by PinayWriter

Created on: November 12, 2008   Last Updated: December 19, 2008

Asian civilization started before everyone else simply because they had something that the other civilizations had, access to water. They used it for their food, for making clay out of mud and water. They were able to harness water in every possible way. Water was the foundation of modern civilization. Explorations made on it led to the world that we know today. Isn't it just a bit ungrateful for us to have squandered so much of its purity?

In the Philippines, we experience extreme weather. It rains almost half of the year. Rivers overflowing with flood water is not uncommon. Urban dwellings swimming in black water is not unusual. Contaminated water cause diseases but there doesn't seem to be a permanent fix to the problems.

There are efforts to provide clean water, of course. The government has been trying to replant along the La Mesa dam, a major source of water in Manila. But there is still a need to look beyond the capital to ensure that people are given a chance to quench their thirst with clean water.

Several communities experienced massive diarrhea and salmonella outbreaks because their local water source turned out to be contaminated. It wasn't until there were enough number of people affected that the local government went out to check if the water was indeed tainted.

This is why corporate involvement is not just good but also very necessary in order to alleviate the world water crisis. They are the income generating facility in a country. They are the ones who pay the taxes that would be large enough to be used for funding better water maintenance.

Quite simply, companies could just be aware of the economic footprint they are making. And if they see that this is leading them into becoming the very corporation that taints water resources, then they should rethink and revitalize their otherwise profitable plans. It is because we can't match money with water. The first won't mean anything if there is no more clean water to buy. So being able to provide for the people who actually buy their products, a chance to be useful to the environment should be on the top of their list.

There are laws that have been passed in all government levels. There are charities that have been started by companies. But what we fail to see sometimes is that the charities are just a fad. It is just a way for them to add heart to their companies.

I just hope they remember that if you swallow gold, you choke.

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