One of the final projects for SJSU’s Photo 121 class (studio lighting) is Editorial. The idea is to pick a topic that a side has to be chosen on. It can range from human trafficking to mandatory drug testing. The clause with this project was that we were also required to include a short research paper to explain our views and back it up with facts. Having been to Africa and seen the effects of lacking drinking water, I immediately knew what I would photograph. The shoot was inspired by Charity Water with a simplistic and clean layout.
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In the United States of America we take for granted having clean drinking water. We are able to access it readily from our kitchen sink, refrigerator door or water bottles that we purchase easily and regularly. Outside of our homes one in eight do not have access to safe, cleaning drinking water, almost a billion people on Earth.
Over Thanksgiving weekend the city of Portland Oregon reached it’s own water epidemic, traces of e-coli were found in the water supply. Immediately water was no longer safe to drink. Water fountains were shut down and Brita water filters were put on hold. However, even this crisis pales in comparison to the realities of worldwide water issues.
The earth is made up of 70% water with 97% of the 70% being saltwater. That means only 3% of the worlds supply of water is available to drink for the six billion people on this planet. Diseases caused by unsafe drinking water and inadequate sanitation is currently the most serious public health threat, killing two to five million people. 85% of all diseases and deaths are from lack of sanitation and clean water. To make matters worse, countries that have limited access to clean water have poorer education, economic development, gender equality and nutrition. Our water epidemic is 100% preventable.
To learn how you can help visit Charity Water (http://www.charitywater.org)
