Indoor Plumbing and Public Sanitation in Developing Countries Essay Example for Free

Indoor Plumbing and Public Sanitation in Developing Countries Essay The porcelain throne, the pot, the pooper, the potty, the latrine, the toilet. That is something we don’t give much thought to, unless something is wrong with it. What about the shower or the sink? How often to do you go to your sink to get a glass of water and wonder â€Å"Am I drinking someone’s poo? Will it be clean today or will I get sick? † I know for myself, I rarely give this any thought at all and I can honestly say that I have never worried that my drinking water would be contaminated by feces. However, for many around the world, this is a constant concern. Many today either don’t have access to clean water or don’t have access to very much water at all. They openly defecate, as well as drink, cook, and bathe in contaminated water. This causes several life threatening diseases and illnesses. I will discuss the water and sanitation issues in under developed countries, as well as what is being done to improve these situations. Early one December morning in Boise Idaho, I woke up to an especially cold day. I tiredly scuffled myself to my bathroom, went pee and when I went to flush my toilet, nothing happened. Still slightly asleep and confused, I tried a couple more times to get it to flush. Still nothing happened. Frustrated, I opened my tank and found that there was no water in it at all. I thought that that was strange, so I checked my faucet. I turned the handle and no water came out, I quickly checked my shower and kitchen sink next. I had no water at all. Realizing that I had to work in a few hours and I had no way to shower, brush my teeth or clean up in any way, I became quite irate. I called my management company and apparently pipes had frozen in most of their properties. After this experience I started thinking about my reaction and how there are countries that don’t have access to clean water ever. Though I think that the reaction that I had would have been the same for any person living in the U. S. , I don’t know if it was as big of a deal as it felt like in the moment. I didn’t die from not having water for one day, I wasn’t forced to defecate in my front lawn or drink from a sewer. I didn’t get sick and I didn’t even have to go the entire day without a shower. In fact, I didn’t have to go even a couple of hours without access to water. We, in America, are so used to having constant access to clean water and indoor plumbing that if we have to go an hour without it, it’s as though our entire world is crashing down. We rarely give thought to those in underdeveloped countries that lack access to clean water at all. There are approximately 7 billion people living on earth today. There are about 2. 6 billion people today that don’t have a toilet or access to one (Yamaguchi). That is about 40% of the world’s population! That is a huge number of people without toilets. Here in America, there is not a single home that does not have a toilet. Even the homeless have constant access to restroom facilities and clean water. I had a conversation with a friend of mine that works with the homeless on a daily basis to see what the situation was like for the homeless in America in regards to restroom access and sanitation. I asked him if any of the homeless people that he worked with were ever forced to openly defecate or go without a shower. He informed that the only ones that did that were never forced to, but they did it by choice. He also told me that many that are homeless are on Medicaid, so if they get sick they can just go to the doctor. This is quite different from developing countries, where people die all the time from not being able to afford medical care. Developing countries not only lack affordable medical care but they have very limited ability to prevent the spread of illness, such as those caused by exposure to fecal matter (Yamaguchi). However, in America we have sewage systems and plants that filter and treat our sewer water. In Los Angeles there is the Hyperion sewage plant that processes enough fecal matter to fill three Rose Bowl Stadiums every day (Yamaguchi). That is just in Los Angeles, what about the rest of the U.  S.? It is mind boggling to think about how much is processed. Now let’s look at India, a country that has significantly grown economically, however is still severely lacking proper sanitation systems. According to UNICEF, about 600 million people in India are without access to a toilet (â€Å"World Toilet Day 2012†). That is more than half the population of India. Instead of using a toilet, they openly defecate wherever they can. Many use the Yamuna River (Yamaguchi), the largest river in the Ganges of Northern India. The result has been a severely contaminated water source. The river has literally turned black and bubbles from the methane gases. The shores are not only polluted with fecal matter but trash as well and yet still the people are using the water from the river (Yamaguchi). I think many American’s reaction to this would be â€Å"Gross† or we might generalize and think that Indians are just unsanitary people. Is that really the case, though? The people living in underdeveloped countries are rarely living in unsanitary conditions by choice. Many are ignorant to proper sanitation practices and/or are living in conditions where they have no access to clean water. In the urban slums of New Delhi, people are defecating anywhere they can; in the middle of the streets, next to rail road tracks, or just feet from where they eat, drink and sleep. The water they are using to cook, drink, and bathe with is water from a sewer (Yamaguchi). About 1000 children die every day from diarrhea (Bajait, Thawani). This lack of proper sanitation systems is exposing these children and adults to fecal matter on a daily basis, which is causing diseases like Typhoid, Cholera and other severe illnesses linked with diarrhea. Is this the fault of the individual or the fault of their governments? In my opinion, both are at fault. Though developing countries have very little access to informational services, I do believe that it falls in the hands of the individual to get informed and I believe that it is the responsibility of the government to provide the services required to inform its people on proper sanitation, as well as provide a clean environment to live in via sanitation systems. This lack of toilets, which results in a lack of clean water, is obviously a very big problem. So what is being done about it? In 2001 Jack Sim founded the World Toilet Organization. This organization is dedicated to improving the world’s toilet and sanitation situation. They make toilets that are affordable for those living in impoverished conditions. Jack Sim also works with governments of developing countries and small organizations to help provide toilets to those in need. One of those small organizations is run by Bapak Sumadi in Indonesia. Sumadi is a major leader in Indonesia in providing the public with toilets and teaching the importance of public sanitation. Together their goal is to end open defecation (Yamaguchi). Though the changes and effects are small, they are not insignificant. The conditions that these people are forced to live in, is truly a crisis. Thousands die every day from not having proper sanitation systems. The invention of the toilet and sewage systems has not only given us a way to get rid of our feces, but it has provided us with sanitary conditions which keeps our water clean and reduces the chances of contracting diseases. No matter who you are or where you live, everyone deserves to have access to a toilet and clean water. The question now is; what more can be done? Should the government help provide better access to toilets and sanitation systems? What about other countries? Do we hold any responsibility in helping these developing countries? In my opinion, yes we do. One scholarly journal, in reference to David Hemson, stated â€Å"†¦ regular water supply to the rural poor is both a constitutional requirement and a social necessity†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Phaswana-Mafuya 298). I think it is imperative that we learn to help one another, so that we can grow together rather than grow apart. I know the next time that I use the restroom, take a bath, or even just get a glass of water; I will be grateful for all that I have and that I don’t have to worry about what I am drinking or bathing in. What about you?

