22 March, World Water Day

Imagine turning on the tap and not a single drop of water falling. This situation would make it impossible to carry out most of the daily activities necessary for a family to function, from washing food to maintaining personal hygiene. In many countries around the world, water either is a very scarce resource or contaminated. It is essential to recognise that access to clean water is a basic human right. We must therefore reflect on how to address these unjust situations and find solutions for the families facing them in different parts of the world.

The United Nations (UN) proclaimed world Water Day in 1992. That year, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development was held in Rio de Janeiro, and from there the proposal was born, with 1993 being the first year of celebration. Since then, World Water Day has been celebrated every 22 March. Its main objective is to raise public awareness of the importance of caring for the planet's water resources, a vital element for the life of all species on Earth. The day is intended to raise awareness of the global water crisis and the problems faced by millions of people who do not have access to safe drinking water and the urgent measures that need to be taken. The theme of World Water Day 2024 is "Water for Peace", which reflects on the idea that water can either create peace or trigger conflict. When water is scarce or polluted, or when people have unequal or no access to it, tensions between communities can rise. This is why countries must unite to protect and conserve this most precious of the Earth's treasures.

We at Libros de las Malas Compañías want to emphasise the importance of World Water Day. In a world where access to clean water is fundamental for the life and well-being of all, it is crucial to raise awareness of the need to conserve this vital resource. Therefore, we want to contribute to this day with our book Madrid Marine, a fascinating story written by Ana C. Herreros and Malú Cayetano that transports the reader to an unimaginable universe. 

In fact, in the past, there was a beach in Madrid, the Playa de Madrid (1932), with everything you could ask for: its sand, its shore, its sun loungers, its parasols, its boats and, of course, its bathers. It was the first artificial beach in Spain, created at a time when Madrid fell in love with its river, in line with a current of thought that advocated the physical development of the individual through sport and contact with nature. This beach attracted both the inhabitants of Madrid and the residents of the coastal areas, who came daily to enjoy its waters. This book is a travel guide through this Madrid that reveals hidden itineraries, submerged under the asphalt or veiled by the patina of time. It is also an attempt to bring to our imagination our watery and marine past so that we can dream of a future where the streams flow again.

World Water Day is a date for all of us, individually or collectively, to start caring for, valuing and rationing the water we use in our many daily activities. There is a lot we can do from our homes, communities or any area where we live. When we cooperate on water, we create a positive cascading effect, promoting harmony, generating prosperity and building resilience to common challenges. We must act on the basis that water is not just a resource to be harnessed and competed for: it is a human right, intrinsic to all aspects of life.

Let's take care of water, our most precious asset!