One of the best things about Bethesda residents and Bethesda business owners is that giving is part of every day.  Whether it’s for a local or international cause, Bethesdans know that giving back is part of good living, and it’s wonderful to see the support and generosity in this town for worthy causes.  

Tuesday, March 22 is United Nations World Water Day and from March 20-26 two popular Bethesda restaurants are giving us the chance to support UNICEF’s international effort to provide clean and accessible water to children. 

Dine at either Mussel Bar at 7262 Woodmont Avenue or Jaleo at 7271 Woodmont Avenue this week – few of us need more than the slightest excuse to go to either - and you’ll have the chance to donate $1 or more for the tap water you’re served. 

Your donation will go directly to the UNICEF Tap Project to help children that need access to clean water.   There are a total of  53 area restaurants participating in the World Water Day program.  We thank you for thinking first of Mussel Bar and Jaleo if you’ve got a group lunch planned to celebrate a birthday, are getting together with friends, or heading out for a dinner date.  

Have a favorite Bethesda restaurant that’s not participating this week?  There’s a section on UNICEF’s site to register a new restaurant for the program even though the official deadline has passed.  Thank you for doing your part if you’re planning to eat out this week.

Safe and Clean Water Central to Sustainable Living and Development
Clean water is basic to ensure a healthy life for individuals and to sustain and develop a community.  In Bethesda whether our water is clean is rarely questioned, and when we fear our water isn’t safe it’s alarming news.   But in many parts of the world clean and safe water’s not a given.  According to Water.org one in eight people on our planet – 884 million individuals -  do not have access to safe and clean water. 

Clean water is connected to health, sustainability, pollution and sanitation and is essential for healthy ecosystems.  Providing access to clean water is at the top of the list for the United Nation’s development goals, many other international development organizations, and organizations devoted to saving our planet. 

There has been progress.  We can celebrate the fact that in the past ten years more than 200 million people have gained access to clean water.  However, there is a long way to go in many parts of the developed and developing world.  A basic first step is ensuring that all children have access to safe and clean water.

Worldwide Participation Sparked by the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development
World Water Day grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, more commonly known as the Earth Summit.  Over the years, World Water Day has grown into a series of events organized locally all over the world and often supported by local businesses and local branches of multinational companies.  This year the theme of World Water Day is "Water for Cities" with a main event in Cape Town, South Africa on Wednesday, March 22 and local events scheduled in all corners of the world.  Take a look at the Google map of events to see the wide range of events taking place in dozens of locations in the United States, Canada and Australia, and countries in South America, Europe and Asia on March 22 to see if a place you’ve visited, lived or have connections is holding an event!