HUDSON RIVER SWIMMER HIGHLIGHTS UN’S DECADE FOR ACTION, ‘WATER FOR LIFE’ 2005-2015

HUDSON RIVER SWIMMER HIGHLIGHTS UN’S DECADE FOR ACTION,

‘WATER FOR LIFE’ 2005-2015

New York, 28 July -- In a prelude to the United Nations International Decade for Action on Water beginning in March 2005, long distance swimmer Christopher Swain hopes to inspire citizens on every continent to protect their local waterways as he today becomes the first person in history to swim the entire 315-mile length of the Hudson River.

“Proclaiming the period from 2005 to 2015 as the International Decade for Action, 'Water for Life', beginning on World Water Day, 22 March 2005 is a promising first step”, says Mr. Swain, who hails from Colchester, Vermont, United States.  “But if we truly hope to protect the world’s waterways, each of us needs to see clean water as a basic human right.”

The Hudson is one of the world’s best known rivers.  Boasting one of the longest estuaries in the world, the Hudson River empties into the Atlantic Ocean at New York City, home to the United Nations Headquarters.  Yet the Hudson is far from pristine:  like many of the world’s rivers, the Hudson is contaminated with everything from PCBs to heavy metals to agricultural chemicals.

Marcia Brewster, Senior Officer in the United Nations Division for Sustainable Development, said, “The General Assembly has proclaimed 2005-2015 as an International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”.  The efforts of private citizens such as Mr. Swain on the Hudson River inspire people everywhere to respect, use, enjoy, protect and restore their home waterways.”

The Earth Society Foundation, a UN-accredited non-governmental organization, used the occasion of Swain’s Hudson River swim to signal its support for the cause of clean water.  Earth Society President Tom Downd said, “We agree with the United Nations that the human right to water is a prerequisite for the realization of other human rights.”

Over the last eight weeks, Mr. Swain has swum through everything from Class IV+ rapids to raw sewage in his quest to increase awareness of the need to protect the Hudson River.  He hopes to spread his message of clean water and friendship to watersheds around the world. 

The last lap of Swain's Hudson River Swim will be under the VerrazanoBridge on Wednesday morning, 28 July, followed by a press conference at 11:30 a.m. at the North Cove Marina on the river near ground zero.

For more information on Christopher Swain’s Hudson River Swim for Clean Water, please visit:  http://www.swimforcleanwater.org/ or tel: +1 (802)598-5000.

For more information on the International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”, contact:  Renata Sivacolundhu, UN Department of Public Information, tel:  +1 212 963 2932, e-mail:  mediainfo@un.org

* *** *