On World Water Day (Monday 22 March 2004), the Plaid Cymru Deputy Leader and Euro-MP Jill Evans MEP is calling on the people of Wales to remember people in countries who do not have our abundant access to clean water resources. Ms Evans is a member of the European Parliament's Environment Committee.

"As a nation with abundant water resources it would be fitting on World Water Day for us to think about the many millions of people in the developing world who are not so fortunate. Some people in certain African countries, for example, walk up to two hours a day to fetch their daily supply of water. On average this amounts to nine litres of water a day which is actually less than the average Westerner would use by leaving the tap running when we brush our teeth in the morning.

"Ease of access to clean, safe drinking water is a basic human right that is sadly denied to many millions of people. On World Water Day let's try to imagine what it would be like to have to walk up to two hours a day to fetch water that may well not be up to safe drinking standards. I hope that this will help focus our minds on what needs to be done to provide safe access to clean drinking water to those in the developing world who are currently denied this. There are sufficient resources in this world to provide clean water for all who need it - it is the political will to do so that is lacking."

Diwedd/Ends.