Play Pump

[diane o'thirst]

Saw this on PBS's Frontline over at my friend's house last night.

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough ... ca_th.html

We pretty much have water distribution covered here in the States, but it's dependent upon electricity to run the pumps on. What if that electricity supply is cut off? You're in trouble. The biggest post-earthquake or -flood threat is lack of safe drinking water.

How many communities have playgrounds? Pretty much all of them, public or private.

Children will always play. And we need less coal plants. These things only cost $2800 to make and install and can even be used for advertising (or art). Not many applications on the Playa, but this idea needs to proliferate all over the world. Even in the so-called "First World" countries and communities.

Edit: I hope the inventor Trevor Field gets some kind of award for this! Sheer brilliance.

[EvilDustBooger]

Edit: I hope the inventor Trevor Field gets some kind of award for this! Sheer brilliance.

Amen.
Super Idea.
Clean, fresh water is a universal need and a universal problem.
Especially in 3rd world countries where drinking tainted water is killing thousands every year.
I`d like to see some of Dean Kamen`s ideas and filter technologies applied with this super cheap renewable kid-fuel.

...that`s a pretty "green" idea. Thanks for posting this Diane!

[Ugly Dougly]

It's a matter of time before someone starts grousing about child labor.

[Badger]

Diane,

There's LOTS of really novel ideas floating around. The one you highlighted is one of the more amazing.

What if that electricity supply is cut off? You're in trouble. The biggest post-earthquake or -flood threat is lack of safe drinking water.

What if you don't HAVE easy access or available water source? You're totally fucked. I'm being rhetorical here.

One of the crueler statistics I've read in recent memory is that each day 5-6,000 (yes, THOUSAND) children under the age of 6 die in the world. The United Nations and several NGOs (non-governmental organizations) estimate that of that number appx 75-80% of those deaths are directly attributable to poor or contaminated water or polluted water.

For what it's worth this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WaterAid organization rocks. VERY low overhead, non-political, dedicated group of engineers that identify an area of need, go in and install pumps, teach the villagers how to use and maintain it and then get the hell out of the area. No glossy magazines, no high end fund raisers, no ego driven front men. These folks are the bomb.

I'd urge you to check out Water Aid.

<end>

[EvilDustBooger]

One of the crueler statistics I've read in recent memory is that each day 5-6,000 (yes, THOUSAND) children under the age of 6 die in the world.

That is a very sobering almost fantastical mortality statistic.
But with current added casualties from droughts , famines and genocide it is believable.
I believe the current estimated rate of infection
for Cholera alone is 200,000 new cases yearly with an estimated 10,000 deaths annually from that 1 disease.
That`s for both adults and children.

I`m glad to see that once again, it`s the little guys that are really making a big difference.

....."You watching this Bill Gates?"

[dragonfly Jafe]

....."You watching this Bill Gates?"

Or Angelina, or Oprah?

What could 40 million have done for wateraid?

[diane o'thirst]

Let's crunch the numbers: 16,500,000 divided by 2800 equals almost six thousand of these babies. At a guess, that'd take care of every township in South Africa.

That sixteen million was courtesy of Slick Willy.

[Apollonaris Zeus]

Something like this would be a great form of not only art, but a donation from BM to the world.

I wonder if Larry and the crew could fund this as art or to find sponsors to do so especially when 100s of thousands of dollars are spent to build things like the waffle?

Worth a mention.

AIIZ

[mdmf007]

Every time we get dispatched to shitholes like Darfur, Ethiopia, Niger, et.al. Most deaths are dysentary related. Regardless of other illnesses they have.

Clean water is way better than contaminated water, but even contaminated water is better than nothing. Now all you need is a cheap add on unit that sterilizes water to incorporate into the system.

later all

[diane o'thirst]

I wonder if Larry and the crew could fund this as art or to find sponsors to do so especially when 100s of thousands of dollars are spent to build things like the waffle?

When I heard this story I immediately thought of Burners Without Borders. Something like this is <i>right</i> up their alley.

[gyre]

In this vein, I wanted to mention the Hillary Schools.
When Edmund Hillary asked Sherpas what luxury he could offer them,
they asked for a school.
This is the trust he is involved with.

http://www.himalayantrust.co.uk/index.phtml


This a great photo site.
This how all photos should be done.

http://www.frontrange.ca/Magazine/Nepal ... faces.html


This is the American Himalayan Foundation.

http://www.himalayan-foundation.org/liv ... /education

http://www.himalayan-foundation.org/live/page/projects