Women and girls are facing the most severe consequences of global water shortages and inadequate sanitation, according to a new UN report highlighting the disproportionate impact on their health, education, and food security. The findings underscore how systemic gender inequalities in water access are hindering the development of poorer nations and exacerbating existing challenges. The UN warns that women and girls are primarily responsible for collecting water in over 70% of rural households without access to piped water in developing regions. Globally, they spend 250 million hours daily on this task, a burden that deepens poverty and limits opportunities for education and economic advancement. Climate change is intensifying these issues, with a 1°C temperature rise reducing incomes in female-headed households by 34% more than in male-headed ones. Women’s weekly labor hours also increase by an average of 55 minutes compared to men’s, further straining their already overburdened roles. The report emphasizes that poor sanitation disproportionately affects women, with 10 million adolescent girls in 40 low-income countries missing school, work, or social activities between 2016 and 2022 due to lack of toilets. In 2024, over 2.1 billion people lacked safely managed drinking water, and 3.4 billion lacked safely managed sanitation. Women are also underrepresented in decisions about water rights tied to agricultural land, which are often linked to property ownership. In many countries, men hold twice the amount of land, while women face discrimination in land tenure rights. Data collection on gender disparities in water access remains inadequate, as many nations and institutions fail to track statistics broken down by sex.#un #unesco #world_vision #khaled_el_enany #alvaro_lario
BTS's New 'Arirang' Teaser Explores Korean Folk Song's History K-pop group BTS has released an animated teaser for their upcoming album Arirang, which delves into the origins of the Korean folk song and its historical significance. The teaser highlights the first recorded version of the song, performed by seven young Korean students in May 1896. These students were pioneers in their pursuit of education in the United States, marking a pivotal moment in Korea's cultural and intellectual history. The Arirang song, recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage by both North and South Korea, embodies the Korean concept of han—a complex emotion encompassing sorrow, longing, collective grief, resilience, and hope. Through themes of separation, loss, perseverance, and national pride, the song has become a cultural touchstone for Koreans across generations. It is often regarded as the unofficial national anthem of Korea, reflecting its deep-rooted significance in Korean identity. BTS previously performed a live cover of the folk song at KCON 2016 France on June 14, 2016, a performance that has since gained renewed attention on social media. The group's new album Arirang is set to release on March 20, followed by a world tour beginning on April 9 at the Goyang Sports Complex near Seoul. The tour will span 34 cities and feature 79 shows, establishing a record for the largest K-pop tour in history. The event will include a 360-degree stage design, enhancing the immersive experience for fans. The teaser not only celebrates the song's historical legacy but also underscores BTS's commitment to blending traditional Korean culture with contemporary music.#bts #kcon_2016_france #unesco #arirang_album #goyang_sports_complex
