News24 | WHO | Preventing Pollution of Drinking Water Sources

A little girl carrying a water pitcher on her head dips the large vase-shaped container into a local nearby river. Murky light brown liquid fills the container as she uses her free hand to take out large plastics and trash. Although she knew that the water was not completely clean she knew there were no other options to provide her family with water, a basic necessity. Defeated she makes the long journey back home. 

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human activities. Water bodies include for example lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers, and groundwater. Water pollution results when contaminants are introduced into the natural environment. These situations propose serious health threats. 

October 14th, 2019 | The World Health Organization (WHO)  committee is working hard for resolutions to this water crisis. During the meeting, the main goal focuses on programs that can be used to help developing countries who are in the biggest need of clean water and establishing preventative plans.

The United States along with nine other countries were quick to act on a solution they call the “Big Brother”.  Spearheaded by the United States, this plan strives to improve access to clean water through both privatized and non-privatized efforts through the funding of Nonprofit Organizations and other private sectors.  “Big Brother” is a three-step initiative that focuses on Identification, education to advise water sanitation and pollution guidelines, and the formation of a non-biased international coalition. 

The ten countries in main support of the “Big Brother” program include the United States of America, Brazil, Kuwait, Panama, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bolivia, Canada, Congo, and South Korea. During their planing, they were able to finalize and address any outliers within their plan. 

Although having a big brother can be comforting when it comes to familial relations, the negative connotation that the phrase ‘Big Brother’ has with the United States yields caution considering its history with secretive acts. The question that tends to arise about this policy is with the implement of “Big Brother”, will the flood gates open to other uninvited programs and forced surveillance?  

Even though this plan is promising in its intentions, the risk of eventual corruption and developing countries being taken advantage of looms too high for other countries to agree. Only time will tell if “Big Brother” is the dominating program that will solve the water crisis.   

HEADER: Sagdejev, Ildar. “Dirty Water Spilling from a Bottle.jpg.” Accessed October 14, 2019. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2008-09-20_Dirty_water_spilling_from_a_bottle.jpg