The Bishop of Exeter, the Right Reverend Michael Langrish, is to join fellow parliamentarians to walk for World Water Day on Tuesday 22nd March.

The bishop’s steps will contribute towards 6km being walked in Victoria Tower Gardens beside the Houses of Parliament, organised by Christian development agency Tearfund as part of its campaign for worldwide clean water and sanitation.

Thousands of people across the globe will walk 6km together on 22 March, World Water Day, to highlight the distance that millions, mostly women, walk every day just to collect water. They are calling on governments to take action on the crisis.

 “The Millennium Development Goals adopted across the world recognise that clean water and sanitation are the basis for all other development,” said the bishop, “and there is no prospect of economic justice or a decent life for communities that don’t have these basic facilities.

“A third of the population of sub-Saharan Africa doesn’t have a toilet, and this causes disease that kills and ruins lives by the thousand. These people need help from relatively prosperous countries like ours, and I am joining the MPs and Members of the Lords walking today to urge the Department For International Development to redouble its efforts to support those like Tearfund who are making a real difference to people in dire need of clean water and good sanitation.”

The Bishop of Exeter is a Trustee and Board Member of Christian Aid, which shares Tearfund’s commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

ENDS

For further information contact Helen Dennis, Senior Government Relations Adviser,
Tearfund, on 07932 008949, or Martin Sheppard as below.

The Bishop of Exeter is expected to join the walk at approximately 1.30pm.