Why this book about children and water? Children’s Letters to Scientists is a small book with big ideas. We quickly see that children — rural or urban, rich or poor— in-tuitively know the importance of water in all its complexity. Young people know that everyone can contribute to the support of the long-term abundance and purity of water, the education of populations, and the increase of political will for its sound distribution, management and conservation, in the interests of our collective future, I urge everyone to listen to and leam from these young voices about our most pre-cious resource: water.

Andras Szollosy-NagyDeputy Assistant Director General

Subdirector General UNESCO

¿Por qué este libro acerca de los niños y el agua? Children´s Letters to Scientists es un libro pequeño con grandes ideas. Rápidamente podemos ver que los niños --de zonas rurales o urbanas, ricos o pobres-- intuitivamente conocen la importancia del agua en toda su complejidad. La gente joven sabe que a largo plazo, todos podemos contribuir a la abundancia, pureza del agua, la educación de la población y una mayor voluntad política para su distribución, manejo y conservación justa. Por el interés de nuestro futuro colectivo, invito a todos a escuchar y aprender de estas pequeñas vo-ces acerca de nuestro más preciado recurso: el agua.

Compiladores:Luis E. Marín / Oscar A. Escolero Fuentes

México, 2005

RED DEL AGUA

ACADEMIA MEXICANA DE CIENCIASDr. Octavio Paredes LópezPresidente

RED DEL AGUADr. Luis E. MarínCoordinador

UNESCO / International Hydrology ProgramDr. Alice AureliProgramme specialist

Coordinador editorialDr. Luis E. Marín

Diseño Carlos Gayou

Edición digitalMtro.Víctor H. Martínez Cedeño

Portada: Daniel Escolero Sánchez

Realización editorial y cuidado de ediciónEdiciones del Arkan

“Children’s Letters to Scientists”, Primera edición 2003DR © 2005, Academia Mexicana de Ciencias “Casa Tlalpan” Km. 23.5Carretera Federal México-CuernavacaCalle Cipreses s/n, Col. San Andrés TotoltepecTlalpan, 14400, México, D.F.aic@servidor.unam.mx http://www.amc.unam.mxhttp://geoinf.igeolcu.unam.mx/rdar

ISBN 968-7428-21X

Impreso en México / Printed in Mexico

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Presentation / Presentación

While giving a talk on the future of water in Mexico in Aguascalientes, Mexico, an eight year old boy asked me what could he do to edu-

cate adults with respect to water conservation, since it is obvious that no adult in his right mind would listen to an eight year old. Well, we are happy to tell this boy, that one adult did listen to him, and that this adult talked to other adults, and the end result is this book. We had partici-pants from both public and private schools. There were three schools in New Hampshire, USA, and four schools in Mexico (two in Mexico City and two in the state of Aguascalientes), children from the town of City and two in the state of Aguascalientes), children from the town of Tlamacazapa, Guerrero, Mexico participated and we also had one partici-pation from El Salvador.

Dan do una plá ti ca en Aguascalientes acer ca del fu tu ro del agua en Mé xi co, un ni ño de ocho años me pre gun to "qué po dría ha cer pa ra

ayu dar a la con ser va ción del agua ya que nin gún adul to en sus cin co sen ti dos le ha ría ca so a un ni ño de ocho años". Nos da gus to ha cer le sa ber a es te ni ño que un adul to lo es cu chó, y que es te adul to pla ti có con otros adul tos y el re sul ta do fi nal es es te li bro. Pa ra es te es fuer zo, par ti ci pa ron ni ños tan to de es cue las pú bli cas co mo pri va das. Hu bo tres es cue las de Nue va Hamps hi re, EUA; cua tro es cue las de Mé xi co (dos del Es ta do de Aguas ca lien-tes y dos del Dis tri to Fe de ral), ni ños del pue blo de Tla ma ca za pa, Gue rre ro, y también tuvimos un participante de El Salvador.

