To coincide with Tuesday's Earth Day, Taipei City's Environmental Protection Bureau will launch a campaign to conserve the capital's water resources.
The campaign, inspired by the "Water for Life" project championed by the environmental group Earth Day Network, will highlight a fair held on Sunday in the 228 Peace Park in Taipei to mark the celebration and promotion of the conservation of water.
The water-conservation campaign is aimed at educating the public on accessibility to water in Taiwan, said the director of the EPB Stephen S.H. Shen (沈世宏), because of Taiwan's recent experiences with water shortages, including last year's drought
Director of Feitsui Reservoir Kang Shyh-fang (康世芳) said that last year the Feitsuei Reservoir saw its first drought since it was opened 15 years ago and that the water shortages highlighted the need for conservation.
Kang added that the protection of water sources, such as upstream rivers, is important as well.
"More and more people like to explore the sources of the rivers that contribute to the water supply. This is likely to pollute our daily drinking water," he said.
"That's why we have to set restrictions for activities in these areas," Kang said.
The fair will not only raise public awareness about river sources in Taiwan, but also educate the public about the different aquatic life found in the nation's marshes.
Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), Deputy Director of the Water Resources Agency Chen Shen-hsien (陳伸賢) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and officials from the Cabinet-level Council of Agriculture will participate in the fair.
More than 30 booths will be set up at the fair to enable participants to learn about water resources and the plant and animal life living in Taiwan's marshes.
The fair will also feature the a recycling reinforcement display and a market for second-hand furniture sponsored by the EPB.
Earth Day each year marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. Earth Day was the result of a series of environmental catastrophes around the world, which prompted Gaylord Nelson, then a US Senator, to found such a day and establish the Earth Day Network.
The Earth Day Network is a global alliance of 5,000 groups in 184 countries, working to promote a healthy environment and a peaceful, just, sustainable world.
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