Xanana: World clean water issue is threatening peace – international stability
Dili, 22 May 2024 (TATOLI) – Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão considered that 2.2 billion people who still have no access to clean water could threaten peace and international stability. It was expressed by the Prime Minister when he was a guest speaker in a high-level panel: International Water Conference with the theme “Water and Peace” in Bali, Tuesday (21/05/2024). “Today, 2.2 billion people worldwide have no access to clean water. It is not only as an emergency situation, but also a threat to peace and international stability”, said the Prime Minister through TATOLI, I.P.’s note access.
In the intervention, almost 70 years after the Bandung Conference that gathered Asian and African leaders, Timor-Leste continues to be inspired by the Bandung spirit. It’s a spirit that embodies the hope and possibility of a post-colonial world full of peace, equality, and international solidarity.
“Today, we’re facing global challenge, we can also learn from the reflections and vision of the leaders who participated in the Bandung Conference, including Ehru, Nasser, Sukarno, and Zhou Enlai”, underlined H.E. Mr. Xanana Gusmão.
He also considers that the Bandung Water Spirit Summit demonstrates how Indonesia continue to play an important role in leading global issues.
Thus, it must be well understood that there is no sustainable development without water and sanitation – no peace. When there is no peace, then there will be no sustainable development.
“Our country, Timor-Leste learned and took this lesson as full of sacrifices and obstacles. It can be said that it only took 9 hours from civilization to anarchy. Yes, access to clean water is important. Hydraulic security is as national security”, added PM.
According to Mr. Xanana Gusmão, conflicts around water have huge potential to threaten community, region, and nations. When there is no water, then there will be no economy, no development, no society.
He gave an example to the refugee crisis from Europe whereby more than 100K people migrated from the African and the Middle East conflicts. Imagine if the water supply collapse, it will lead to human displacement and greater tragedy.
Timor-Leste is Experiencing Climate Change
Timor-Leste currently experiencing climate change that resulted in worldwide droughts that become the worst injustice as industrialized countries have created a global emergency that hugely impacted small and vulnerable countries.
Xanana Gusmão explained that, even though the necessity on water could threaten peace, but access to water could become war weapons. Therefore, food supply and water are totally blocked in Gaza. It could create humanity disaster along with suffering and death.
Finally, Xanana Gusmão underlined that everyone has to recognize that access to water is a human rights.
In this way, Sustainable Development Goal 6 outlines that by 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. Millennium Development Objective previously mentioned that perhaps SDGs could not be achieved.
Then, global efforts in sustainability and truth international in needed to make a change.
“We need inspiration from Bandung Spirit to supply water and sanitation to everyone – to build a world full of peace”, concluded by the PM.
Xanana Gusmão expressed his gratitude feeling as he can participate in the Bandung Spirit Water Summit and in the High-level panel: Water & Peace. It is a great honor to share the experiences together with the extraordinary leaders.
Give a huge attention to the water problem
In the Bandung Spirit Water Summit’s opening session, UN Secretary-General Mr. Antonio Guterres warned about world water problems due to unhealthy living competition, lack of senseless water consumption, including pollution that brought poison to destroy the world’s vital strength.
This warning from the UN Secretary-General was published through an opening remarks video at the 10th World Water Forum in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Monday (20/05/204).
“This year's theme is highly relevant; water is a key to collective prosperity. However, water is currently under threat”, warned Mr. Guterres
He also considers water as a source of life that is important to public health, ecosystems, and biodiversity. Climate change also could create disaster for human life. This problem is also a common world issue at a global level that happens in many countries.
According to him, the 10th World Water Forum is a crucial opportunity for a deep discussion and finding a collective solution to water and sanitation-related issues, reducing risks of disasters, Governance, financing, and innovation. In this sense, Guterres thanked the Indonesian Government and World Water Council for organizing the commemoration of 10th anniversary of World Water Forum.
“UN supports Indonesia in these efforts. In July this year, the UN will launch a new strategy regarding the UN system on water and sanitation after the UN Water Conference held last year”, he informed.
Hence, the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo introduced four principal initiatives from Indonesia at the International Conference of 10th World Water Forum in Bali.
These four principal initiatives included the establishment of World Lake Day, the establishment of a center of excellence in the Asia Pacific, sustainable water management in small island countries, and the promotion of water projects.
“Water is not only a natural product, but also a collaborating product that unifies us, thus, need collective efforts to protect this precious product”, warned Jokowi.
Source: Media TATOLI
