Rome, Italy --- Kerala, India --- Chardon, Ohio USA

These three geographically disconnected sites found a spiritual connection with the Sisters of Notre Dame in September, 2004. The connecting reality: WATER!

During the 2004 SND General Chapter held in Rome, water became the topic of conversation among Sisters Sreeja and Jayanti, chapter delegates from India, and Sister Sally Huston, a USA delegate from Chardon. Our Indian Sisters spoke of the poor farmers who lost precious ground water and suffered soil contamination due to over-drilling by the Coca-Cola Company.

These facts were shared with Chardon's Environmental and Social Justice Committees. In response, both groups began to take steps in support of the people of India. In January 2005 Sr. Carol Brandt, co-chair of the Justice Committee, took part in a month-long United Nations immersion experience. In the context of "Water as a Human Right," Carol learned of the coming 2005-2015 UN Decade for Water program. Meanwhile, Sr. Alice Dugar and Sisters of the Environmental Committee shaped a statement of corporate stance addressing the concerns that surfaced at the Chapter.

In March 2005, both committees attended a presentation on the "Growing Global Privatization of Water." This meeting proved an effective forum for discussion. From this meeting our corporate stance broadened to embrace the goals of the UN Decade for Water. Within a few months, every Sister received the proposed statement of our corporate stance and materials for further education, reflection and discussion.

A presentation was given to the Province members at our annual province gathering in July. Voting began and was completed by mid-September. Our Sisters responded with a strong 94% approval of Water For Life which was officially released on September 12, 2005.