Water crisis: nearly 30,000 Hippo Rollers have been distributed

Great comment whatahassle, you make a lot of sense. Its all very well wishing that we could install a futuristic infrastructure in Africa to help combat the trappings of poverty, but thats going to take time, a lot of money and honestly, much as id like to see it, I don't think I will anytime in the near future. This makes a difference cheaply, and with immediate effect.

JanforGore... this place wouldn't be the same without you. Please don't leave because neocongo is being a wise ass. Remember, people here at Current are allowed and encourage to express their views... as is neocongo.

Hey... I think neocongo's expression is narrow minded and callous, but... that is no reason for you... JanforGore to stop coming here to comment and post. Your posts and comments have made a difference... for me.

Help neocongo to see things from your perspective.

Oh I won't leave here. It is too important for me to express my view as well and overall the concept of Current is something I wholeheartedly support. And I am sorry for typing in caps, but when you are passionate about something and care about it deeply you have to sometimes express it. I cry for people who have to live this way. For young girls who have to walk eighteen miles a day just to fetch something that should be a basic human right.

Surely these "barrels" may make it easier for some to haul the water, however, this is the 21st century. We can spend billions on nuclear weapons, on wars, on putting men on the moon... but we cannot give people on Earth access to the basic right of clean water. I have been writing and reading about this for years. The people in a majority of these villages have no sanitation. They have no running water or flushing toilets.This is what they need, not barrels to carry it in.They need access to it and to have it be clean so their children can live past fifteen years old. But yes, it is a move in a good direction overall, but much more needs to be done.

I truly think some here just answer off the cuff and decide that anyone who offers a counter view is just wrong without trying to understand why they are presenting that view. It isn't because I don't think the people who live this way should not have it easier... I just don't see how this makes it much easier.They are still having to trek over rocky dangerous terrain in many instances risking their safety and sometimes their lives... they still must walk the same distance getting the same polluted water they always get, if there is even water to get. I'm just tired of half measures and also procrastination by governments who see how their people live and do nothing to change it. We could give people running water and flushing toilets if we really wanted to. That is what I am saying.

And thank for your comment. It's good to know that what is posted makes a difference at least to a few people just as things I have read here has made a difference to me as well. So to Neocongo if you read this, again my apologies for the caps. I simply am very passionate about this.

Apology more than accepted. My responses often are brief and sarcastic. Jan, I see your perspective as being one that is highly motivated to shed light on the wrongs of the world, and there are MANY. I'm glad you do that and I hope you never stop. My perspective is that to begin serious change, we have got to get corporate America under control before that can happen. Our perspectives I believe, are in agreement, and I believe we are allies in our desire to see change.

I am someone who will leap at the chance to discredit, disprove or otherwise disenfrachise the conservative perspective that fuels corporate control of our government. And I am more than aware of Democratic complicity in the problem. I am someone also however, who realizes I alone am ineffective, virtually irrelevant. I have to build some bridges, find some teams and work with others, even if they are less than ideal. And when it happens, no matter how small, I have to take at least a little comfort in the tiniest of positive change and hope to build on that. Those tiny, positive moments keep me going, as I cannot live solely on glass half-empty with a hole in it thinking. I am looking for the positive and trying to be a part of solutions, even imperfect ones.

...and This is why I love coming here. Jan; glad you suck around ;)

I like the idea of the merry-go-round pump- that would remove the need to travel such distances.

According to the website "Fewer trips to collect water means women and children can spend more time on productive educational and economic activities. In addition, men are proud to be seen using a Hippo Roller, and many have assumed the role of water carrier for their families."

I think it's safe to assume not all of the water in Africa is polluted.

No to mention the 'hygienic storage due to the sealed lid on the roller." for things other than water.

They also have packets that clean dirty water. Or so a commercial stated they have.