EARTH WEEK'S A GOOD TIME TO FOCUS ON WATER SCARCITY
Here is today's Daily News editorial. Please give it a read, add your perspective and check out the link to Water.org.
HAVING JUST started to dry out from the Nor'easter, most people in the Delaware Valley might not think of water as a huge problem.
But given that this is Earth Week, it seems fitting to focus on this natural resource, because it's something only a few us us can take for granted.
Water is something we've got plenty of, and when the rain comes down, it's something we rarely are happy to see. And yet, for billions of people around the world, there is a water crisis that has quietly become the biggest killer on earth.
About 3,900 children died yesterday because they didn't have access to clean drinking water.
That's more than died on 9/11. UNICEF estimates that in 1993 alone, 3.8 million children under the age of five died from diarrhea resulting from ingesting waterborne pathogens.
That's more than all the deaths resulting from the war in Iraq, which is heading into its fifth year.
More than 1.4 billion people don't have access to clean drinking water and water-related diseases are the number one cause of death in the world. The World Health Organization estimates that 80 percent of all sicknesses in the world are attributable to unclean water.
The problem is fairly simple – there's not a whole lot of drinkable water on the planet. If you took all of the earth's water, and put it into a gallon jug, the drinkable portion would be just over a tablespoon. For many areas without water transport or treatment systems, people have to walk upwards of three hours, just to get access to water they need to live.
Maybe it's not a problem that's attracted the star power that AIDS in Africa or Global Warming has, but the lack of drinkable water around the globe is an even more deadly problem that, fortunately, is much more easily combated.
Organizations like Water.org. are doing important and impressive work to bring water systems to the poorest people of the world.
Next time we've got some heavy downpours, and you're inside taking a bath, making coffee, or running the washer, take a moment to think about those who would give anything for just a sip of clean water. Then,send a few bucks to groups working on an attainable solution. *
Comments (8)
Leave it to Citizen Hunter to write about something I had never read about before. Thank you.
Posted by: Julie on April 24, 2007 22:31
Good on you Citizen Hunter! Good food for thought.
Posted by: Joe on April 25, 2007 10:20
Bill Maher where did he write this while Partying and limoing over @ Hugh Heffners Playboy Mansion? I was suprised he knew Detergent Bottles come with handles...since he has two Maids.. and only uses LINEN Napkins and Table Cloths for Breakfast Lunch and Eats Late late Dinner... under Beeswax Candles...
Maybe Bill and Claudia could go a little easier on the mascara and beauty Condiments and save the Animals they Kill for the testing. If Bill and Hollywood could lighten up on the ROYAL Bee Pollen Vitamins we might even have some Bees.!
Riddle me this Bill Maher.... why does Mars have Global Warming like us>>>> Could it be the SUN expands and contracts?
Leif erickson left Iceland because the Polar cap melted a few Centuries Back and flooded his Country... Why? What caused it...
USA Head Hurracaine Meteorologist Say a Rise in Warming tempereature Cause Fewer Typhons/Hurracines not more like owl Gore says.. Why?
some facts please not rants like use one piece of Toilet Paper like The Crowe lady!
Posted by: Kevin in Kuwait on April 26, 2007 04:18
3900 a day die in the world due to water problems
almost 4000 Innocent Babies die a day in the USA due to ABORTION because of a SELFISH mother or father!
Only One Country in the world cut the Incidence of AIDS dramatically by almost 80% .... UGANDA why because they Preached Abstinence!
Speaking of the WHO....
The WHO on July 29th 2005 declared Oral Contraception as a Group 1 Carcinogen. They said this elevates by 300% in Caucasian woman and 600% in Black Women..risk of.BREAST CANCER!USA is # 1 consumner of the PILL and #1 in Breast cancer deaths per capita
Thats a fact Susan Kormen and PP won't promote during Breast cancer awareness campaign!
Posted by: Kevin in Kuwait on April 26, 2007 04:46
I will take a look at the website provided by Flavia.
Every once in a while I WILL think how lucky we are in the United States. Just the fact we are where we are provides a stable foundation for the basics, such as agriculture, fresh water, and energy.
Posted by: TheBoss on April 28, 2007 06:14
Don't Forget the Oral Contraception runoff into our streams that is disfiguring the Fish...but I guess that is Ok since the Pill is exempt.see this link..
http://www.calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=25291453-1c9e-46d2-8aab-05ab487fb751
Posted by: Kevin in Kuwait on May 8, 2007 01:16
But at least the fish arent having abortions and that is all that matters
Posted by: on May 8, 2007 13:41
But at least the fish arent having abortions and that is all that matters
Posted by: on May 8, 2007 13:41