One word: Water
Water, the main reason for life on Earth, continuously circulates through one of Earth’s most powerful systems: the water cycle. Water flows endlessly between the ocean, atmosphere, and land. Earth’s water is finite, meaning that the amount of water in, on, and above our planet does not increase or decrease.
In an increasingly globalized world, the impacts of water-related decisions cross borders and affect everyone. Extreme events, environmental degradation, population growth, rapid urbanization, unsustainable and inequitable consumption patterns, conflicts and social unrest, and unprecedented migratory flows are among the interconnected pressures faced by humanity, often hitting those in vulnerable situations the hardest through their impacts on water.
Water use has been increasing worldwide by about 1% per year since the 1980s, driven by a combination of population growth, socio-economic development and changing consumption patterns. Global water demand is expected to continue increasing at a similar rate until 2050, accounting for an increase of 20 to 30% above the current level of water use, mainly due to rising demand in the industrial and domestic sectors. Over 2 billion people live in countries experiencing high water stress, and about 4 billion people experience severe water scarcity during at least one month of the year. Stress levels will continue to increase demand for water grows and the effects of climate change intensify.
In Greek mythology many myths presents the vital role that water had in people’s lives.There are mythological water beings and gods, stories of heroes that have something to do with water, and even stories of isles and continents lost below the surface.
Poseidon was, according to mythology, one of the twelve gods of Olympus, Zeus’ brother and god of the sea. His symbols were the trident, the horse, and the dolphin. When he was angry, he beat his trident and the water whirled. They say that most sailors sacrificed in his honor to do their trip well.
Nireas lived on the bottom of the Aegean, with his fifty daughters the Nereids, who could unsettle and calm the sea. His wife was Dorida. He was renowned for his wisdom and prophetic powers. One of his best known daughters was Thetis, the mother of Achilles.
The Sirens were sea demons, daughters of the river god Acheloos and Moussa Melpomeni. They lived on an island where, with their charming song, they trapped the unsuspected sailors who were either approaching or forgot their destination. Only Odysseus managed to get through the Sirens after telling his companies to tie him to the ship so he would not be enchanted by their song.
Lernaia Hydra was a beast with nine heads. She lived in the swamps of Lake Lerni near Argos and killed animals and people. Her enemy was Hercules who killed her with the help of Iolaus.
Medusa was sister of the Gorgons Stheno and Euriali. Unlike her sisters, Medusa was mortal. She had snakes' hair and her awesome weapon was her eyes. Whoever stared at her became a stone. Her enemy was Perseus, who, with the help of Athena, beheaded her.