Advocacy Project: Water Quality and Sanitation Activity

Purpose:
This online activity will hopefully open up everyone's eyes to two huge issues affecting millions of people all over the world.  I think that it is one thing to read information on this topic and gain some knowledge as well as being able to put yourself in the shoes of those who are suffering from these two issues.  I have broken down this activity into two parts for that very reason.
Background Information/Importance:
Below are links to three different websites where I found a lot of great information on the bill that I have been advocating for as well as general information about poor water quality and sanitary resources.
Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act 2009 Report to Congress
Environmental Health Perspectives 
Institute of Medicine
There are a wide variety of consequences from poor water quality and lack of sanitary resources, but I think that the biggest consequence is that people are falling extremely ill and dying because of these two issues.  This is why I think it is so important that people are made aware of this issue and become supporters of bill # H.R. 2030 .
Instructions:
Below is a crossword puzzle with 9 questions for you all to answer.  The questions all came from information I have previously stated in other Advocacy Project posts.  You can't actually type into the crossword puzzle so I would like you to respond to this post with your answers to each question.
The second part of this online activity is for each of you to reply to this post answering the following question: What do you think it would be like to live without access to clean water and sanitary resources?

Across:

1. People are losing their self ___ because of their lack of sanitary resources.

6. The other main issue that is affecting individuals in developing countries

7. One of the biggest barriers in reducing the amount of people affected by poor water quality and sanitation.

9. The percentage of people who lack access to clean drinking water in the world.

Down:

2. How many countries worldwide are in need of assistance when it comes to water quality and sanitation.

3. One of the main issues affecting individuals living in developing countries?

4. An economic impact of poor water quality and sanitation would be reduced worker _____

5. People are being infected by _____ on a regular basis due to unclean water.

8. The acronym for one of the leading agencies who is helping out with water quality and sanitation problems?

Please note: For some reason my crossword puzzle picture is not showing up completely on the screen, but if you click on the picture it blows it up.  You will need to see the big picture in order to know how long each word is supposed to be.  Sorry for the inconvenience!

Good Luck!

Advocacy Project: Letter to a Public Official

   December 6, 2009

   Congressman David Obey

   United States House

   2314 Rayburn Building

   Washington, DC 20515

Congressman David Obey,

     I am writing to you to vote yes to the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act 2005, Bill # H.R. 2030 .  This bill is seeking to provide 100,000,000 people with first time access to safe drinking water and sanitation on a sustainable basis by 2015 by improving the capacity of the United States Government to fully implement the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act 2005. These two issues alone can affect not only the health of individuals, but also the crops that they grow, and the environment around them. With forty percent of the world’s population lacking access to clean and safe drinking water one can see that this is a serious problem that needs to be addressed.

     I believe that something must be done to help out the millions of people in the world who are negatively affected by poor water quality and lack of sanitary resources.  According to the Environmental Health perspectives , people are becoming sick and even dying because of these two issues, which is not only affecting the individual, but his/her family and community as well.  The economy of the developing countries who have poor water quality and sanitary resources are also being affected.  Money is being spent on treating water related illnesses and diseases, and worker productivity is being lowered due to these illnesses.

     The main people who will greatly benefit if this bill is passed are the poor living in developing countries.  These are the people who are falling ill, these are the people who are dying, these are the people who are losing their crops and jobs because of these two issues.  By bringing clean water to these people and by giving them access to sanitary resources you will give these individuals a better chance at life. 

     From your biography I found that you have done work in the past to help out the environment.  I think it is wonderful that you have made such a commitment by being a powerful presence against anti-environmental riders, helping secure our air, water, and resources.  I can only hope that you will continue to help out by voting yes to bill # H.R. 2030.  By voting yes you will not only be helping out our environment you will be changing the quality of millions of people’s lives all over the world. 

Sincerely,

Hailey Giller

(Contact Information)

Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

Introduction:

The main issue I am focusing on is the lack of clean water and basic sanitary resources provided to people in poor nations.  In a statement that Hillary Clinton  wrote to congress about the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act 2009 , she stated, “that no two issues are more important to human health, economic development, and peace and security than basic sanitation and access to sustainable supplies of water.”  These two issues alone can affect not only the health of individuals but also the crops that they grow, and the environment around them.

The Senator Paul Simon Water of the Poor Act 2005, Bill# H.R. 2030   has proposed to provide 100,000,000 people with first time access to safe drinking water and sanitation on a sustainable basis by 2015 by improving the capacity of the United States Government to fully implement the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act 2005.

 Who is Affected by the Issue?

The individuals who are affected the most by this issue would be the poor living in developing countries.  In the updated Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act report to congress , it was found that one in eight people lack access to clean drinking water, which is equivalent to 40 percent of the world’s population.  Also they found that two out of three people without access to clean water are living on less than two dollars a day making it extremely difficult to afford much of anything.  These people are falling victim to many diseases due to lack of clean drinking water, and are also losing self-dignity because of their poor sanitary conditions. 

