"We've Hit A River!"
Water shot out, high into the air. The people danced & jumped for joy as they watched the water gush out of the ground and the drilling rig foreman announced,
Dean Galyen, Zimbabwe missionary & local missions moderator, enjoyed pumping the well, while Steve filled the container & gave it to Constance to drink. Then everyone in the church wanted to try pumping and drinking the clean water. From the place that was marked near the Overspill church with broken bricks, there is now a well that is pumping water from the underground “RIVER” and the water is “Spilling Over” into the community. YES, BGMC and the Overspill Worship Centre are making a difference in Zimbabwe!!
Recycler Transforms Trash to Liquid Treasure
Raheem Huseinbhai, a high school sophomore, spent nine months collecting bottles, aluminum cans and plastics for a special cause. Multiple hours were invested each week collecting and sorting everything to be taken to a local recycling center for cash payments.
Raheem's goal was to direct his earnings from his recycling efforts toward a viable water project in Africa. Supported by his mother's personal commitment to match whatever amount he could raise, Raheem called on four gyms, several stores and family friends for the full nine-month period. He circulated a letter to prospective clients explaining his purpose; "We can convert one person's trash to another person's hope!"
Raheem was able to contribute $1,650 toward his water project in Africa. He chose The Africa Oasis Project to carry out his wishes. "This great young man's gift will be used to provide a much-needed well in Tanzania," states Ron Hanson, AOP representative.
Prisoners Partner for Clean Water in Africa
Dr. Sam Huddleston, Assemblies of God leader in Northern California/Nevada, recently accepted a speaking invitation at the infamous Soledad Prison. Three chapel services offered Huddleston opportunities to talk about the serious water needs he saw first hand while visiting in Africa. Following his visit to Soledad a check was received for The Africa Oasis Project. A total of $1,000.00 was received in the offerings collected during chapel services.
Rev. Judge Lindsey, a chaplain at Soledad Prison, explained that the residents there earn between $25 and $40 per month. These funds are used to provide for their personal needs. The inmates’ chapel offering exhibited true sacrificial giving from their meager earnings to bring hope to Africa.
AHM NewsSource-2008
Water, Water, Every Where, Nor Any Drop to Drink
Renown words from the Rime of the Ancient Mariner ( Samuel Taylor Coleridge, English Poet) sound somewhat prophetic related to the new millennium and this era, sometimes referred to as a thirsty century.
The world’s oceans contain 97% of Earth’s water resources – salty. Fresh water accounts for only 3% of available water. Some estimates have two-thirds of that 3% in the earth’s icecaps and glaciers. With less than 1% of all the Earth’s water available for humans, the anticipated increase in human need for water over the next few years is foreboding.
Already an estimated 20% of the world’s population does not have access to safe potable water. A full 50% of Earth’s people lack safe sanitation. While attention levels are rising about this critical issue, more needs to be done, at every level of society, to avert a continually increasing tragedy of disease and death.
Effective interventions and impacting modifications abound. A critical issue is that of possessing the will to act.
AHM NewsSource-2008
River Blindness Impacts Africa
Two of the looming causes of blindness impact Africa heavily; River Blindness (Onchocerciasis) and Trachoma. (Read about Trachoma in West Africa.)
River Blindness impacts approximately 18 million persons worldwide. A startling 99% of River Blindness cases occur in Africa. Heavily hit are the regions of West and Central Africa. Nigeria, with about 20% of sub-Saharan Africa's people, is especially hard hit by Oncho. Children often lose out on their education due to needs to care for blind or visually-impaired adult family members. Farmers tend to avoid those areas near water sources known to harbor the flies - even though these areas close to rivers are normally the more fertile, productive soils. Thus food production suffers.
The disease is carried by the bites of small black flies that breed in rapidly flowing rivers and streams. The Oncho-causing parasite enters through the flies' bites. It leads to irreversible blindness and other health issues if untreated.
Concerns are rising that a treatment resistant strain of the parasite is emerging which does not respond to the typically effective medication. Should this prove to be true, the potential for a future problem of even more significant proportions would emerge. Currently it is estimated that 125 million persons - beyond those already infected - are susceptible to infection.
AHM NewsSource-2008
Water Issues Drive Conflicts
According to the United Nations News Centre, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon recently spoke seriously about his view that water shortages actually drive conflicts around the world.
In early February, 2008, the Secretary General is said to have indicated his view that a number of current conflicts around the world are being impelled by water shortages and similar issues. He was speaking to the UN General Assembly in an informal session.
Mr. Ban's remarks echo what he said addressing the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, "...increasingly, fights are erupting over such basic human needs as water and arable land."
The Secretary General's comments seem to support the position that the world's water crisis is increasing in severity, with long term negative impact potential on the world economy and well-being issues for mankind.
AHM NewsSource-2008
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