July 2024: water gaps
Each month, we break down our topic into four weekly modules. Catch up on previous editions here.
This week's module: WATCH
- ✅ READ | Whats going on with water? (Catch up here)
- ✅ WATCH | An animated video on threats to the sacredness of water (Catch up here)
- 🎯 ACT | Water you gonna do?? Actions you can take about the water crisis (TODAY)
- REFLECT | Share your commitment to being a water protector (7/24/24)
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes for the action plan
Here's what we'll learn today Reader
It is unimaginably weird to write about water gaps and water scarcity as places around the world are flooding.
This year alone, we've seen life-threatening floods in Germany, Uruguay, Afghanistan, Oman, Argentina, and more. Plus Hurricane Beryl in the Americas. And messy flooding in London.
I'm only hoping that there will be some good memes about Drake's mansion getting flooded, because that is one thing that can unite us.
Anyway, today's ACT module will go through some things we can do to protect our precious water.
P.S., if you opted out of Amazon's Prime Day yesterday, CONGRATULATE yourself! Resisting systems that pollute our community is not always easy when they are so deeply ingrained. Here's me participating in a protest yesterday that was covered by the Seattle Times, Geekwire, and more, thanks to Stand.Earth and the Troublemakers!
Your bite-sized action plan Reader
✅ find your next step in protecting water, because water is life!
This action plan has been really hard to write, because most of the actions I found about water scarcity were telling me to take shorter showers. And sure. Take that shorter shower. Flush less. Hold your pee in as much as possible. (I'm joking, please don't let our Changeletter give you a kidney stone.)
The problem with these "solutions" as we learned in our READ module's article is that the water gap is exacerbated by domestic, industrial, and irrigation use. And even though domestic water use is growing the fastest, it's not about your shower time, necessarily.
So, these actions below might not feel the most satisfying because they're not as easy as shortening your shower, but they are part of what we NEED to do. Reply to this email if you have more to suggest!
- DOMESTIC: Abolish your lawn!
We learned in our READ module that lawns in the USA soak up 30% of our domestic water. Get rid of your freakin lawn. There are only good things that will come out of this: you'll save water! You'll be more drought-resistant! You could have delicious food! Your yard could be softer! And you'll never have to mow the lawn again, depending on what alternative you choose.
- DOMESTIC: Start a conversation with your neighbor about their lawn.
Remember, shame won't work in this case. But maybe you see your neighbor sweating in the hot sun, toiling over their lawnmower. This is a great opportunity to introduce yourself (hopefully you know them already though) and casually mention how much time + money you've saved on your own grass alternative. Your conversation could go something like... "hey! I just tore up my grass lawn and planted moss and a bunch of native herbs in my yard. I have so much more time to hang out with my kids! Want to come over sometime and see if you want to do something similar?"
- DOMESTIC: Solve water efficiency and leaks.
We are wasting our precious sacred water because we're just letting it leak away!! Agencies like the EPA in the US have very easy tips on appliances you can switch out, and you would protect THOUSANDS of gallons of water per week!
- IRRIGATION (maybe): Pester your city about their water usage.
Many public governments have to report on things like water usage (you could search "water use [my city] parks" for example). This action is really a series of bite-sized actions: you'll write them an email asking about water usage, then show up to city meetings, then KEEP SHOWING UP.
- INDUSTRIAL: Learn how your company uses water.
Do not sit idly by as your company touts AI while dirtying our precious natural resource (more here). Whether you work in tech, fashion, media, food, or something else, your company uses water. How do they use it? How do they protect it? You can write to your boss saying something like, "hey, I'm curious about how [our company] thinks about the affetcts of our [products/services] on water scarcity! Would you be able to help me get in touch with the right person so I can learn more?" Bonus: think critically about your own use of AI
- EVERYTHING: Work with local community groups to solve water gaps.
You could search "water trusts near me" or even more generally, get involved with an environmental justice community group. Systems-level change takes a long time, so find a group that makes you happy to join! Of course, our community at Soapbox Project is always here to help you make friends and take action, so consider joining us. You could also donate to a nonprofit like Water for People.
The first step of taking action towards solving water gaps is understanding what they are, where they are, and how they affect the people and places you love. So, especially if you have family around the world who are living through water crises, remember to focus on them instead of this abstract concept! We'll talk more about this in our REFLECT module.
Remember to email me if you have any resources you'd like me to include for next Wednesday's Changeletter!
Sending you strength and love and hydration,
Nivi