So, who gains from 40 percent of the world’s population going without access to clean drinking water?  Many of the officials who are running the developing countries where water access and sanitary resources are a problem.  Fixing these two issues costs money and clearly some officials don't have the money or are not willing to spend the money to fix these two problems.  It has now become a top priority for the United States to take on requiring billions of dollars from the U.S.

 What are the Consequences of the Issue?

The consequences of this issue are far and wide.   I believe that the two biggest consequences are sickness and death.  According the the Environmental Health Perspectives'  people are being infected by diseases on a regular basis due to unclean water.  Diseases such as diarrheal disease , typhoid , polio , Hepatitis A and E, as well as cholera , are all being spread through un safe drinking water.  The other huge consequence, which is directly linked to both inadequate access to clean water and sanitation, is deaths in children.  In the Department of States' report to congress they found that each day children are dying because of undernourishment.  You can imagine that these consequences are not only affecting the individuals themselves, but also their families and society as a whole.  How can a community exist if everyone is getting sick and dying off due to poor water quality and lack of sanitation?

 What is the Economic Impact of the Issue? 

A lack of access to clean water and sanitary resources can also effect the economy.  Think of how much money is being spent on people who are falling ill because of water related diseases.  The amount of people affected by these diseases also effects worker productivity, which then affects the company he/she works for.  Imagine if you are sick.  You probably aren’t going to go into work, and if you do go because you’re family is depending on your income, you probably aren’t going to have as much stamina as you usually do.  On that same note, school attendance will also decrease.  An economic problem that I believe can’t be ignored and directly correlates with water quality and sanitation standards is the growth of the agriculture.  If water is contaminated and then being used on crops, it is safe to say that the agriculture will be negatively effected.

As far as there being economic benefits to this issue I simply can’t find any, and I can’t comprehend how their could even be any.

 What is the Social Impact of the Issue? 

The social costs of this issue are a combination of the personal cost that this issue is having on the individuals directly affected as well as the United States who is spending billions of dollars on creating and implementing strategies to reduce the number of people negatively affected by poor water quality and sanitation. 

The benefits of this issue would be that something is actually being done about it.  Senator Paul Simon made it his duty to take on the international problem of poor water quality and sanitation.  Through his efforts along with many others steps are being actively taken to work toward diminishing this problem.

 What are the Barriers?

According to the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act report 95 countries worldwide are in need of assistance when it comes to water quality and sanitation.  This creates a barrier simply because of how many countries are in need of help.  So, if we want to help all of those countries another barrier is then created.  The United States would need to come up with a lot of money to help all 95 countries, luckily many U.S. agencies and departments contribute to international water and sanitation efforts along with many others making it possible to help those countries in need.

 What are the Resources? 

There are a variety of resources that need to be used in order to take on the challenge of greatly reducing the number of people negatively affected by poor water quality and sanitation.  First and foremost the United States must work with each country individually to take on that countries specific water and sanitary problems.  Many organizations and agencies need to come together to have the funds to help these countries in need.  Connections need to made between the U.S. Government and companies who have the means and access to new technology that could improve the water quality and sanitation of these countries. 

Being the United States is taking on this challenge access to these resources without a doubt is possible through networking and advocating for these changes.

 What is the History of this Issue?

According to the Environmental History of Water, water quality and sanitation issues have always been around.  As countries have developed over the years some have overcome big issues with water quality and sanitation while others have continued to struggle.  In the past efforts have been made to improve water quality and sanitation but it seems as if enough is never done.  The Senator Paul Simon Act has been around since 2005 and changes have been continually made to make it a better system.  The bottom line is that there is always going to be changes that need to be made which is why it is important that people are made aware of this issue.  The more people who know about this problem, the more chances there are that the United States’ efforts will be successful. 

 Allies and Opponents:

There are many organizations, departments, and agencies out there that are helping out with this issue.  The following are just some of those who support this cause: The U. S. Agency for International Development , the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Peace corps , The U.S. Combatant Commands, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the International Emergency and Refugee Health Branch , the Multilateral Development Banks , and the Environmental Protection Agency.  

People who would oppose this issue would be those who do not want to spend their money for such a cause, people who believe that the United States should be spending their money helping out the U.S. and not others, leaders of other countries who do not want the aid of the United States, and I am sure that there are representatives from the U.S. who oppose of working on this issue as well.  It was hard to find information that specifically stated people who would be against this issue.

My Recommendation:

At the very beginning of my research I read a quote that President Obama had said and I think it pretty much sums what I believe should be done about this issue.  In the U.S. Department of States' report to congress they used a quote President Obama said during his inaugural speech, and it goes as follows,  “To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.” I can think of no better way to honor the legacy of Senator Paul Simon, who did so much for so many, than to commit ourselves to achieving this vision and the ideals of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act.”


Please note that if information was not directly linked within the text the header to that paragraph contains a link to where I got my information.

