Dear friends,
Water is essential for human health and well being. Water also helps to reduce poverty. Without water, there would be no life on this planet. Although water covers about two-thirds of the Earth’s surface, only 2.5% of the world’s water is drinkable.
Many millions of people around the world face water shortages. Many millions of children die every year from water-borne diseases. And drought regularly afflicts some of the world’s poorest countries. The world needs to respond much better. We need to increase water efficiency, especially in agriculture. We need to free women and girls from the daily chore of carrying water, often over great distances. We must involve them in decision-making on water management.
We need to make sanitation a priority. This is where progress is needed most. And we must show that water resources need not be a source of conflict. Instead, they can call for cooperation. Significant gains have been made. But a major effort is still required. That is why this year marks the beginning of the "Water for Life" Decade. Our goal is to meet the internationally agreed targets for water and sanitation by 2015, and to build the foundation for further progress in the years beyond.
This is an urgent matter of human development, and human dignity. Together, we can provide safe, clean water to all the world’ s people. The world’s water resources are our lifeline for survival, and for sustainable development in the 21st century. Together, we must manage them better.
Thank you.
参考答案：朋友们：
人类的健康和安乐离不开水。水也帮助我们减少贫困。没有水，这个星球上就不会有生命。虽然地球表面三分之二的面积被水覆盖，但只有2.5%的水可以饮用。
全世界数以百万计的人们面临缺水状况。每年有数以百万计的儿童死于由水传播的疾病。旱灾也不断袭击着世界上最贫困的国家。全世界应采取更好的应对措施。我们需要提高水的使用效率，尤其是在农业上。我们要让妇女儿童不用再每天去很远的地方取水。在水资源管理上，我们必须听听他们的意见。
我们需要把卫生环境放在首位，因为这是最需要改善的问题。我们还要让人们明白，水资源不应成为冲突的根源，人们应该在这方面进行合作。我们已经取得了成果，但还需更加努力。这就是为什么我们把今年作为“生命之水”十年活动的起始年。我们的目标是到2015年时完成国际社会协商制定的水与卫生建设的各项任务，为将来进一步的发展打下坚实基础。
这个问题十分紧迫，事关人类发展与人类尊严。我们大家携起手来，就可以为全世界的人提供安全清洁的水。世界的水资源是我们的生存源泉，是21世纪可持续发展的保证。我们必须共同管理好水资源。
谢谢。
