「街頭教父」（Def Jam）總裁兼執行長傑斯（Jay-Z），9日在聯合國紐約總部表示，多數年輕人不了解世界水資源危機；倘若他們了解缺乏乾淨用水影響到的人數，他們必定會有所行動。對於這位國際知名歌手的協助，以及MTV總裁諾曼（Christina Norman）發起的全球行動，以提高民眾對水資源短缺認知的協助，聯合國秘書長安南深表歡迎。
根據聯合國統計，全世界每年有將近200萬兒童因缺乏乾淨用水和衛生設施而死亡，遠超過死於戰爭的兒童數目。傑斯認為，他透過參與MTV和聯合國的工作來傳達這項訊息，多少可使這個問題獲得改善。
傑斯將在9月世界巡迴演唱會期間，順道訪問土耳其、南非和其他面臨缺水危機的地區，為MTV拍攝「Jay-Z日記：生命之水」紀錄片。
這是MTV當前推廣活動之一，透過音樂節目，來教育年輕人參與，進而影響全球性議題。首集紀錄片將於11月24日，在全球179個國家50個MTV頻道播放。
紀錄片鏡頭跟著傑斯來到缺乏乾淨用水的地區，拍攝他訪問當地民眾的情況，在這些地區，正有各項環境友好的永續性設備，為乾涸地區帶來乾淨水源。
為競爭乾淨水源，許多國家已經衝突不斷，聯合國提出警告，這種情況極可能愈演愈烈。
民眾可透過兩種形式參與這項全球行動：
- 國際援助：支持MTV和聯合國推薦的永續方案，例如太陽能抽水機、檢測飲用水質的套件和「遊戲抽水機」（PlayPump）——這是將旋轉木馬連在抽水機和貯水槽上，兒童在遊戲中能同時將抽取和儲存乾淨用水；每人只需付出6美元，PlayPump就能提供一個兒童10年所需的乾淨飲用水。
- 當地參與：特輯中鼓勵年輕人親身實行「戒掉石油癮」（今年度MTV推廣活動）12步驟，以減緩全球暖化，因為氣候暖化也是構成水資源危機的原因之一。
"Most young people are unaware" of the world's water crisis, but if they knew about the "staggering numbers" of people affected by lack of clean water, they would be moved to act, Def Jam President and CEO Jay-Z said at UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday. Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed the help of the internationally known recording star and MTV President Christina Norman in raising public awareness of water scarcity through a new global initiative.
Nearly two million children die every year because of unclean water and poor sanitation - far more than the casualties from violent conflicts, UN records show. Expressing his conviction that the problem can be solved, Jay-Z said his involvement with MTV and the UN could bring positive change.
During his international concert tour in September, Jay-Z will travel to Turkey and South Africa, and several other areas affected by water crisis, while being documented for the MTV special, "Diary of Jay-Z: Water for Life."
The series is part of MTV’s ongoing initiatives to educate, empower and involve young people regarding global issues. The network's first-person biographical series will air on November 24, reaching 179 counties on 50 of MTV locally programmed channels.
The documentary series will follow Jay-Z's experiences as he meets people without access to safe drinking water. Cameras will follow the artist as he visits places where sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions are working to bring fresh water to thirsty communities.
Competition among nations for fresh water is already a factor in many conflicts, and has the potential to become much, much worse in the future, the UN warns.
The campaign will encourage people to take action in two ways:
- Help Abroad: Support sustainable solutions highlighted in the show, such as solar-generated water pumps, kits which test drinking water for safety, and The PlayPump, a children's merry-go-round that pumps water from below ground. For as little as $6 a person, the PlayPump can provide a decade of clean drinking water to a child in need.
- Help at Home: The special will encourage young people to take any of the 12 steps associated with Break the Addiction, MTV's year-long campaign to engage young people to reduce global warming, a contributing factor to the world water crisis.
