Hipsters enjoying some Water For Water & sunshine at Changing Lanes Festival 2011...

 

 

 

Life's most basic need is water.

But every day, lack of access to clean water kills thousands, leaving others with reduced quality of life.

It does not have to be this way.

Do something today!

Here a few simple steps you can do to take action!

• Buy a bottle of Water For Water from any Gloria Jean's Coffee House and help Water For Water provide practical and financial assistance to communities who lack access to clean water!

• Become a fan/follower of Water For Water on Facebook or Twitter.

• Sign up to the Water For Water Mailing List

• Donate!

Now in its tenth year, the Good Food & Wine Show headed to Sydney July 1st - 3rd, with an amazing lineup.
The Good Food & Wine Show is always a time to indulge!  With hundreds of delectable food and beverage samples up for grabs. 

Water For Water was proud again this year to be apart of the Gloria Jean’s Coffee’s stall.
Thanks to those who stopped by and purchased a bottle of Water For Water.
By purchasing Water For Water you are helping to create a water station in the Philippines, Caloocan City that will provide the community with clean water!

Here are a few pictures from the day. Hope to see you next year!

UN International World Water Day was held on 22nd March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater.

This year Gloria Jean's Coffees in partnership with Water For Water distributed free water and information in inner city Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth to raise awareness that almost one billion people lack access to clean drinking water throughout our world.

Thank you to Nicoletta at UN Water and the team at Gloria Jean’s Coffees for helping us celebrate World Water Day 2011.

World-class surfers Taj Burrow, Jordy Smith, Owen Wright, Julian Wilson and Ozzie Wright busted out their best moves at the Boost Mobile Surf Sho at Bondi Beach .

Last year’s Boost Mobile Surf Sho was the first international surfing event to take place on Bondi Beach in over 20 years. This year spectators returned to the beach to watch a host of exciting aerial surfers from across the globe competing on the world’s most iconic beach in this free, fun-filled, three-day surfing event.

Bondi Beach provided a stunning backdrop for the event, with blue skies and crystal clear water. More than 30,000 spectators lined the beach to watch the surfing ,  soak up the festival atmosphere and witness Josh Kerr taking out the big prize.

Water For Water was the exclusive water supplier selling over 7000 bottles over the 3 days. 100% of our profits will go towards assisting communities who lack access to clean water.

A huge thank you to the team at Boost Mobile, Surfing NSW, all of our amazing volunteers, and all those who supported Water For Water at the Boost Mobile Surf Sho.

We can’t wait for next year!!

During the Boost Mobile Surf Sho at Bondi Beach Water For Water were fortunate enough to meet Tom from Tracks magazine.
Tracks is Australia's Premier Surfing Magazine – surfing photography, surf travel, news, blogs, videos and classic Tracks features. Tracks did an interview with Water For Water and posted it on their website! Click here to check it out...here is a sneak peek from the shoot.

Along with our distribution partners, Gloria Jean’s Coffees, Water For Water donated 1000 cartons (24,000 bottles) of water to the people affected by the January 2011 QLD and VIC floods. Bottles were distributed through Gloria Jean’s Coffee houses to flood affected families as well as people volunteering in the clean up process. Water For Water is excited to help communities within Australia as well meet overseas need.

I don’t know about you but my childhood memories revolve around water. Running through the sprinklers on a hot day, trips to the beach and a lot of sweltering afternoons in suburban swimming pools. MARIAM is an arts worker who grew up in the Philippines before migrating to Australia. We had a chat to Mariam about her chilhood memories.  

CHILDHOOD.
From age 4 to 13 I lived in Manila and Mandaluyong. In the neighbourhood I lived in there was crime, homelessness and poverty, so keeping your wits about you was a part of life.  People also got sick a lot due to contaminated water, so my family were always careful when drinking water at school, at other people’s houses, at restaurants. Basically, safe water meant warm water.

CLEAN WATER.
From an early age I got used to the idea that drinking safe water meant boiling it first. Water-related diseases were common, and sometimes you would see hints of bacteria floating in the water.Vegetables and fruits needed to be washed with hot water, you brushed your teeth with heated water and if you wanted to drink iced water (which is the tendency with Filipino weather) your ice cubes would need to be heated before freezing.

AUSTRALIA.
I was amazed at the privilege Australians have with their water supply! For so many years I was brought up to heat my water, to shower with pails and buckets, to conserve water, conserve water, conserve water! Then I migrated to Australia in 1996, and I didn’t have to do any of these things anymore. I could just put a glass underneath a tap and drink it straight away. The tap water was so clear, and naturally cold! I could launder my clothes in these machines, I could take regular showers and swim in pools.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?
I believe people need to spare a thought for third world countries whose health and lifestyle suffer regularly because they do not share the same privileges. As capable, courteous human beings, we need to do whatever we can to help, even if it's through spreading awareness, donating to causes, and supporting products that are devoted to making a difference. So often people forget about the predicaments of our Asian neighbours simply because they are ‘out of sight, out of mind.' But the issue of water contamination is real, and people do die from drinking infected water, or not having proper access to sanitised water.

We in Australia are definitely in a position where we can make a difference, and I'm a big believer that even one individual can make an impact.

Water For Water are loving the new Georg Jensen bracelet...

Why...Because Georg Jensen has partnered with Red Cross to raise funds to help the most vulnerable people across Australia and Asia Pacific. The DAISY bracelet featuring a red cord will retail for $195 and Georg Jensen will donate $50 to Red Cross for every bracelet sold over a one year period.

Visit Georg Jensen or Australian Red Cross website for more information…

Although National Recycling Week 2010 has come to an end, Water For Water knows that recycling is a vital part of everyday life. With this in mind we have some tips for you on what to do with your empty Water For Water bottles.

1. Look out for Recycling Bins
Shoppers at many Westfield shopping centres can now recycle with ease with the recently installed new public recycling bins across their shopping centres so be on the look at for these!

2. Take it home
Water For Water bottles are 100% recyclable!!
When you’re out and about and have a Water For Water bottle, take it home for recycling if there are no recycling options around you.
90% of Australian households have access to kerbside recycling and we recycle around 70% of the beverage containers we use at home. For more information on Kerbside recycling visit: http://recyclingnearyou.com.au/ 

3. Ask your boss
If you work in an office make sure you have a recycling scheme. Companies like AMCOR Recycling and Visy Recycling can assist you if you don't. 

Water For Water love to see good use of recycled plastic bottles.

This year Nike diverted nearly 13 million plastic bottles from the landfill for the World Cup team jerseys, enough to cover more than 29 football fields.

We also think Radiohead’s Windbreaker Made From Recycled PET Plastic Bottles is pretty cool…


For some other crazy and wonderful ideas on what you can do with your empty Water For Water bottle head over to Design Boom. Check out Gulnur Ozdaglar's jewelry and other objects made from PET bottles!
 
For more information about recycling Planet Ark’s website is a great place to start!