This is Why Celebrities Are Making the “W” Sign Today

Emma Stone, Ed Sheeran and Adele are just a few of the famous faces we’ve seen throw up “W” signs on social media today. At first, we thought our fave celebs were hosting some kind of mass shade-a-thon, telling followers off with their sassy “whatever” signs. But these “W“s aren’t a nod to the popular middle-school clap back—they’re far more important. On March 22, “W” stands for “water”.

The two-handed sign is a pledge of support for World Water Day, an initiative that hopes to bring awareness to the clean-water crisis. Teaming up with the charitable organization Drop4Drop (which was co-founded by Adele’s husband, Simon Konecki), #WforWater addresses an issue that impacts 663 million people globally.

The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any war has claimed through guns, killing 2,000 children every day. Experts have estimated it would cost $10 billion to remedy the crisis, which is less than Americans spend annually on tea.

Access to clean water is a UN-declared human right. It lays the foundation for a brighter future and a happier world. Past supporters of World Water Day include Jennifer Lawrence, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Jay Z and Beyoncé.

Want to get involved? Visit Drop4Drop to learn more. In the meantime, take your “W” pic, tag @drop4drop, and use #W4Water to show your support and raise awareness for the 663 million people in need.