American commercials

American actress Jennifer Connelly in a public service ad for charity: water. The video depicts a scenario when New York City’s taps went dry, and people have to get/use dirty water like millions of Africans.

There are many flaws in the scenario but it’s a PSA so I’ll just leave it there. It’s the big picture that matters.

Founded in 2006, charity: water is a non-profit organisation that provides clean drinking water to people in developing nations. In many (dry) areas, underground water are so deep that people can’t access it with primitive tools. They need machinery to make drilled wells, and that’s what the organisation can help.

Getting the water is just part one, and AFAIK it’s the end of their effort. Underground water pollution is becoming worse, what appears clean may not be harmless; and developing countries usually sucks in controlling pollution. Besides, groundwater is not limitless, it will run dry in a few decades or sooner.

I still salute their effort though, they are going to help some people even if it’s for short-term. Solving water crisis requires monumental effort, and governmental collaboration is essential in many situations.

The root cause to many “shortage” problems are overpopulation and uncontrolled urbanisation. Enforced birth control are in conflict with basic human rights (unfortunately); and hence the best way to do it is through education, which is yet another huge problem in many areas. It’s a bad cycle really.