Did you know that drowning claims the lives of 360,000 people worldwide each year. This month, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), with support of the United Nations Group of Friends on Drowning Prevention presents the exhibit Just One Inch of Water in the main lobby of the United Nations.
This photographic exhibition features the challenges in Thailand, Bangladesh and Fiji ~ three countries with some of the highest drowning rates in the world, particularly among children under the age of five.
However, drowning is a silent epidemic worldwide. In Bangladesh, more than 40 children drown every day. Many of these children walk to school through rice paddies or community’s hit by flooding. And they are not alone. Drowning is the second leading cause of death worldwide for five to fourteen-year-olds.
While all are well aware of the power of the sea, it is important to know that one could drown in just an inch of water. The exhibition, Just an Inch of Water, is presented in an effort to bring awareness to this problem, and present solutions.
Urban environments in the United States have aggressively pursued solutions ~ in New York City, the New York City Parks Department offers FREE Learn to Swim Programs, with lessons in outdoor pools throughout the summer. The free classes include groups for Toddlers, ages 1 1/2 to 5 years old ~ Children ages 6-17 ~ Adult Learn to Swim ages 18+ ~ and even Advanced Swim Classes for ages 6-17, and Adult Water Aerobics.
In addition, New York City Parks offers other swim programs, from recreational swimming to training for swim team competitions ~ all FREE.
Here are a list of pools in recreation centers, outdoor pools, and aquatics programs within our five boroughs.
Just One Inch of Water showcases the work of three internationally acclaimed photographers (below) and will be on view to until July 29th, 2018 in the main lobby of the United Nations. Remember to bring your government issued ID and a good deal of patience.
Below, images of the United Nations Mall, along with a piece of the Berlin Wall ~ a gift from Germany presented to the United Nations in 2002, and an elephant somewhat hidden behind some trees in the garden near the 46th Street entrance.
The flags of the 193 United Nations member States are lined up along the 500-foot wide curved entrance. Several permanent art installations on the United Nations Mall, along with temporary ecological exhibits.
The eleven-foot-tall elephant (below) was a gift from Kenya, Namibia and Nepal in 1998. It is made from the cast of a real African bull elephant
And on the United Nations Plaza, The Eco Living Module “Tiny House”