Essay --

Describe the future As the world grows so do our challenges. Not only are our problems growing in number but they are also growing in complexity. There is barely a day that goes by when I don't hear about some new problem that will soon endanger us all. While some of these problems such as El Nino, earthquakes, and other natural disasters cannot be stopped there are other threats such as the extension of racial abhorrence, mounting risk of disease spread, and the increasing levels of civil agitation all over the world, which endanger numerous lives everyday. Most of the future's challenges will only be made possible if all people, regardless of race, color, or nationality, attempt to work together for a stronger world. There are numerous ways in which I believe that we can assist society meet this future challenge of coming together as a united world. To make the people of the world combine would barely take time in persuading people of the world that we are all in quest of the sam e fundamental goals. Many suffer problems on a much less grandiose scale. In spite of the fact that th... Essay -- Describe the future As the world grows so do our challenges. Not only are our problems growing in number but they are also growing in complexity. There is barely a day that goes by when I don't hear about some new problem that will soon endanger us all. While some of these problems such as El Nino, earthquakes, and other natural disasters cannot be stopped there are other threats such as the extension of racial abhorrence, mounting risk of disease spread, and the increasing levels of civil agitation all over the world, which endanger numerous lives everyday. Most of the future's challenges will only be made possible if all people, regardless of race, color, or nationality, attempt to work together for a stronger world. There are numerous ways in which I believe that we can assist society meet this future challenge of coming together as a united world. To make the people of the world combine would barely take time in persuading people of the world that we are all in quest of the sam e fundamental goals. Many suffer problems on a much less grandiose scale. In spite of the fact that th...

