are incredibly passionate about water. We live in an area that has some of the largest fresh water resources in the world. In Canada, we’re the second largest users of fresh water at 340 litres a day. We’re passionate about water but we really need to start conserving water.”

To be a British Columbian means to have the ability to neglect what’s happening globally ‘n terms of natural resource shortages and crises. We see it locally in gas and food prices, but that’s about it. It’s crucial for us to begin to understand the connection between global and local water issues.

“Vancouver and Nelson-Creston are so important because we produce 50% of the Province’s hydro-electricity, and 70% of the Province’s demand are right here in the Lower Mainland. So if something happens to those dams, well you’re not going to be able to get home, especially if you live on the twentieth floor and need an elevator, right? So those are those global issues that go right to your door step.”

It’s not just women that have a special relationship with water, but youth as well. This is going to be a huge area of importance for our generation. Whether it be doing things day-to-day like turning off the tap while brushing our teeth, or being a part of a political party concerned with preserving BC’s water sources, we need to start thinking about it. Michelle stressed the importance of young people, especially those old enough to vote, to get involved in the one place that can create the most change. There isn’t a more perfect time for this than right now as the date of our next federal election comes closer.

“What people really need to do is get involved in elections. The government is going to have a huge say over water and how our resources are managed. They need to know that our voice as younger people count, and that we are concerned about water.”

Check out the Women and Water website at www.womenandwaterforum.ca!