Advocacy Project: Healthy People/THOMAS

My Healthy People 2010 Goal:
I wasn't really sure what type of objective I was looking for when I started working on this advocacy project, but the moment that I found 8-29 I knew that I wanted to focus on this objective.  The 8-29 objective reads:  To reduce the global burden of disease due to poor water quality, sanitation, and personal and domestic hygiene.   I was really moved by the documentary we watched on water rights, which is why this objective stuck out to me.  I believe that everyone should have access to clean water at very low cost, should have sanitary standards where they live, and resources available to them for sanitary products, and on that same note personal and domestic hygiene goes hand in hand with access to good water, and sanitary resources.  
From the information off of the objectives and sub-objectives , I found that 8-29 has had no change in objective.  Great improvements have been made as you can see from the target figure below.  The following information on objective 8-29 was found from the World Health Report 2003, World Health Organization.  

	Target: 2,135,000 deaths. Baseline: 2,668,200 deaths worldwide were attributable to these factors in 1990. Target setting method: 20 percent improvement. Data source: World Health Report 2003, World Health Organization.

What's Happening:

161% - Met target 

Out of Healthy People 2010 under the Environmental Health category , nine objectives and sub-objectives either met or exceeded their targets.  8-29 (my goal) was one of those nine!  This is great but I believe that progress needs to continually happen.  I have chosen goal 8-29 because I want to dig a little deeper into this goal, and look into what is happening in our nation when it comes to disease due to poor water quality, sanitation, and personal and domestic hygiene. 

Related THOMAS Bill:

H.R. 2030 

Title: To provide 100,000,000 people with first-time access to safe drinking water and sanitation on a sustainable basis by 2015 by improving the capacity of the United States Government to fully implement the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act 2005.

Sponsor: Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] (introduced 4/22/2009) Cosponsors (69)

Related Bills: S.624

Latest Major Action: 4/22/2009 Referred to House Committee.  Status: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Recommendation: Vote_____(indicate Yes or No) for H.R. 2030.

My Political Representative: Congressman David Obey.

Advocacy Project: My Political Representatives

Below are my political representatives and their contact information.

President of the United States:

Barack Obama
Democratic Party
The White House Website
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500
Switchboard: (202)-456-1414







Congress Members:
Senate: Senator Russ Feingold
He has six different offices, I chose his Washington, DC contact information.
506 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202)-224-5323
Senator Russ Feingold's Website

Senator Herb Kohl
He too has six different offices, so I chose his DC contact information as well.
330 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202)-224-5653
Senator Herb Kohl's Website


House: U.S. Representative David Obey
2314 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202)-225-3365
            OR
1401 Tower Avenue, Suite 307
Superior, WI 54880
(715)-398-4426
U.S. Representative David Obey's Website


Governor of Wisconsin:

Jim Doyle
115 East State Capitol
Madison, WI 53702
(608)-266-1212
Governor Jim Doyle's Website










State Legislators:

Senate: Senator Sheila Harsdorf
Room 19 South
State Capitol
P.O. Box 7882
Madison, WI 53707
(608)-266-7745
Sen.Harsdorf@legis.wisconsin.gov
Senator Sheila Harsdorf's Website










House: State Assembly Representative Ann Hraychuck
Democratic Party
Room 6 North
State Capitol
P.O. Box 8952
Madison, WI 53708
(608)-267-2365
Rep.Hraychuck@legis.wisconsin.gov
Representative Ann Hraychuck's Website



Polk County Board President:

Bryan Beseler

330 Peterson Drive

Dresser, WI 54009

Bryan.Beseler@co.polk.wi.us

(715)-485-9237

Polk County's Board Website

Mayor of Luck, Wisconsin:
Nancy Smith
Luck is extremely small, so we don't have a website for our mayor.

Welcome to Hailey's Healthy Environment!

Hello, my name is Hailey Giller and I am a Community Health Education major from Luck, Wisconsin.  My blog this semester is going to be all about our ever changing environment and things that WE should be doing to keep the environment clean and safe.  Over the course of the semester I also want to learn as much as a I can about different health options out there that can help out our environment and pass on all of that information to anyone who wants to learn via my blog.

There are 6 possible types of posts on my blog. They include:

1. Advocacy Project
2. Eye Openers
3. Reflections
   
4. Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change
5. Read 'n' Seed
6. Share and Voice

If you notice at the bottom of this post, the categories will be listed as labels. This post has been labeled with all six kinds of posts.  All post titles from now on will begin with one of the categories above.

The members of my web group are:

1. Hailey @ Hailey's Healthy Environment
   
2. Jordanne @ Jordanne's Jungle
   
3. Maggie @ Maggie's Environmental Lifestyle
4. Karly @ Karly's Karing Habitat

You can subscribe to my blog by clicking the subscribe gadget in the gadget column. You can also follow my blog by clicking "Follow this Blog" in the gadget column. I am subscribed to all the blogs in my blog list gadget. You can see my complete profile and all the blogs I am following by clicking on "See Complete Profile."

Thanks for visiting my blog, this should be an exciting semester!

Hailey@Hailey's Healthy Enrvironment

Blogged for the Welcome Linky Party hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy