World Water Day is March 22nd and across the globe humanitarian stakeholders are teaming up in support of improved access to safe, clean water. How is FIJI Water getting involved? People all over the world know of FIJI Water as the iconic bottled water brand. The square-shaped bottle has become the #1 selling brand of water in the United States and is recognized across the globe in movies and magazines as the favored water of celebrities and every-day consumers alike.

Yet much of the world is not as familiar with the other faces of FIJI Water: that is, FIJI Water the employer, the responsible corporate citizen, the environmentally sustainable business, and the partner in development- particularly with regard to improving access to potable water in Fiji. FIJI Water is all of these things, and we are proud to join in the local and global World Water Day celebrations in 2010, promoting the importance of equitable access to safe, clean drinking water.

FIJI Water Foundation is celebrating this World Water Day this year with our partners SOPAC, Rotary Pacific Water for Life, and Give Clean Water . We're also proud to officially announce this week our first round of new projects for 2010, including seven water access projects around Fiji. We look forward to launching into these needed projects right away, working with, educating, and enabling communities to improve their quality of life. In any language, Water is Life! 

When natural disasters affect our communities, FIJI Water is on the front line. FIJI Water recognizes the importance of acting quickly, decisively, and in coordination with national relief efforts. Access to safe drinking water early post-crisis reduces the risk and severity of water-borne disease outbreaks. Hundreds of miles from outside assistance, we know that here in Fiji we need to be able to rely on one another.

In the aftermath of hurricanes Ami, Kina, Damon, Gene, and Mick, FIJI Water was one of the first items distributed, and following Cyclone Tomas it has been no different. More than 2,400 liters have already arrived or are en route to communities, schools, and evacuation centers on Taveuni, Vanua Levu, Vanua Balavu, Rabi, Kioa, Qamea, Cikobia, Gau, and other islands affected by this destructive category 4 hurricane. We are also in discussions with the Ministry of Health as to how we can augment this supply by providing water to hospitals and health centers. FIJI Water Foundation is a member of the WASH (Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene) cluster humanitarian coordination meetings, so that we are prepared to assist where we can as soon other needs are articulated.
 

Although most of our relief efforts are focused in Fiji, FIJI Water is also responsive to emergencies on a global scale. With the assistance of the United States Military, we recently donated more than 136,000 liters of water to the victims of the earthquakes in Haiti . Given the disrupted infrastructure throughout the country, our biggest challenge was coordinating the transportation of the much-needed water. Many thanks go to the men and women in uniform at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, who provided the logistical piece of the puzzle and ensured  the water was used for humanitarian aid. As with all of our projects and development work, we depend on our partners to help us make miracles happen! Vinaka.