Matthew S. Hall
History of I.D.
11-9-2008 Making a Difference

Too many people think that they (one person) can’t make a difference! Dr. Bruce Becker told us a great little story about a little boy throwing starfish that had been washed up onto the beach back into the ocean. The beach was covered with starfish and the boy would throw one back in the water every other step or so. Then an old man approaches the boy asking what he’s doing. And asked the boy if he really thought it would make any difference. Then the boy held up a starfish and said “It matters to this one!” I have to admit- I got a lump in my throat with that reply.
The class discussion was to inform us of the problems with providing adequate humanitarian relief after major disasters, war, civil unrest and famine. Internally displaced people (IDP’s) flee from area’s of conflict to find minimal to no shelter, clean water, food or sanitary means of waste control. They run with their children and only what they can carry to provide for shelter and food implements. Confined to heavily over populated groups with only the privacy of blanket or plastic bag made walls held up by bamboo sticks. The local water supply could be contaminated with anything from human and or animal waste from up-stream or other toxins. The containers used to transport water consist of any sort of product capable of carrying the water. Often these are reused oil, gas or detergent jugs which they have found. Food is extremely limited to the barren environment and what little is brought by the refugees. And bodily waste facilities are stricken with disease because they aren’t much more than a hole in the ground. These of course fill rapidly and overflow and without cover, the stench spews around the area attracting flies which spread the fecal bacteria’s about the community and food.
To help with the contaminated water situation there already are some different products out there which could be used. One organization- Potters for Peace- Ron Rivera, a sociologist and potter redesigned and develops the ceramic water filtering containers which utilize the filtration of the ceramic with anti-bacteriological qualities of colloidal silver to cleanse the water. Ron redesigned the filter to standardize mass production in sixteen small facilities in fourteen countries. The original design Ceramic Water Filter came from Dr. Fernando Mazareigos, a Guatemalan chemist.
Another method to help assist in providing safe drinking water could be the “LifeStraw”. The LifeStraw is a personal, hand held portable water-purification devise clamed to turn any water into drinkable water. It has been proven to be effective against many diseases like cholera, dysentery , diarrhea and typhoid. LifeStraw was designed by Torben Vestergaard Frandsen and is manufactured by Vestergaard Frandsen. If we could have this devise distributed to the IDP’s along with the ceramic water filtering containers I believe it would help to stop the spread of water-born illnesses. The people whom go to collect the water for the community could quench their thirst once they arrive at the waters location with their LifeStraw then bring large quantities of water back to be used with the Ceramic water filtering containers. Followed with individuals using the LifeStraws to drink the water they dispense providing two methods of filtration.