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“Scientists of the world” First of all I want to congratulate you for being “important world scientists”.I’m writing to ask you to elaborate a major research on how to take care and best use water so that we don’t run out of it

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I think that we should all take great care of water, because many times we don’t value properly this vital liquid.Thank you very much for reading my letter and best of Thank you very much for reading my letter and best of luck.

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A happy world

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Without water. With no life... Take care of it! With water. With life

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To the United Nations, I ask of you to cooperate with the source of life that water is, that as time goes by, we are using up.That’s why we have to teach children and show them how to take care of water. Thank you for your attention.PLEASE HELP US

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When it rains water goes down a sewer and that sewer takes it to another sewer and there all the microbes are extracted and then it ends up in the water basin.

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xIt’s going to finish. Take care of water. We need it. See where we can end.

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If we keep contaminating water even ice will be of no use to us. That’s true

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Before and now.

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Mr. scientists of the world:Through this letter I want to let you know that we have a great water problem because many people waste it. My personal opinions are: give problem because many people waste it. My personal opinions are: give problem because many people waste it.talks throughout Mexico and the world on water, tell the government to fine people that waste water, among others. I’m worried because I think that we will run out of water in a few years, and we won’t be able to live. Thank you for your kind attention.

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If we keep this up... Take care of water!

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Don’t waste water. Watch that faucets don’t leak. Close them! Bath as fast as you can. Don’t contaminate it.

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Do you want to get to this? DO NOT waste water!

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No desperdicies el agua lavando tu coche.

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Mister Scientists: I wish to ask you to make radio and tv campaigns on caring for water.Because this liquid is necessary for all living beings on our planet to be able to survive for it’s vital to us even in the smallest way. We children cooperate with the care of the liquid, like saving water, not contaminating it, etc. I appreciate that you consider this request and am sure that humanity will also be grateful to you. Help us create a better future.

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Remmember. Don’t contaminate the oceans. It is our life source..

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In a short while wars will not be for oil; they will be for water, so lets take care of it.

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To the Scientists of the World:All the children of the world want that you teach us how to take care of water, so that we can teach our parents and all adults to take care of of water, so that we can teach our parents and all adults to take care of it, because it is finishing and it is important for life.

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My proposition is that we have to dig holes so that water goes inside easier.

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Dejen de tirar basura en el rio. Si tiras basura en los lagos, rios y arroyos eres un tonto y eso no es chido!

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Es importante salvar animales y ser listos al usar el agua. Un consejo: Cierra la llave del agua cuando no la estés usando! Un consejo: No caces más de lo que debieras.

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To the Scientists of the World: I am Mariana Yazmin and as a Mexican I am very sad because Mexico does not have enough resources to utilize the water from the floods that occur throughout my country.We can better use water in the following ways:1. Piping can be installed in flooded cities. 2. Recycle water.If you can help us we will be very happy.Thank you

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We need to store water.

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Take care of water. Before. After (town waste deposit, trash, sewage).

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Saving water. Take care of water because if not how will we live in the world and then you’ll finish it. It’s a duty to take good care of it.

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Don't waste the water. Take care of it.

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Hello scientists: I write you this letter to ask you a big favor:Every day there are more people on our planet, more industry that grows day to day, and we are running out of vegetation. Due to lack of grows day to day, and we are running out of vegetation. Due to lack of water. I ask of you that you give us an answer as to how to take care of water, since many people contaminate or waste it, knowing that oth-ers need it. Because if we continue like this, as days go by, soon we will run out of water, and this is the main resource needed to survive. Well, together we can make a major effort.. Good bye,

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Scientists of the Organization of American States:How are you. I’m fine I write this letter to tell you about water in my home state. Today someone came and gave a talk on water I found it very interesting and my heart was touched. That is why I ask if you can help us to give us some advise or opinions or even orders to do some-thing to help with the water situation. In water there is a lot of life, for example: fishes, plants, whales, snails, and sharks without it they would die helps us conserve water. Good-bye and thank you for your attention.

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Oh, there’s no water anymore!

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Water. We need water for plants, animals and human beings. Lots of Water. We need water for plants, animals and human beings. Lots of people waste water and there‘s a growing shortage in the world and this endangers all human being’s lives. We must convince everybody, on correct water use and don’t waste it, in washing up, in leaks or in water-ing. All united let’s take care of water.

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Dear Scientists; Today I heard a talk on how to take care of water. And they told us that there is little water left in the world. And I want to know how we can take care of it. I’m sending you this letter so that you can read and answer it.

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Mi name is Jacobo Andres Vite Campos, today in my Portugal School we were invited to a talk about water I was interested they said that there’s an Organization which is the OAS that is the one in charge of trying to take care of water I ask of you if you can help with ideas and financially to take care of the water that is in Mexico well I hope you keep trying not to waste too much water.Farewell: I liked very much writing what I thought.

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Letter addressed to the Scientists of the World:I want to ask the scientists of the world that using their great knowledge they may find solutions to keep water from being contaminated, wasted, and that proper care be taken of it. I want to ask that they find a finan-cial solution so that seawater can be made into drinking water, as this way everyone in the world would have all the water they would need in every country in the world, as it is a non-renewable resource such as gold and silver. This is all I ask of you and I thank you for considering my letter and that of my classmates.

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For the Scientists of the World from Sandra:I went with my classmates and my teacher to do some exercises on how to take care of water and I want to know more about how to conserve water. I am 10 years old and I will be 11 soon. I am in fifth grade and the name of my school is Portugal. I will be pleased to meet you. I hope that you can answer this letter...you can answer this letter...

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To the OAS scientists:How are you I hope you’re fine I’m fine. These lines are for asking your help so that we can use water properly in our state. I’m 10 years old, I study in the Portugal school in 5th grade and I want you to help me learn how to use water properly and that all other people learn so we can keep our planet full of water. Thank you for your help in taking care of water.

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Hello OAS I want to ask you a favor:Can you help us on how to use water. In Guanajuato there have been many floods and I would like to know if you can help us to put under-ground pipes in the cities.Well good-bye because I have to go do my homework.

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Don;t waste water. Take care of it!

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Sirs; I ask of you to please help poor people obtain water and that they won’t die because of germs and fix pipelines so we can have water.

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Mr. Scientists in charge of supplying water to the city of Aguascalientes and the rest of the country:I’m writing to you to see if you can help us save water because there is little water in the whole country and people don’t have money to pay for it because the little water there is, is very expensive, and people don’t have money for their other expenses so I would like to help people have more water.THANK YOU for your attention and I hope that you will do something about it.

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Such sadness! Such joy!

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Dear Scientists of the OAS:I’m 10 years old, I study in the Portugal school. By this means I would like to mention you the problems my country has suffered, due to the floods that have been caused by storms and hurricanes in these last days. There are people that don’t have food, blankets, not even a shelter where to pass the night. We ask for means for helping them. Through the electronic media I would like to send an invitation to contribute to this noble cause. With the people’s generous help we hope to resolve the hunger of the needed. I salute you appreciating your help.I salute you appreciating your help.

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Water in nature.

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Neighborhood with water shortage, contamination and contaminated water. Neighborhood with smoke extractors, separation of contami-nated waters and ecological areas.

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Scientists help our state of Aguascalientes in Mexico so that we may have more water we have lots of uses for it I will appreciate your support.

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H igh in the mountains of central Mexico, villagers of Tlamacazapa (whose name means "place of fear" in Nahuatl) earn a meagre living by weaving

palm baskets. Years of grim survival have shaped a complicated, distrustful cul-ture of poverty. Villagers draw scarce water from four main wells or if they can afford to pay, purchase pumped water. In 2000, Caminamos Juntos Para Salud y Desarrollo, A.C. (CJ) discovered the presence of arsenic and lead in the water sources. The poorest people are increasingly unwell, likely a "toxic synergy" caused by malnutrition and chronic exposure to heavy metals. Courageous local women collaborate with CJ volunteers to investigate and document the contamination in order to take action towards its alleviation. Their goal -- "Clean Water for All" -- reflects their belief that access to sufficient, safe water is a basic human right and a collective responsibility.

E n la par te al ta de las mon ta ñas del cen tro de Mé xi co, los po bla do res de Tla ma ca za pa (cu yo nom bre en Na huatl quie re de cir "lu gar del mie do")

ape nas y lo gran sub sis tir te jien do ca nas tos de pal ma. Años de lu char pa ra so bre-ape nas y lo gran sub sis tir te jien do ca nas tos de pal ma. Años de lu char pa ra so bre-ape nas yvi vir han re sul ta do en una cul tu ra com pli ca da de po ca con fian za y po bre za. Los po bla do res ob tie nen ape nas cual quier can ti dad de agua de cua tro po zos prin ci pa les en el po bla do, o si lo pue den pa gar, com pran agua que es bom bea da de otro va lle. en el po bla do, o si lo pue den pa gar, com pran agua que es bom bea da de otro va lle. en el po bla do,En el año 2000, vo lun ta rios de Ca mi na mos Jun tos Pa ra Sa lud y De sa rro llo, A.C. (CJEn el año 2000, vo lun ta rios de Ca mi na mos Jun tos Pa ra Sa lud y De sa rro llo, A.C. (CJEn el año 2000, vo lun ta rios de Ca mi na mos Jun tos Pa ra Sa lud y De sa rro llo, A.C. ( ) CJ) CJdes cu brie ron la pre sen cia de ar sé ni co y plo mo en el agua. La gen te más po bre de Tla ma ca za pa se en cuen tran ca da vez más en fer mos, pro ba ble men te cau sa do por una si ner gia en tre la des nu tri ción y la ex po si ción cró ni ca a es tos ele men tos. Mu je res va lien tes co la bo ran con los vo lun ta rios de CJ pa ra in ves ti gar y do cu men tar la con ta mi na ción pa ra to mar ac cio nes pa ra re me diar lo. Su me ta --"Agua lim pia pa ra to dos "—re fle ja su creen cia de que el de re cho a te ner su fi cien te agua lim pia es un to dos "—re fle ja su creen cia de que el de re cho a te ner su fi cien te agua lim pia es un to dos "de re cho hu ma no bá si co y una res pon sa bi li dad co lec ti va.

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Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoInstituto de Geofísica Instituto de Geología Museo de la Ciencias / Universum

Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Ciudad de Méxicoterrey, Campus Ciudad de MéxicoterreyDoctorado en Estudios HumanísticosDepartemento de Comunicación y Periodismo

Caminamos Juntos para Salud y Desarrollo, ACInstituto de Agua / Aguascalientes

Estudiantes de las siguientes escuelas:Escuela TecelticanEscuela PortugalDr. Pedro de AlvaSouhegan High SchoolClarke-Wilkins Elementary SchoolTroy Elementary SchoolCentro Educacional Walter C. Buchanan

Claudia ContrerasManuel OrtízDan Bisaccio

Agradecimientos / Acknowledgements

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Luis E. Marín and Oscar A. Escolero are both Professors of Hydrogeology at the Mexican National University and members of the Water Network of the Mexican Academy of Sciences. Both of them have been actively engaged in hydrogeologic and water management research in Mexico for more than 20 years.

Luis E. Marín y Oscar A. Escolero son profesores de hidrogeología (el agua que se encuentra en el subsuelo) en la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México y miembros de la Red del Agua de la Academia Mexicana de Ciencias. Los dos tienen más de 20 años realizando trabajos de investigación y gestión del agua en México.

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Children’s Lettersto Scientists

Editado por la Academia Mexicana de Ciencias se terminó de imprimir en noviembre del 2003

en los talleres de Códice ubicados en Vasconcelos 44, Col. Condesa, México, D.F.

La edición constó de 500 ejemplares y estuvo a cargo de Ediciones del Arkan.

En su composición se usaron tipos Sand para el titulo

y Gill Sans para los textos.

Edición digital, México 2005

RED DEL AGUA