Unsafe water and sanitation c auses 4000 children to die each day
While progress is being made in reaching the Millennium Development Goal of halving the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water, more people are affected by poor water and sanitation " than by war, terrorism, and weapons of mass destruction combined." Health Talk Canada

User pays system for water use
Australian households which use more than their quota of water should have to buy extra, says a peak environment industry body. The Barton Group will soon release a report urging radical change in water policy. The Australian

Australia backs US call to end peacekeeping in East Timor
The United States and Australia do not believe East Timor requires an ongoing peacekeeping presence, despite the endorsement of the UN Security Council's extension of the peacekeeping mission. Reuters

Children in detention policy needs revision
A leading refugee advocate has c autioned both activists and the Federal government against using children for political objectives. The call came at the l aunch of an annual audit of human rights developments. Catholic News

Recycled Water
Recycling water is a natural consideration in Australia's cities where permanent water restrictions are in place. Indigenous culture in New Zealand offers some alternatives to water for dealing with human effluent. ABC

Overcome Evil with Good
In his message for the World Day of Peace, Pope john P aul II reminds the world of the presence of extreme poverty and the Church's support for the Millenium Development Goals. The Vatican

The Timor Sea grab
"The growing momentum of the Timor Sea Justice Campaign demonstrates that Australians want East Timor to succeed. They want a friendly neighbour able to stand economically on its own two feet, without endless loans and aid money." Tom Clarke Online Opinion

Water crisis will remain after Asian tsunami
"In 2003, total assistance provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development to all of Africa and Asia for water and sanitation was about $25 million - about one- tenth the cost of a single F-22 fighter plane." Pacific Institute

Greenfleet
It only takes a minute to use the greenhouse calculator, the 'Tree Totaller' to work out the greenhouse emissions generated by your household and your car. By subscribing, Greenfleet will plant the actual number of trees to neutralise the effect of your greenhouse gas emissions. www.greenfleet.com.au

"Little Sister"
22-year-old Melissa Dyer is a university student and keen sportswoman. She has decided on the radical life choice of taking vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and becoming a Cannossian Daughter of Charity.

SBS TV, Wednesday, March 9 7.30pm

"Our Father... Let us do your will, standing up when all are sitting down, and raising our voice when all are silent." Caritas