Saturday, March 19, 2011

"Running Dry"- A look at the Global Water Crisis

Several years ago, a good friend introduced me to a  video called "Running Dry".  There was a scene in the video that showed a woman in a refugee camp walking to a truck and placing her dead child into the back of the truck like a cord of fire wood. The truck was filled with bodies of children.  She turned, and slowly walked away, sadly, and without a backward glance.  The scene depicted the desperation and hopelessness of the woman.  Her child died of starvation and lack of water. It made me cry. It also made me realize that I needed to try to do something to help solve this horrible, yet solvable crisis.  We always hope that H2O for Life is making a difference- a measurable difference- one school at a time.  After recently visiting Kenya and Tanzania, I know this is true.  The funds that YOU are raising at your schools, and the efforts you are putting into raising awareness of the water crisis in your schools and communities is a huge part of the work needed to educate our youth to "Be the Change, Save a Life".  The youth of today, will be the changemakers in our world.  We need to be sure they have the information and tools to do so.

Below is an article written by our friend, Jim Thebaut, the producer of "Running Dry"- and more educational vidoes about water.  Visit his website and view clips of the videos and find out more about what the Chronicles Group is doing.  We do have copies of "Running Dry" available.  It is geared for upper middle school and high school students.  If you wish to have a copy, please email us and we'll send one to you as long as we have them in stock.  Please read the article, and post your comments!

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From the Desk of Jim Thebaut, The Chronicles Group
There is an effort by some Members of Congress to cut and/or stop funding Foreign Assistance programs. This is penny-wise and dollar-foolish because, in reality, the seeds of terrorism evolve from overwhelming poverty and the humanitarian crisis!

Foreign Assistance programs are a vital component of national defense and security assistance activity. It is imperative that Foreign Assistance programs be funded to allow NGOs and other humanitarian missions to uplift lives in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia and avoid the temptations of terrorism. It is critical to implement economic reforms in order to generate a viable societal paradigm shift. People don’t rebel and turn to terrorism because they are deep in poverty but because they are shut out of society and have no hope for the future.

Hope will come when people have access to water, sanitation, health care and education. It will come when there is humanitarian aid for refugees and disaster victims. It will come when entrepreneurs can get micro-loans.

As previously suggested in my February newsletter, let’s usher in a new era which utilizes grassroots organization and social networking tools in order to communicate with Congress and public officials the importance of funding Foreign Assistance which supports economic programs as well as improving social and environmental conditions in developing countries, specifically through the Sen. Paul Simon Water for the World Act 2011. The legislation was introduced this week by U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Bob Corker.

“Access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation is a right that everyone in the world ought to enjoy but too few are able to realize,” said Durbin in a March 18 press release. “Water access is no longer simply a global health and development issue; it is a long-term threat that is increasingly becoming a national security issue. I hope the Senate can pass this legislation before this problem reaches a devastating tipping point.”

Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Jim Thebaut

Chronicles Group

Don't forget to join H2O for Life to Walk for Water on April 16th.  Organize a walk at your school or in your community.  Remember, a small group can make a huge difference.  You may also register your service learning event at ysa.org.  Be counted in the over 1 million youth participating in service on April 16th.
Be the Change, Save a Life.







www.chroniclesgroup.org • www.runningdry.org • donate





















Chronicles Group
800 S Pacific Coast Hwy. #8 #328
Redondo Beach, CA 90277 Email Marketing by

















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From the Desk of Jim Thebaut



There is an effort by some Members of Congress to cut and/or stop funding Foreign Assistance programs. This is penny-wise and dollar-foolish because, in reality, the seeds of terrorism evolve from overwhelming poverty and the humanitarian crisis!



Foreign Assistance programs are a vital component of national defense and security assistance activity. It is imperative that Foreign Assistance programs be funded to allow NGOs and other humanitarian missions to uplift lives in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia and avoid the temptations of terrorism. It is critical to implement economic reforms in order to generate a viable societal paradigm shift. People don’t rebel and turn to terrorism because they are deep in poverty but because they are shut out of society and have no hope for the future.



Hope will come when people have access to water, sanitation, health care and education. It will come when there is humanitarian aid for refugees and disaster victims. It will come when entrepreneurs can get micro-loans.



As previously suggested in my February newsletter, let’s usher in a new era which utilizes grassroots organization and social networking tools in order to communicate with Congress and public officials the importance of funding Foreign Assistance which supports economic programs as well as improving social and environmental conditions in developing countries, specifically through the Sen. Paul Simon Water for the World Act 2011. The legislation was introduced this week by U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Bob Corker.



“Access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation is a right that everyone in the world ought to enjoy but too few are able to realize,” said Durbin in a March 18 press release. “Water access is no longer simply a global health and development issue; it is a long-term threat that is increasingly becoming a national security issue. I hope the Senate can pass this legislation before this problem reaches a devastating tipping point.”



Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”



The following are brief “Running Dry” video clips which provide depth and dimension to this discussion. Please circulate!



“Running Dry” intro

“Confronting the Crisis”

“Beyond the Brink” preview





Jim Thebaut

Chronicles Group







www.chroniclesgroup.org • www.runningdry.org • donate




















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Chronicles Group
800 S Pacific Coast Hwy. #8 #328
Redondo Beach, CA 90277 Email Marketing by

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