Today is ‘World Rivers Day’. The global day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of September every year to raise awareness about river protection. To tell people that rivers are like the arteries of the world. Its flow is truly our lifesaver. River and human life are inseparable. That’s why environmentalists and common people are worried about our dying river.
However, the urgency to protect rivers can be seen all over the world. Although the day is celebrated every year, the condition of the country’s rivers is not good. Many rivers have been captured. Along with pollution and encroachment by land grabbers, unplanned industrialization, urbanization, housing, and construction of bridges, culverts, and sluicegates, the existence of many other rivers, small and large, is endangered.
Since 1980, the British Columbia Institute of Technology has started celebrating World Rivers Day every year on the last Sunday of September. As the world’s population is increasing, the need for housing is increasing, and the need for workplaces is also increasing. As a result, the river is being encroached upon. From filling up rivers to building houses to factories. In the last few years, the number of rivers in the world has decreased a lot.
Numerous rivers have disappeared in the last few years. And people are responsible for that. Along with encroachment, there is river pollution. River water is being polluted by dumping the garbage. Due to this, the water of the river is absorbed, and the water decreases, and the river fills up and becomes land. We have to take initiative now to protect the rivers otherwise the number of rivers in the world will decrease several times in the next few years. Which is harmful to us.
History of World Rivers Day
Since 1980, Canada’s British Columbia Institute of Technology has started celebrating World Rivers Day every year in September. The official journey started with the celebration of BC Rivers Day. In 1980, famous Canadian river lawyer Marc Angelo took the initiative to observe the day as ‘World Rivers Day’. The success of the BC Rivers Day celebration made it international.
In 2005, the United Nations declared the ‘Water for Life Decade’ to create public awareness of river conservation. It was then that the United Nations adopted the day. Since then, the day has been observed by various UN affiliates, which are expanding day by day. Experts say rivers are disappearing as a result of our urbanization.
But if any activity is carried out by destroying the environment, its results remain zero. We are slowly polluting and encroaching on the river. If we can’t stop these things now, then we will have trouble ahead. People are occupying the river due to the influence of power. But this river is associated with public life. We have to speak out against it.
Significance of World Rivers Day
The rivers are facing a multifaceted crisis. Encroachment, pollution, erosion, and lack of flow are among them. The founder of World Rivers Day, Marc Angelo, also felt the importance of celebrating rivers through Rivers Day. If we want to celebrate, there is no alternative to a flowing river. From that point of view, the theme set this year is correct.
On the eve of World Rivers Day, Marc Angelo said in an e-mail message, “World Rivers Day is about taking seriously the world’s water flows, celebrating them, highlighting the multi-faceted importance of rivers, raising public awareness for rivers and Day to ensure more guardianship for.
Rivers all over the world face organized threats. Commercialization of rivers, financial gain by capturing and killing rivers, unnecessary, unscientific, wrong, and destructive policies, and projects have been taken advantage of. Houses are being built on dead rivers in earnest. Many rivers have already been destroyed due to encroachment, pollution, and projects, and even wiped out in some places. And it is in this effort that World Rivers Day is celebrated every year.
How to celebrate World Rivers Day?
Rivers today are victims of extreme disasters due to multifaceted oppression. Rivers are the main driving force of all kinds of business-trade-development-movement-transportation-economy-politics-art-literature-song-culture at our personal, national, and regional levels. So if the river is destroyed, then we too will be headed for a disastrous end.
All countries around the world will be in danger due to the lack of rivers. We think we are at a turning point in the river crisis. If you turn around, the river can be saved to some extent. People want to protect their rivers. Politicians and governments declared commitment to river protection, High Courts declared river protection decisions and processes, and river task forces and river commissions were formed.
But the river is not saved. Non-governmental organizations provide overall support to government agencies and institutions, and many meetings are held. But the river is not saved, therefore, the work of protecting the river is not temporary, but a daily work and must. Let’s find out how we can play an important role in World Rivers Day by celebrating this day-
Various organizations organize various events to save rivers where they discuss what can be done to save rivers. For example, American White Water, and American Rivers, all these organizations organize various events every year about what to do to protect the river. Today, on this World Rivers Day, you can also participate in those events and celebrate the day.
You can get together with your friends and go to one of your riverbanks and hire a boat to observe the river and form a discussion among yourselves on how polluted the river is and how to prevent this pollution and act accordingly. Can do Also some river cleaning organizations clean the polluted rivers to save the river. Those organizations can donate some money which will be used for river protection and if you want you can also participate as a volunteer with those organizations today on world rivers day.
You may read World Environment Day 2023 History, Significance, Causes, Solutions, Quotes and Status
World Rivers Day Quotes
Over time, due to various types of unwanted, short-sighted, and naked interventions, natural and man-made, the flow of the mighty river has become a witness of time. Sick and dry people are dying due to encroachment and pollution. In addition to hunger and poverty for future generations, it is also becoming a challenge to eliminate thirst.
The importance of rivers and water resources in the socioeconomic development of the country is unlimited. River basins are not just associated with the climate of a country. Rivers are deeply connected with other countries beyond the geographical boundaries of a country. The culture of a country is also exchanged through rivers in many ways.
Again, the geopolitics of demand-supply calculations is also noteworthy. The idiosyncrasies of one country, the threat to another country’s livelihood, weather, climate, temperature, and biodiversity become a cause of concern. The importance of rivers and water resources in the socioeconomic development of the country is unlimited. So we should protect the river as it continues to benefit us in many ways. Let’s take a look at some quotes on World Rivers Day that will help us understand the importance of rivers in our life-
- “Have you also learned that secret from the river; that there is no such thing as time?” That the river is everywhere at the same time, at the source and at the mouth, at the waterfall, at the ferry, at the current, in the ocean and in the mountains, and that the present only exists for it, not the shadow of the past nor the shadow of the future.” – Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha
- “The river was beautiful and wise. There were the two of them are happy in a new way. For here, there was no man, no woman, no master, no yellow, no black, no white. We, we who were, we are the same no longer” – David Paul Kirkpatrick
- “The river is one of my favorite metaphors, the symbol of the great flow of Life Itself. The river begins at Source, and returns to Source, unerringly. This happens every single time, without exception. We are no different. “– Jeffrey R. Anderson
- “Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is it’s current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away.” – Marcus Aurelius
- “Just as a drop of water in the ocean cannot avail much; but if a great river runneth into it, that maketh a great commotion.” – Jakob Bohme
- “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” – Heraclitus
- “You drown not by falling into a river, but by staying submerged in it.” – Paulo Coelho
Causes of river erosion
On the one hand, due to the one-way diversion of water with upstream dams, there is concern about the future of the rivers in the country, on the other hand, many rivers are being filled with silt. Besides, many rivers are under threat due to encroachment and pollution. Due to these reasons, rivers have disappeared. Many more rivers are waiting for death.
Today is World Rivers Day. Every year on the fourth Sunday of September, this river day is celebrated all over the world. Experts say that there are some natural reasons behind the death of rivers, as well as man-made reasons, and these rivers are becoming non-existent today.
There is an unlimited festival of encroachment in the rivers. They say people are not only changing the course of the river because of their greed or profit. It is affecting the biodiversity of the rivers. Every year, billions of tons of silt accumulate in the rivers, the rivers become filled due to natural and man-made reasons including climate change and the rivers are becoming empty. The untreated waste of industrial factories is falling into these rivers.
As a result, these rivers have become lifeless due to poisoning. But experts say regardless of the actual number of rivers, all rivers are under threat today. No one disagrees with this. They said we are killing the river by closing the water source of the river, filling it up, and occupying it.
No one could easily kill River if they had the right stats. If any change in the river was detected, effective action could have been taken. Rivers are mentioned in the old land documents, and hundreds of such rivers are being encroached on before our eyes. Medium and large rivers are the lifeblood of our small rivers. These small rivers join as tributaries and increase the main river flow. Because of this, there is no option to save even small rivers.
World Rivers Day Status
Global water demand is increasing for population growth, urbanization, industrialization, and agricultural production. Disrupting the movement of goods, and destabilizing markets. The most serious thing that worries us is climate change and the threat to biodiversity. That loss will be difficult to overcome shortly.
Various species are disappearing due to the fauna and flora becoming endangered. As a result of river management, plants and animals have to adapt to the natural conditions, creating new environmental problems. New diseases are increasing. Adverse reactions are occurring to the physical and mental health of animals, especially humans. We are going to face many terrible conditions. So today we have to come forward to protect the river. And the awareness message of river protection should be conveyed to everyone.
Today on World Rivers Day we can make everyone aware of river protection by conveying the awareness message. Here are some statuses for you on the occasion of World Rivers Day which you can share on your social media account to make people aware-
- According to the United Nations Environment Program, by 2030, almost half of the world’s population will suffer from water scarcity. The oceans are more saline than the world’s water reserves. Only 3 percent of total water is fresh water. So freshwater reserves are called liquid gold reserves. Let us be vigilant and save the river while there is still time. May this be our spirit on World Rivers Day.
- All the government-private-semi-government-autonomous institutions of the country should come forward. Educational institutions should discuss this in class one day every week. In this case, the people related to education need to come forward. If everyone works together and makes everyone aware, we can move forward to protect the river. This is our pledge on World Rivers Day.
- To encourage public awareness and public awareness activities in the larger interest of the nation, the media should be followed and disseminated. Civilization and culture are built around the river. Mythological anecdotes, songs, poems, and pilgrimages are built around the river. So let us save this river. Let’s all come forward to protect rivers on World Rivers Day.
FAQ about World Rivers Day
What is the date of World Rivers Day in 2023?
24 September.
How many rivers are in the world?
76 rivers in the world are over 1000 miles long.
Which is the world’s largest river?
Amazon river in South America. Source-Wikipedia.
Where is the smallest river in the world?
Roe River is only 201 feet (61 m) long.
Rivers are a unique part of the environment. But these rivers are being used by a class of people for their interests. Misdemeanors like river encroachment and pollution are going on all the time. We all have to come forward to protect this river. This is our hope on World Rivers Day. Thank you so much for being with us.
