Delegation for Sisters Attends UN Water Conference

“Water is not a resource commodity for humans. Water is alive. Water is a living, spiritual, massively intelligent being.”

Those words were spoken during the U.N. 2023 Water Conference by Jessica Keeshig-Martin of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation. The conference, held March 22-24 in New York, brought together local and national governments, scientists, environmentalists, and non-governmental organizations to discuss protecting water resources around the globe—tying in with the U.N. sustainable development goal of clean water and sanitation.

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace sent an eight-person delegation to the conference, including Waterspirit Executive Director Blair Nelsen. They tracked issues like water and climate change, rights for nature, Indigenous peoples' rights, water financing, and faith action for water.

“Truly water connects us all. Water is life and it is sacred,” Nelsen said. “May our waters flow together toward a future that is more just and equitable for all, where our human rights can be preserved.” 

The Congregation co-sponsored four events: a water ceremony in Central Park, a societal dialogue on Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si', a screening of the film “The Letter,” and a virtual side event on the impacts of water by extractive industries like mining.

“We continue to witness the destructive impact that business enterprises, especially extractive industries, often have on water, people and the environment at large,” Nelsen said during the virtual event. “Water resources are privatized, polluted and otherwise made unusable in the pursuit of business profit.”

To view the virtual event in its entirety, click here.

Nelsen also spoke at a parallel side event that linked U.N. commitments with grassroots action.

To learn more about the U.N. Water Conference, visit https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/water2023.