Clean water for poor countries should be a humanitarian goal
A few days ago, we examined one of the inexpensive ways to transform dirty drinking water into potable water. Yet, clean water for poor countries is still a dream for many that live in developing areas of the world. You may not wonder what’s in your drinking water, but for millions around the globe, the threat of parasites, viruses, bacteria and other impurities is a daily struggle.
Water treatment in third world countries has been taken on by celebrities like Matt Damon. What Matt can bring to the table, that you may lack, is star power. Yet, we can all do our part to help provide clean water for poor countries.
Damon was interviewed in last weekend’s Parade Magazine about America’s Giving Challenge, and his efforts to help aid Third World Countries. If you, too, take the challenge, you could win $50,000 to donate to your favorite charity.
But getting back to the dirty drinking water from which so many suffer….
Consider this striking video about the lack of adequate water treatment in Third World Countries:
What's in your drinking water?
As Damon pointed out in his Parade interview, “every 15 seconds, a child dies because of a lack of clean water and sanitation.” He continued:
“A billion people in the world will never have a clean drink of water. There are 2.5 billion people in the world without toilet facilities. That kind of deprivation isn’t even on our radar in the U.S., but in Africa its the central preoccupation of many people’s lives. And the most devastating thing about it is that it takes so little to change it. Just $25 will give someone clean water for life – yes, just $25 will change someone’s future forever.”
Fortunately, there are a number of charitable organizations that work hard to help provide clean water for poor countries. Any amount of a donation will help. As Matt Damon observed:
Take five minutes to educate yourself on an issue you didn’t know about before. Then tell someone else. Or make a small donation, if you can. Every dollar counts. Charitable foundations would rather have a million people donate $1 each than have a handful of people write big checks, because that means millions of us are getting involved.
Helping provide potable water to regions desperately in need is a legacy of which you can be proud. Please visit these sites and consider how you can help:
October 15th, 2009 at 11:00 am
It would be an ideal world if everyone had everything they needed. I hope all the best for them to get the water they need. I feel the U.S.A. does a much as they can to help other people.