For quite some time, I have been lured to projects that focus on sustainable products and the well-being of communities with a lack of water. While reading on these creative solutions compelled my cheeks to rise and lips to broaden, there was this one question that ran incessantly in my mind.
Why do I care?
Each word that contributed to this question told me that the thought process to the answer was far from simplicity since it was going to build upon my values and work. To unravel my thoughts, I started thinking about the word 'water' and what it meant to me.
Essential for growth.
I noted this thought down and pondered on how something that appears so simple does its magic in improving the environment, our community and ourselves. I sat with this thought for a while and became intrigued by what water is to someone else. Acting on this thought, I left the incomplete sentence 'Water is ...' on my Instagram account and waited eagerly for the blank to be filled.
Where the importance of water for functioning is pronounced by many, the idea of it being 'shapeless' and 'sustenance for the soul' reminded me of its uniqueness and power. As I started becoming more comfortable with my ideas around this element of nature, a TED talk by Kelsey Leonard confronted me with a different question. One that made me take a step back and intertwine my muddled thoughts into a tight knot.
Who is water?
In some of my previous artwork and writing, I have mentioned the relationship between human behaviour and characteristics belonging to nature, but not once had I considered nature, and so water itself, as someone. I was, soon, able to understand that the drive behind this question was to grant lakes and rivers legal personhood. Meaning, they are provided with the same rights as humans. While the practice of recognising water as a person sounded unusual to my ears, it urged me to think about how we even got to this.
Much like anyone else, if I were to sketch the Earth it will consist of these elements: a circle, blobs of green land and broad areas of blue water. This vision of the planet convinces many of us to see an abundance of water supply and dismiss water scarcity altogether. Where our drawing typically succeeds in illustrating that 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, it fails to show us how much is available. When we acknowledge that around 70% of this water is stored as ice and 30% as groundwater, the calculation of the water left as surface water becomes easy. Today, this quantity is shrivelling and our trust in the water cycle to refill the water we consume is greater than our acceptance of how we are very much causing this slump.
To understand how our actions are depleting water sources around the globe, we should recognise the concept of virtual water - also described as hidden water. As hinted by its name, this is the embedded water in industrial goods and agriculture; and is very so often unappreciated by the end-user. Typically water-intensive products are overwhelmingly produced and exported in water-scarce regions as they strive for short-term rapid economic growth. The consequences of these products primarily surround a net loss in water, largely polluted water returning to rivers, and the neglecting of costs to replenish this contaminated water.
With constant changes in fashion and irresistible discounts spreading across retail websites, it is unsurprising that many of us feel the need to buy more and more. This sometimes unmeant pressure motivates unhealthy forms of consumption. Being South-Asian, I have been surrounded by the ideology that wearing the same sari more than once or twice is a definite no-no. Cultural attitudes such as this only escalate our need to have more.
By acknowledging that water is a tremendous element of the textile industry as it is used within the bleaching and dyeing processes, we can make room to see that our consumption patterns are heavily impacting water resources typically elsewhere. In India, about 22,500 litres of water is required to produce a kilogram of cotton and, unfortunately, there is more to this picture.
Much of the wastewater from the textile industry contains various pollutants including metals, dyes and pesticides. In turn, both aquatic life and the ecosystem become at risk; and those depending on these rivers for drinking, washing, and bathing become vulnerable to illnesses. The water that we expect to be clean, fresh and free-flowing is simply a fantasy in many parts of the world. The 180km Noyyal River in Western Tamil Nadu, India, is struggling with high levels of lead and the effluents from industrial dyeing units within this region increase this terrifying level. The progressive deterioration of the river's water quality means that it has become unfit for human consumption. The use of such water can foster damage to the central nervous system and trigger paralysis.
When speaking of the water crisis, agriculture becomes an unavoidable component. Up to 70% of the world's freshwater is drawn by this industry. While we can agree that food is a necessity, we can practice a more sustainable diet. One low in red meats and processed foods. With almost 5000 litres of water going towards a 300g steak, the current water crisis is only going to soar if there is no moderation in the food we consume. A growing population means requiring more food, more water, and more energy. Undoubtedly, the challenge to distribute freshwater water is going to increase with our current behaviours.
The drawing above draws on the reality that millions are compelled to use water from public taps. This means walking distances as great as 6km to collect water, carrying up to 25 litres of heavy containers on their head, and waiting in queues that seem endless. This prolonged process is typically undertaken by young girls and women. It creates an opening for the spread of water contact diseases, time away from school, harassment, and attacks.
Where I had the choice between several coloured cards, I decided to go with a dull pink to create an opportunity to see that the situation is raw. The use of brown, yellow and pink builds on this concept of reality and recognising the ignorance of our consumption patterns. This piece aims to motivate me and others to see that our water footprint has impacts far beyond our local communities.
I am aware that the words 'sustainable' and 'footprint' almost frightens or annoys some, but I hope you can appreciate that I am not asking you to give up meat or shopping altogether. As consumers, it is incredible yet worrying how many choices we have in the products we buy. This realisation that we hold an abundance of power as a result of these choices allowed me to see that I care because I know that even small changes in my lifestyle can help to create a meaningful difference in the world.
I tell myself and ask you to be more mindful.
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