Passion for excellence

I believe excellence is the key leading to success. More than ever, we are nonstop improving ourselves in order not to be left behind. However, each of us has deferent goals and formulas to achieve our goals. To me, I have a strong belief in the knowledge I have gained. It Increases considerably the chance of my success. On top of that Is the passion I put Into everything I do. Knowledge determines who we are In society. We all have at least once asking ourselves that why we have to go to school. Most of the time, the answer Is because our parents asked us to.Only up till now, I believe they were totally right. Primary school taught me the very first handwriting, which now people use to Judge how I am. High school explained almost all questions that people around me could only give vague answers. Moreover, now I am gradually making my dream come true in university. I cannot build my knowledge today without experiences in life. I used to be always afraid of failure. Unfortunately, the more I am scared of it, the more likely it will occur. That mistake is probably the biggest shame I have ever had. My radiation could only be a disaster unless my teacher appeared.However, it was also a turning point in my life. That moment gave me the lesson that success does not only include training but also through challenges. Nowadays, people tend to give up on their goals too easily, which then leads to an immediate failure. The reason for this is because of the lack of passion. Donald Trump, a well-known successful billionaire, used to advice the new generation to find their passion and love what they do. His achievement is the best evidence for this secrete component of success. The passion we hold to each goal helps and substantially overcomes the discouragement in front of any loss.Once we understand, every target is achievable. In conclusion, with knowledge and passion, nothing Is impossible. When we prepare ourselves readily, I believe there is no challenge can stop us from reaching the highest possible achievement. A quote I always tell myself, â€Å"follow the excellence, success will chase me†. P. s: I am looking forward to receiving feedback for my essay, despite of the final result. Thank for your time Passion for excellence By unhyphenated 1 ACH of us has different goals and formulas to achieve our goals.To me, I have a strong belief in the knowledge I have gained. It increases considerably the chance of my success. On top of that is the passion I put into everything I do. Knowledge determines who we are in society. We all have at least once asking ourselves that why we have to go to school. Most of the time, the answer is because be always afraid of failure. Unfortunately, the more I am scared of it, the more likely it In conclusion, with knowledge and passion, nothing is impossible. When we prepare result. Thank you for your time.

Should Vaccines Be Required By Law - 1670 Words

Should Vaccines be Required by Law? Introduction The Center for Disease Control estimated that 732,000 American children have been saved by vaccines in the last ten years. Vaccines should be required by law so that we can protect ourselves by building our immunity to preventable illnesses, in an easy, quick, and inexpensive fashion, helping stop major epidemics, and in conclusion, save lives. Body Con 1 - Vaccines weaken a person s immune system, and can in cases make someone ill. Vaccines are sometimes unreasonable because our immune system can defend itself, and at time can make things worse. Another problem with vaccines is that majority of the time a child s immune systems can deal with most infections naturally (Vaccines†¦show more content†¦There were also similar cases in Japan and Sweden (Turkington and Ashby). Experts came to the conclusion that the lack of vaccines brought back pertussis in all three cases (Turkington and Ashby). We don t notice the effects of vaccines because many of the illnesses they prevent are now rare, with their effects now forgotten (Kwok). A vaccine is a mix of potentially infectious agents, or some noninfectious part, given to build up a resistance (Stratton). There are four main groups of vaccines: those containing living infectious organisms, those containing infectious agents killed by physical or chemical means, those containing living organisms, and ones containing parts of microorganisms (Stratton). The vaccinated person s immune system then learns to recognize the bacteria as a threat and develops defenses against that specific bacteria so when an individual is exposed to the live version of the bacteria, his or her body is prepared to defend itself. (â€Å"New Vaccines may be cheaper, work better.†) Con 2 - Complications to the vaccines, and the possible cause of illness or reactions can be risky. Vaccinations are not without controversy. 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