Watering Our Humanity

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Watering our Humanity  9/29/12

            A recent Charlie Rose program included Muhtar Kent, CEO of Coca Cola, and Dean Kamen, founder of DEKA Research & Development Corp.  They have teamed up to help provide clean water to African communities.  Big deal?  Well, yeah, it’s a big deal.  One startling statistic: a child dies every few seconds because of lack of clean water.  Kamen and Kent have come up with a service module based on a standard shipping container (widely available) fitted with a water purification module, and a communications center.  They also plan to deploy these to locations in Asia and parts of India and Latin America.  The purification device is simple.  Stick an input hose into the contaminated water you have.  Pour potable water from the output hose. 

Kent suggests that the big societal issues can only be solved by what he calls “the golden triangle” of government working with business working with civil society.  This raises questions.  What do we think the big issues are?  How can business help?  What should our government be doing?

While inequality and instability are surely 21^st century mega-concerns, the gorilla in the room is unsustainability, and he needs water.  Clean water for everyone takes a step toward equality and stability based on sustainable technology.  Kudos too, to Matt Damon and Gary White, and water.org. for making a difference.      

            Around here, we are BIG fans of Charlie Rose, and we are getting a glimpse of the work of some real live 21^st century heroes.