I recently watched the documentary "Flow". It is about the natural resource and it's future, or in some areas, the lack there of. I have always had some sense of awareness about water, how it serves the planets population and most importantly how it has come to ruin in developing countries. Until I watched the film I had no idea how scarce water has become despite our obvious beliefs. The privatization of water has become nothing less then criminal. Facts about water: Of the 6 billion people on earth, 1.1 billion do not have access to safe, clean drinking water. (www.charitywater.org) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency currently does not regulate 51 known water contaminants. (www.foodandwaterwatch.org) While the average American uses 150 gallons of water per day, those in developing countries cannot find five. (www.charitywater.org) The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns. (www.water.org) According to the National Resources Defense Council, in a scientific study in which more than 1,000 bottles of 103 brands of water were tested, about one-third of the bottles contained synthetic organic chemicals, bacteria, and arsenic. (www.nrdc.org) Water is a $400 billion dollar global industry; the third largest behind electricity and oil. CBS News, FLOW. There are estimates that from five hundred thousand to seven million people get sick per year from drinking tap water. Erik Olson, Deputy Staff Director of Barbara Boxerʼs Environmental and Public Works Committee (EPW), FLOW. Californiaʼs water supply is running out – it has about 20 years of water left in the state. Maude Barlow, author of Blue Covenant and co-author of Blue Gold, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians, FLOW. There are over 116,000 human-made chemicals that are finding their way into public water supply systems. William Marks, author of Water Voices from Around the World, FLOW. In Bolivia nearly one out of every ten children will die before the age of five. Most of those deaths are related to illnesses that come from a lack of clean drinking water. Jim Schultz, founder of the Democracy Center in Bolivia, FLOW. The cost per person per year for having 10 liters of safe drinking water every day is just $6 USD. Ashok Gadgil, Senior Staff Scientist in the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, FLOW About Water | FLOW Clean drinking water, how hard is that to ask? How many people here drink bottled water? Of those that do, how many of you believe that bottled water is any better than what is on tap? Bottled water= a great big fuggin sham. The world bank supports privatized water and to the point that over 50 million humans have been displaced over the capture and harvest of one of our most natural resources. Water, is not that far off from oil. Without water we are all dead yet there are corporate cartels that are trying to capitalize on our need for that very precious resource. To stop thems bastards, check here to help the fight against the profit lords that want to take the simplest of rights from us, clean drinking water. Article 31 The movie is incredibly informing and IMO, a must see for anyone with a pulse. [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGd9D4J0lag[/MEDIA]
I only drink tap water. I dont even bother running it through a filter. I love Baton Rouge water. When I lived in the ATL iI'd have my girlfriend fill bottles for me to take back when I visited. I try to be very mindful of my water use. I even let it mellow.
If you buy "drinking water" in the plastic jugs at your local grocery store, 9 times out of 10 it will list the source as your closest major city municipal water supply. Only difference between that water and that in your tap is a few miles of pipeline.
The bottom line is that the nation's water/wastewater infrastructure is in very bad shape. In many of the larger cities pipelines, treatment plants and pumping stations are 50-100 years old and in need of replacement. Surprisingly little of the Stimulus Package went to pay for these projects, often due to the long lead time of research and engineering involved before construction can begin. These types of projects are also less "visible" to the public than transportation projects and therefore not as politically expedient.
Very good topic to bring up, I have done some extensive research on this subject for a paper in grad school. I applaud the thread starter, this is a serious matter. I was very surprised by the number of people that die each year just from drinking bad water.
Which brings me to my personal crusade about Nestle, baby formula, and killing babies. Nestlé boycott - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Groups such as the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), and Save the Children claim that the promotion of infant formula over breast-feeding has led to health problems and deaths among infants in less economically developed countries.[3][4] There are four problems that can arise when poor mothers in developing countries switch to formula: Formula must normally be mixed with water, which is often contaminated in poor countries, leading to disease in vulnerable infants. [5] Because of the high illiteracy rates in developing nations many mothers are not aware of the sanitation methods needed in the preparation of bottles. Even mothers that can understand the sanitation standards required often do not have the means to perform it: fuel to boil water, electric (or other reliable) light to enable sterilisation at night. UNICEF estimates that a non-breastfed child living in disease-ridden and unhygienic conditions is between six and 25 times more likely to die of diarrhea and four times more likely to die of pneumonia than a breastfed child.[6] Many poor mothers use less formula powder than is necessary, in order to make a container of formula last longer. As a result, some infants receive inadequate nutrition from weak solutions of formula.[7] Breast milk has many natural benefits lacking in formula. Nutrients and antibodies are passed to the baby while hormones are released into the mother's body.[8] Breast-fed babies are protected, in varying degrees, from a number of illnesses, including diarrhea, bacterial meningitis, gastroenteritis, ear infection, and respiratory infection.[9][10][11] Breast milk contains the right amount of the nutrients that are essential for neuronal (brain and nerve) development. [12] The bond between baby and mother can be strengthened during breastfeeding.[10] Frequent and exclusive breastfeeding can also delay the return of fertility, which can help women in developing countries to space their births.[13] The World Health Organization recommends that, in the majority of cases, babies should be exclusively breast fed for the first six months.[14] Advocacy groups and charities have accused Nestlé of unethical methods of promoting infant formula over breast-milk to poor mothers in developing countries.[15][16] For example, IBFAN claim that Nestlé supports the distribution of free powdered formula samples to hospitals and maternity wards; after leaving the hospital, the formula is no longer free, but because the supplementation has interfered with lactation the family must continue to buy the formula. IBFAN also allege that Nestlé uses "humanitarian aid" to create markets, does not label its products in a language appropriate to the country where they are sold, and offers gifts and sponsorship to influence health workers to promote its products.[17] Nestlé denies these allegations. [18]
Baton Rouge water is some of the very best in the country. I loved it when I was there. Lake Charles isn't too bad, but i have a softener now and a filter in my fridge.
Baton Rouge has very good water, but the old pipes that it comes through, the rusty water towers it sits in, and the corroding pipes in your own home still make it a good idea to filter the water with a cheap tap filter. The activated charcoal in it helps take away the chlorine taste, too. Bottled water is not only environmentally bad with all of the plastic waste it creates, but the plastic bottles themselves put chemicals into the water that isn't safe. People who have plastic jug water stored from Katrina will be surprised when then they finally open it. The plasticizers in the water will taint the flavor badly.
This is a serious question and in no way meant to take opposition with anything you say. I have an honest question. Do mothers in these developing countries eat enough to produce breast milk of the appropriate nutritional level? My wife breast fed both our children exclusively for the first six months, and she was advised to eat a 2500-3000 calorie diet during that time. I can't see a Haitian mother being able to do that.
That is an excellent question, and i bet you are right, i bet mothers in third world countries don't get enough nutrition to breast feed. Its amazing to me that we are in the year 2010 and people are still dying from bad drinking water, or no water at all.
