Boiling water for drinking

[oldtimer]

Twenty five or so years ago, my mother in law used to work for the International Planned Parenthood Federation dubbing films on contraception into local languages. Guess what? The funding was cut off to save money. Typical politicians' short term thinking.

Humpback, ask your self why the developed world does not have the same problem. Oxfam is committed to helping women to have control over their own bodies.
Unfortunately complex problems seldom have simple solutions. Google Oxfam and you can read all about it.

 

[xylaria]

Why do we not hear about birth control in these third world countries coupled with aid whilst attending to current problems. It seems to me the large families in drought/famine areas are a big part of the problem. (for the avoidance of any doubt here I am not talking about eugenics and would welcome birth control world wide).
Over population is the elephant in the room and I'm not sure Oxfam (or the other charities I know of) for example, addresses this global problem.
I know some one will say they have large families to have security in old age, but the number of infant deaths is to me Victorian. Discuss.

There is not too many poor, the idea there isnt enough natural resources to go around a large global population hence why there are those without food is false. The proof is that the areas where there is the largest population density are the areas with least amount hunger and best access to clean water. Hunger in the world is not because there is many poor, because there are too many rich. The world is running out of oil to feed the rich, and it will be the meek that stand inherat as the poorest are the best equipt to deal with a oiless world.

 

[Humpback]

@ Oldtimer I have looked at Oxfam's site's slick presentation for a global business. If aid were qualified to include birth control whilst also assisting the present problems this complex problem could be addressed in my view in a generation or two, rather than perpetuating the charity culture. That is, aid will be required indefinately in some Third world countries.
@ xylaria There are too many poor. There were in this country 2 centuries and more ago with families of 6 plus also common. We now have a welfare system and some still choose to have very large families but that is not the norm. I don't buy into the mantra its the rich what did it. Nor do I agree entirely with you slanted assertion the "oil is to feed the rich". The 'rich world' should assist the 'poor world' but if population growth worldwide is not addressed at the same time we are all in for trouble oil or no oil. I dont understand "stand inherat".
Just my two pennies worth.

 

[rik_uk3]

Calm down calm down, we are here talking about giving us happy campers safe drinking water and not going off into some social/political/economic diatribe and finger pointing contest for crying out loud.

 

[Zingmo]

I think this thread is rapidly becoming political. I get annoyed when people say "something should be done". Please, if you are concerned about the worlds poor, don't go on about it here; just get on and do something. At the very least donate something to one of the myriad fantastic charities that are out there doing something.

Z

 

[maddave]

People.... I am keeping an eye on this thread and must ask that we please keep on topic. If this cannot be accomplished I may be forced to close the thread.

A copy of the forum rules is available in the attached link and they are quite clear. Thank you for your cooperation

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45

 

[oldtimer]

My apologies for my part in the straying away from the original thread topic, but I do have a pesonal commitment to Oxfam and find it hard not to support it when its work is misunderstood.

The topic of water purification is an important and interest one and there is an enormous difference between the need and practice of bushcrafting and large scale and long-term needs are not the same. I found the answers to the OP very interesting, but was saddened by the lack of understanding of the global problem. However, I agree that this is not the right forum for this debate.

 

[dp0001]

Don't want to sound patronising, but Water aid and Oxfam (with whom I have to declare and interest) wil have thought of more options than you or I ever will. They have access to the finest minds in the field for dealing with the problems of supplying clean water whether in the short term, emergency setting, or for the long term including education programmes.

Our knowledge as bushcrafters about how to satisfy our own personal need cannot necessarily be extrapolated to a a scenario such as, for example, a sudden influx of refugees into a small community with limited resources.

The charities need our money to provide both short and long-term solutions. Believe me, they have mechanisms to ensure that our money is well spent.

Please don't take offense but I think there is a flaw in what you say. You imply that only the 'finest minds' in large organizationsare able to solve complex problems.

Most life-changing innovation is generated by small groups or even individuals rather than large organizations. Perhaps the most appropriate example here is the Baygen clockwork radio. Nothing too complex, no new science or discoveries. And the innovations happen because someone starts asking questions and getting to the root of a problem. The useful artefacts, solar stills, efficient clay ovens and the like are nearly useless without the large organizations who can champion technologies, deal with education, distribution, persuasion of governments and the like.

But large organizations are nearly useless without fresh thinking, new technologies & outside ideas. I'm sure Oxfam doesn't go around telling the third world it knows better - or perhaps it does...

 

[oldtimer]

I didn't really want to continue contributing to this thread, feeling guilty for having helped to hi-jack it, but.....

Quote "Most life-changing innovation is generated by small groups or even individuals rather than large organizations. Perhaps the most appropriate example here is the Baygen clockwork radio. Nothing too complex, no new science or discoveries. And the innovations happen because someone starts asking questions and getting to the root of a problem. The useful artefacts, solar stills, efficient clay ovens and the like are nearly useless without the large organizations who can champion technologies, deal with education, distribution, persuasion of governments and the like."

Can't disagree with this. Oxfam is an international NGO which has the size and organisational expertise to draw on ideas from people ranging from those who have made academic studies in technologies those who know can suggest potential solutions though intimate first-hand experience of living with the problems. I certainly didn't intend to suggest that the ideas only come from a small bunch of people based in Oxford. Ideas can come from anywhere but putting them into practice needs organisation and the deployment of resources: this usually requires money. I wonder how many great ideas like your example of the clockwork radio have fallen by the way-side in the past through lack of access to money or organisation.