This Day in History (1985): 'Water Is Life. Save It. A Slogan to Remember

From the May 29, 1985, edition of The Arabian Sun

From 'Udhailiyah to Ras Tanura, Aramcons of all ages turned out May 11-17 for the company's first quad-area Water Conservation Week.

Many watched or participated in specifically organized soccer, racquetball, softball, or golf tournaments. Others toured Aramco water treatment plants or competed for a limited upply of caps, key chains, and T-shirts that will be carrying the "save water" appeal afield for months to come.

While the overriding tone of the week's activities was light and lively, the underlying theme was serious: "Water is life. Save it." Getting that message across has been a cooperative enterprise from the start.

"The overall efforts of Aramco residents, workers, many operating organizations and self-directed groups have contributed to the success of the company's water conservation program since its inception," said Ali M. Baluchi, general manager of Community Services Operations and chairman of the Water Conservation Committee.

"The success of the most recent Water conservation Week is a direct result of the sense of responsibility demonstrated by many dedicated Aramcons. We hope the desire to conserve water will be carried on."

Caption for top photo: As part of Aramco's Water Conservation Week, 'Udhailyah Water conservation Coordinator Cleve Pratt demonstrates the procedures for starting up Water Well 750 to 'Udhailiyah sixth-graders during a tour of the facility. Other scheduled activities for sixth- and eighth-grade students during the week included tours of the 'Udhailiyah drinking water and sewage treatment plants, and a talk on the "the water cycle in Saudi Arabia."

Also on this date

2015 — One world Observatory at One World Trade Center opens

2005 — France rejects the constitution of the European Union in a national referendum

2004 — The national World War II memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C.

1999 — Space Shuttle "Discovery" completes the first docking with the International Space Station

1990 — The Congress of People's Deputies of Russia elects Boris Yeltsin as President of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic

1988 — U.S. President Ronald Reagan begins his first visit to the Soviet Union when he arrives in Moscow for a superpower summit with the Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev

1985 — Amputee Steve Fonyo completes cross-Canada marathon at Victoria, British Columbia, after 14 months

1964 — The Arab League meets in East Jerusalem to discuss the Palestinian question, leading to the formation of the Palestinian Liberation Organization

1953 — Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzig Norgay become the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest, on Tenzig Norgay's (adopted) 39th birthday

1933 — The newly unified Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signs a concession agreement with Standard Oil of California. The two partners later create a new entity, which becomes known in 1944 as Aramco. 

1919 — Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity is tested (later confirmed) by Arthur Eddington and Andrew Claude de la Cherois Crommelin

1913 — Igor Stravinsky's ballet score "The Rite of Spring" premieres in Paris, provoking a riot

1866 —Pharmacist John Pemberton first advertises Coca-Cola, appearing in "The Atlanta Journal"

1807 — Mustafa IV became Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and Caliph of Islam

1790 —  Rhode Island becomes the last of North America’s original 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution and become one of the United States

1453 — Ottoman armies under Sultan Mehmed II capture Constantinople after a 53-day siege, ending the Byzantine Empire