Dear Friends,
Have you ever been really, really thirsty? Then maybe you can begin to imagine what the people of East Africa are experiencing as they try to survive their worst drought and famine in over 60 years.

Clean, healthy water is something we don’t even have to think about in this country. It’s plentiful and affordable; two qualities that, unfortunately, invite us to take things for granted. (My unscientific survey revealed that 70% of us don’t know where our drinking water comes from!) As Texas endures the challenge of one of our worst droughts in history, perhaps water will begin to get the respect it deserves.

While we go about our busy lives, each consuming about 176 gallons of water daily (compared to five gallons consumed by the average African family), the truth about water is changing. Our beloved Galveston Bay is stressed. Some of our communities are now on water rationing. Wetlands are vanishing and rivers and bayous are in a sad state (the San Jacinto River has been designated as one of America’s most endangered rivers). Galveston County Judge Mark Henry announced at a recent Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership luncheon that, as the Greater Houston Area grows, we will be facing a fresh water shortage in the not-so-distant future.

We believe knowledge and inspiration are key to positive change. So beginning with this issue, we’re kicking off an informative series on “Water.” And we’re keeping it local so that you can be an informed citizen who chooses solutions.

Share your thoughts and wisdom on our interactive website, where our vision to create a community of Change is becoming a reality thanks to all of you who are posting comments, Tweeting, Facebooking and emailing articles and links. The power of one is tremendous, but there’s greater power in connectedness—www.ChangeMediaOnline is a place where we can connect and commit to becoming the change we wish to see in the world.

Thanks for reading,

Carla