World Hunger/Clean Water

A friend of mine shared this video on facebook today. A must see for all. It will make you think.

First World Problems being Read by Third World People

Small Changes for Increased Water Quality

I told you about the All Creation Sunday we had at church this past week and how we worshiped outdoors. One thing I researched for the service is clean water. Clean water is a big topic locally because Lexington was fined by the EPA several years ago. Even if someone does not care about water pollution in Lexington, you should care about how much it has cost tax payers here in the city. 

It is interesting to me how many people who know that water pollution is a problem but do not understand their part in it. In 2004 a local group called Bluegrass PRIDE conducted a survey here in Central Kentucky, it found that 94% of the population here think they only somewhat or do not at all contribute to water pollution. The opposite is true though. Here are some simple suggestions they offered to help improve water quality. 

1) Pick up pet waste. It can wash into waterways and storm sewers. 

2) Use a car wash versus washing car in driveway. In the driveway, all the soap and grime rinse off and flow into the storm drains.

3) Make sure all detergents used in the home are phosphate free. 

There are things that contribute to pollution which are not listed in the article but just starting with the three above goes along way in decreasing your own contribution to local water pollution. Try implementing at least one of them today if you do not already use these as common practices in your home. 

Clean Water Statistics

I share the statistics below and the ones in previous posts not to make people feel guilty but to inform people about problems that they may not be aware of that are happening in the world. Before I read the Serve God, Save the Planet book I was unaware of many world issues. I am continuously learning how my behavior here in America can or does affect so many other people in the world who are just struggling to obtain basic food, shelter and water. It also helps me keep on track with my lifestyle changes. Clean water is a major issue for many people in the world. Many world hunger and other such organizations work on clean water issues. By donating your money to them, you can make the world a better place. Here are the statistics offered in the April 2010 National Geographic article on water.

1) 1 out 8 people lacks access to clean water.
2) 3.3 million die from water-related health problems each year.
3) Washing hands with soap can reduce diarrheal disease by 45%.
4) An eradication campaign that includes a simple water filter has cut the number of Guinea Worm cases by 99.9% since 1986.

As I stated during the holiday season, each year we spend 450 billion dollars on Christmas gifts just here in the U.S. It is estimated that it would take 10 billion dollars to provide clean water for all people around the world. There are many other statistics that are similar. Maybe, you could cut down on our water consumption and use the money saved from that each month to donate to a charity that works on providing clean water. You can go to the advent conspiracy site for a list of organizations if you do not know of one. 

Clean Water

One large world health problem is clean water. Advent conspiracy (AC) (talked about in previous post) encourages people to spend less on Christmas and then donate money to organizations which help people get clean water around the world. According to the AC website the US spends 450 billion dollars on Christmas each year but it would only take 10 billion dollars to provide clean water for everyone in the world. Here are some statistics from the April 2010 National Geographic issue titled Water-Our Thirsty World.

1) Americans use about 100 gallons of water each day.
2) Millions of the world's poorest subsist on fewer than 5 gallons.
3) 46 percent of people on earth do not have water piped to their homes.
4) Women in developing countries walk an average of 3.7 miles to get water.
5) In 15 years, 1.8 billion people will live in regions of severe water scarcity.

These are just a few facts. They do not even begin to touch the disease and death which is caused from lack of clean water. Take a minute and check out the National Geographic magazine articles online from the April 2010 issue.