Water in Africa

There are nearly a billion people worldwide who lack access to clean water. That's about a seventh of the world's population. Every 20 seconds, a child dies from a water-related disease. 3.6 million people in total die a year from diseases carried in water. The fact is, water and access to clean water are the difference between living and dying, surviving and thriving, for millions of people, especially in Africa. African water contains several dangerous things, like human waste and bacteria, that these people are ingesting.





Obviously, lack of water is a problem in Africa. So, what are we going to do about it? There are several possible solutions. One is installing wells and rain catchment systems in the village for relatively small amounts of money. Another is using a solar panel pump, or more effectively managing the clean water.

In my opinion, we need to do a few things to solve unsanitary water in Africa. First, we need to recognize that this is a serious problem. Second, the water needs to be managed better. Third, the African governments have got to be able to get along for this to work. Finally, there has to be a way to pay for everything. Really, honestly, our government at this point simply can't afford to pay for everything. Of course, it's good to help as much as we are able, but the way things stand now, that wouldn't be nearly enough. Our best solution to the money problem is to find ways to lower the cost so that the African governments can afford to pay for everything. Heartless as it may sound, they really should pay for it. It's their responsibility.\



Sources: How To Beat Africa's Water Crisis, Water Aid, Can Matt Damon Bring Clean Water to Africa?

Should Human Hearts Be Auctioned Off?

Think of everything in America that you can get at no cost. Air? Freedom? How about human hearts?

It's estimated that up to 50,000 people around the world are on the waiting list for heart transplants, yet only 5,000 surgeries are performed per year. The fact is, there aren't enough hearts for everyone. Some people will die because they don't get hearts. How do we choose who will get a heart? Should money be an issue? Ultimately, should the highest bidder get the heart?

This is something that's personal for me. My little cousin was born 10 months ago with a serious condition that required a heart transplant. She is my aunt and uncle's sixth child, so they have a lot of expenses. Their oldest just graduated this year. They have to travel 500 miles to get to the hospital with the baby's primary doctors. Along with all of her medical expenses, there are five other children, travel expenses, along with a college student. I don't know if Aavah would've gotten a heart if it'd simply been auctioned off. And I don't particularly think that would be a nice feeling as a parent, knowing they're selling parts of my dead baby to the highest bidder. I can understand compensation, making the transplantee or the parents pay a fee. But I don't think it's a good idea to sell parts of humans; we wouldn't sell live, whole ones.