Clean water video from WorldVision
WorldVision's new PSA for action on providing clean water in the developing world is really effective and sobering. Link (Thanks, Kate!)
See also: For Love of Water: infuriating and incredible documentary about world's water-crisis
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Maybe we need a little dirt in our water?
I remember reading that a common microbe found in soil was shown to prevent a certain type of cancer.
Maybe our water is too clean? Mabye our sterile worlds create things like allergies and asthma? Dirty water does have a lot of problems too maybe we can kinda filter out the bad, toss in the good?
Last time I checked a good mud bath was good for the skin ;)
Why is it our (America's) responsibility to make sure everyone gets clean water? These are sovereign nations presumably run by adults. Either they take care of their citizenry or they let they don't. That is their problem. I have no problem with showing them how to provide clean water I have problem with doing it FOR them.
#1,
Perhaps there is some truth to what you say, people waste resources here on bottled water when the tap water is perfectly safe to drink, but in some countries, clean safe drinking water is not readily available and having diarrhea to the point of dehydration is not uncommon for children due to microorganisms in the water.
#2,
It is not "America's responsibility", and WorldVision is a private charity, not an agency of the US Government, so no problem. Some of us, though, consider it a duty to help those in dire need. I sponsor a child in Zambia through WorldVision and many others do as well, but no one is forcing you or me to do this. I also oppose taxing people and sending their money overseas in most cases. Let it be voluntary.
Is it a bad thing that America is the most generous nation on Earth?
Be careful. If you give WorldVision any money, they're as likely to spend it on Bibles and preaching as they are to use it responsibly.
@foobar: Good point; and it's always worth doing a little background on any charity before getting out the checkbook.
I like Charity Navigator, although it doesn't directly address the issue of religion in charitable organizations. But you can usually get the idea pretty quickly, if that's your concern. Here is their listing for World Vision.
And here's a short list of highly-rated, non-religious charitable organizations dedicated to international aid and clean water programs:
• Water For People
• Rotary Foundation (of Rotary International)
• Action Against Hunger / Action Contre la Faim
@ TRR:
While the United States government spends the most money of any country in the world on development assistance, we rank second to last (ahead of only Greece) in terms of percent of our GDP committed to official development assistance.
Hardly is it true that "America is the most generous nation on Earth."
The amount of money given privately by the citizenry is harder to quantify, though.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_development_assistance
I can't even navigate to the website they put at the end of the ad/PSA. I think Time Warner doesn't want me to help people if those people are not them.
Not sure where you're getting your info, foobar, but World Vision doesn't spend 50% of its effort and resources on bibles and proselytizing. In fact, they were one of the first major global charities to take up micro-financing, they are involved in every single disaster relief effort delivering water, blankets, food and meds, not bibles, and they work to raise communities out of sickness and poverty by offering education, healthcare and clean water.
#6 The operative word is "committed." European nations and the EU frequently commit themselves to providing X dollars in aid - complete with media fanfare - and then just never do it. The US is the only nation that reliably follows through on its commitments. I just did a quick google search for the terms: European aid pledges unfulfilled. You'll see plenty of hits discussing various aspects of the problems.
I have a real problem with countries that squander their admittedly meager resources on military hardware and other prestige programs rather than helping their population. Look at India. They are planning a 100 million dollar moon probe mission, WTF? Do they see how their poorest people live? How about infrastructure improvement first. They now have (or will soon have) more millionaires than any other country but we still have USAID operating there.
If you're a poor country and need military protection, invite some 1st world armies to setup bases there. Look at Djibouti. Works so well (French, German and US bases) that they advertise it as one of the reasons the country is stable.
#1: when are you starting to put filth in your drink? (I hope there was humor in what you said...)
LOL
Much of what I read here about the supposedly all too generous America could make me as sick as dirty water though.
World vision is a proselyte organization. One can agree with that goal or not but that is a fact. They're guilt trip specialists might I add but who isn't in the charity business who is successful ?
The western world, not only America, isn't generous at all. We use most of the world resources while we are a minority getting tinier every day.
We spent half our money building armies to terrorize poorer countries into giving what they owe to us.
Oh and we count the weapons we give to poor countries so they can exterminate each other as foreign aid... Ha!
There are lots of people living poorly and dying in our own societies who we don't help: remember Katrina ? T'was just a symptom.
'nough said.
I've had a problem with WorldVision ever since I volunteered in an orphanage in Africa. WV's headquarters were just over the wall. The orphanage had one standpipe with an intermittent water supply and 20+ kids sleeping in tiny prefabricated rooms. They had a huge modern glass and steel (and air-conditioned) office surrounded by brand new SUVs.
I'm sure they do some good work, but they also seemed to be spending a lot of money on themselves. On top of that, for me, even $1 spent on promoting religion is $1 that could, and should, have been spent more constructively in direct aid.
#11: Shouldn't they get to decides how they spend the money donated to them (As long as they are being honest to their donors.) They believe sharing what they believe is true is important.
"While the United States government spends the most money of any country in the world on development assistance, we rank second to last (ahead of only Greece) in terms of percent of our GDP committed to official development assistance."
Chad,
What difference does it make how the monies get there, as long as they do?
Why is government assitstance so much better than private charity?
I'll stick with the part of your reply:
"...the United States government spends the most money of any country in the world on development assistance."
Thanks for backing me up.
TRR,
What are you even arguing against?
My point clearly wasn't about government assistance versus private aid.
Its great that the USA gives more aid than any other nation. I'm glad the nation can do that. Bravo. Way to go America - it makes me proud to be a part of the country.
My point is that the country can do much more. Percent of GDP sent to aid is a much more accurate indicator of a country's commitment to aid than the gross currency spent.
Based on the US GDP, the country can give much more.
Which shows a greater commitment to change: the mailroom clerk making 25k who donates $100 to charity or the CEO making 1.5 mil who donates $150 to charity?
Sure the CEO donates more, but they could do better.