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Students Participate in Second World Water Day Event in Buenos Aires
Written by UPF-Argentina
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Buenos Aires, Argentina—A second event commemorating World Water Day was held on April 7, 2016 in Buenos Aires.
The program, which took place in the Julio Antonio Arrieta auditorium at the Central House of Popular Culture, and was co-organized by the Central House, Chacras Foundation and UPF-Argentina, was attended by approximately 100 students. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness of the importance of and the effects of pollution on water.
One of the teachers who accompanied the students read UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for this year’s Day. Mrs. Andrea Vega, director of Chacras (“Farms”) of Buenos Aires and an Ambassador for Peace, welcomed everyone and recognized the teachers and international volunteers who helped coordinate the event.
Two videos were shown: “Lamento del agua” (Water’s Lament), which highlights facts about pollution and the need to raise awareness of our responsibility for a sustainable future, and “Messages from Water: Masaru Emoto,” which describes research by Dr. Masaru Emoto of Japan, who sought to prove that human consciousness affects the molecular structure of water. For example, water can crystalize into beautiful, shining figures when positive words, such as “love” and “thank you,” are said, or dark, deformed figures when negative words are said.
The students were then invited to the stage to water an olive tree to signify their commitment to life and peace. Mr. Miguel Werner, secretary general of UPF-Argentina, asked the children to say something about the importance of water, which covers 70% of the planet, and its effects on us, who have 70% of water. While watering the tree, each student said a positive word that was repeated by the audience.
Afterwards, a sculpture of a stork carrying a water container with its beak, made of recycled metal and other materials, that was donated by artist Omar Toro Musis to the Central House, was displayed. The artist creates artwork with the belief that “Nothing is lost, everything can be recycled,” which was reflected in the piece.
The couple, Mr. José Robles and Ms. Florencia Romano, danced the tangos “Quejas de bandoneón” and “Mariposa”. After the performance, many went on stage to learn some steps. It was a very joyful moment for the students, who were then given paper bags filled with candies that had been prepared by interns at the Borda Hospital.
It was a day of learning and reflection. The issue of climate change and the need to change our behavior toward our planet are on the top of the agendas of the UN, governments and society. Will we change? It depends, as Mrs. Vega said: while human bonds can be complex or problematic, they “can always be recreated, recycled, and improved: for our sake and our environment’s.”
(*)The theme of World Water Day 2016 is “Water and Jobs” and focuses on the fundamental role that water plays in creating good quality jobs. As we know, water is not only essential to life, but also for our health and well-being; it is vital for supporting economic, social and human development.
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