Water is not Free for Everyone

We often take for granted the fact that clean tap water comes to us at no cost. Meanwhile, the lack of access to clean drinking water is destroying lives around the world. To bring light to this issue, UNICEF created The Tap Project. The awareness campaign will be holding World Water Week starting tomorrow until March 28, when participating restaurants will offer their customers the opportunity to donate $1 for ordering a glass of tap water. The money raised will go towards UNICEF's efforts to bring safe drinking water to the millions of children around the world who lack it. Every dollar raised will provide one child with clean water for 40 days. Learn more about the project here, and find out which restaurants are participating in World Water Week.

Digital Soil Map to Help Farmers

Uganda will be soon benefit from an $18 million digital map of Africa's depleted soil. The project, sponsored by the Gates Foundation, will collect samples of soil from different regions. Composite samples of 12 or more cores from one region will be analyzed for their pH content, levels of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc and manganese. Knowing more about what kind of soil they are working with and what fertilizer would be best, farmers can be more effective with their agricultural techniques.
Source: allAfrica.com

What Should be Discussed at the G20 Summit

With the G20 summit drawing near, United Nations Development Programme's MDGs adviser Eveline Herfkens presents her opinion of what should be discussed during the April 2 meeting. The main problem, as she sees it, is that "the world lacks an effective system of global governance" as a result of three major deficits. First is the compliance deficit; country leaders agreeing on certain commitments, and quickly breaking them within just a few months. Then there is the coherence deficit; countries taking opposing positions on various issues rather than acting collaboratively to solve those issues. Finally, there is the triple democratic deficit; the lack of voice of poor countries, of people in general, and of poor people in developing countries in particular. As a result of these issues combined with the current economic crisis, "Africa might be robbed of its one chance in a generation to make real progress," says Herfkens.

"Unless we start addressing the three deficits of global governance immediately, the present crises will result not only in missing the lofty promises of the Millennium Development Goals, but set back development for decades to come."

Full article here.

Honey Business

Honey is one of the most valuable products of the driest parts of Africa. The climate, diversity of flowering plants, and easy access to freshwater contributes to the large number of bees in Kenya, making it Africa's biggest honey producer. Bee keepers make their own hives by hollowing out large logs, and carefully laying down beeswax to guide bees in making their honeycombs in neat lines for easy removal. A coffee mesh is used to keep the queen bee away from the honeycombs to keep her from laying eggs in there. In 2008, 8 tons of raw honey were harvested by 40 bee keepers. Making profit on the honey, the bee keepers also sell candles made from the beeswax.
Source: AfriGadget

Borgen Project Supporters in Pakistan

Coca Cola Partners with USAID

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Coca Cola have recently teamed up to provide clean drinking water to Mozambique's sixth largest urban region, Chimoio. This alliance brings together a total of $1.79 million in funding, $500,000 of which comes from USAID. This project will provide water for 25,000 people as well as local schools, health facilities, and industrial and commercial users.
Source: USAID

Keeping MDGs a Realistic Priority

As the global economy continues to spiral downwards, there is no shortage of critics to say that the Millennium Development Goals are too ambitious. Many have come to the conclusion that the current financial crisis makes the MDGs completely unrealistic. U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rosa Migiro, on the other hand, refuses to accept this mindset. "The MDGs were supposed to have a focused road map towards achieving sustainable development and they shouldn't be reset," said Migiro. "If anything, they need to be reaffirmed, re-emphasized, because this is a time of crisis and at a time of crisis there really is a risk of people starting to re-prioritize." Migiro demonstrates a mentality that's crucial for the acheivement of the goals.
Source: Reuters

To Whom it May Concern...

Leaders from various organizations across the country sent an open letter today to President Obama and Congressional leaders, telling them to make global development a bigger priority in foreign policy. The letter describes current global development programs as messy and outdated, and urges the government to modernize and make them more effective. Recognizing the fact that our country is struggling with a bad economy, as is the rest of the world, the letter stresses the importance of nevertheless improving foreign assistance. Read the full text of it here (pdf).

Cleaner Drinking Water

The Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS) technique is a simple process used to improve the microbiological quality of drinking water. The process involves putting water in clear plastic bottles, putting them out into the sun (usually on a high roof), and allowing the sun's UV rays to deactivate any disease-causing microorganisms. The heat from the sun also improves the disinfection process, making it three times faster if the water temperature reaches 50 degrees Celsius. This innovative technology, although limited, provides people with safer drinking water that has been proven to significantly reduce the occurrence of diarrhea and other diseases.
Source: Sodis.ch

Spread the Word!

Show off your support for The Borgen Project with an official t-shirt- you can get one for yourself, a friend, a family member, and even for your dog! Purchase this and other merchandise including mugs, hats, and buttons, at our online store.

A Latte that Makes a Difference

Those of us who frequently visit Starbucks for our morning coffee fix may have already noticed a change in the store: the addition of (Starbucks) RED gift cards. This seemingly minor change is actually a significant step in the fight against AIDS. Every time a customer uses this prepaid card to make their coffee purchase, 5 cents will be donated directly towards the Global Fund to help fight AIDS in Africa. The coffee giant partnered up with singer Bono's organization last October when they created three new drinks to raise money for RED. The gift cards have been introduced to stores in January, in hopes of raising money for the cause and educating their customers about the critical issues facing Starbucks' main coffee growing region.
Source: Look to the Stars

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Entrepreneurs Make the Best of Financial Crisis... and Make a Difference

While most of the world is concerned about funding and business, many entrepreneurs are not letting the crisis impede their motivation. Overlooking the broken economy, many are working to improve global development and health. For example, Edward E. Bjurstrom and Edward G. Maliski, two former biotechnology executives are putting in their own money to help create drugs to combat diseases in developing countries, including HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, and malaria. Says Mr. Bjurstrom: “I wanted to do something meaningful to address the needs of developing countries [providing access to advanced medicines].”

Source: New York Times