March 22, 2013 is World Water Day. Julian Omidi discusses the awareness that is provided through the day and what cooperation can do to help provide water to those in need.

The Unied Nations is using World Water Day 2013 to highlight water cooperation. With water being one of the most basic and essential human needs, access for all of the people of the world to clean water is crucial in helping to eliminate poverty and improve health.

Lack of access to water can be an issue that directly correlates to poverty, but it can also be a purely geographic issue with uneven distribution of clean, fresh water through various areas of the world, making cooperation across countries imperative.

Not only is the increased demand for fresh water (more than 7 billion people globally require clean and fresh water), but in many nations political and social unrest can also affect water access. Climate change to is also having an affect on the supply of clean water around the world and all of these factors contribute to the 783 million individuals that lack access to safe water. Not only are there three-quarters of a billion people who lack a basic human need, but roughly 2.59 billion people (37% of the world's population) have no access to sanitation, resulting in disease and death for many in developing nations.

Other problems directly related to water include:

• Women and children spend 40 billion hours each year collecting water. Imagine what these women and children could accomplish in their lives if these hours could be spent in school or as part of the workforce.[1]
• Scarcity of water contributes to major food shortages.
  
• Water-related illnesses, specifically diarrhea, accounts for 3,000 deaths every day in children under the age of 5. In 2002 the United States saw roughly 1,500 deaths as a result of diarrhea, while in India the same year roughly 456,400 diarrheal deaths occurred, a huge discrepancy. [2]
  

There are several charities that work to provide assistance in the provision of clean water including:

• Charity: water
• Water.org
• UNICEF
  

To learn more about World Water Day 2013 and the goal to encourage water cooperation, view the message from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon below.

By Julian Omidi

[1] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/22/world-water-day-2013-facts_n_2927389.html?utm_hp_ref=impact
[2] http://rankingamerica.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/the-us-ranks-72nd-in-death-by-diarrhea/

The Los Angeles Marathon provides people and organizations with opportunities to raise funds and awareness for charity. Julian Omidi looks at the novel approaches being implemented in the LA Marathon for charity. 

The 2013 LA Marathon will be held Sunday, March 17th and not only will individuals be racing the 26.2 miles for personal achievement, many will be racing for philanthropic purposes as well. 

In February, Jennifer Jimenez noticed a message on the Facebook page of Team Spina Bifida asking for help to find more participants to race and help raise funds. This message inspired Jennifer and her husband Jesse of Stockton, California to participate in the race with their children Enrique and Jiya, both born with spina bifida. Despite this being their very first marathon, and signing up with less than two months to train, the family set out to raise $3,000. With almost a week left until the race the family has already achieved their goal and raised $3,165 for spina bifida. 

Team ARC will also be participating again this year in the LA Marathon in order to raise funds for their programs. Team ARC partners with individuals to run or walk in events to raise money for people with developmental disabilities. Those with disabilities also participate in the events as active members in order to promote awareness of the issues. In 2012 Team ARC had four athletes with developmental disabilities complete the LA Marathon, and this include the first two women with Down syndrome to complete the marathon. You can still help Team ARC raise money in the event before the race takes place and learn more about their programs at their website. 

According to the Asics LA Marathon website, less than 250 slots are open for the event. Luckily, whether you participate in the event or not, you can still help noble charities raise funds and build awareness. 

By Julian Omidi