Is São Paulo the New Venice?

There’s a new way to commute to work in São Paulo—by water. Far from a Venetian gondola, Latin America’s first hydrogen-powered bus carries 63 passengers while releasing only water vapor into the air, rather than carbon dioxide.

Four years or research and partnership of the United Nations Development Programme, the Brazilian Mines and Energy Ministry, and the city of São Paulo’s Urban Transportation Company have made such a feat possible. While on a two-month trial basis, the city will monitor the bus with hopes that it can expand the program in coming years.

As the world seeks an alternative to fossil fuels, hydrogen is proving to be a promising alternative. Carlos Zündt, planning manager of the Sao Paulo Urban Transportation Company and coordinator of the hydro bus project, asserts, "By 2080, 90 percent of the world’s vehicles will be run by hydrogen." To find out more about the hydrogen bus project click here or hydrogen-fueled technology click here!

United Nations Quickly Tackles Cholera Outbreak in Zimbabwe

The United Nations has rapidly responded to a deadly outbreak of Cholera outside of Zimbabwe's capital, Harare. Marie Okabe, a U.N. spokesperson, has reported that more than 90 people have contracted the disease, and that the primary cause stems from a lack of clean domestic water. To combat this, the U.N. has established a means by which to deliver 30,000 liters of water for each day of the outbreak, until the local water is once again sanitary. In addition, the United Nations Children's Fund and the World Health Organization have created two treatment clinics in the area for those who need help. These clinics are being operated jointly with the NGO Doctors Without Borders.

2.6 Billion People: That's a lot

Today we urge you to read this posting on the New York Times blog which talks about the UN Water team's efforts to deal with the 2.6 BILLION people who don't have access to sanitation.

He’s got 99 problems and the Water Crisis is One.

The statistics concerning the world’s water crisis are staggering: 1.1 billion people have no access to safe water, every day 4,400 children under the age of five die because of unclean water and sanitation, and five times as many children die each year from diarrhea than from HIV/AIDS. It’s no surprise that it is the developing world that feels the brunt of this crisis.

So what is fueling this global problem? Many poor people live outside the scope of the water infrastructure, and lack the legal rights to demand an adequate water supply. General scarcity, corruption, and global warming further perpetuate this problem. However, late last year, the water crisis was tackled by a seemingly unlikely character – hip-hop mogul Sean Carter, better known as Jay-Z. And when Jay talks, the world’s youth listen. With the help of the United Nations and MTV, Jay-Z is launching a worldwide concert tour called "Water for Life" to draw attention to the water crisis and aid support programs to end the global issue. Most of the concerts are located in developing countries, where Jay will not only perform, but give talks about the necessity for an improved water system. While meeting with former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to discuss his plans, Jay explained,

"It's a huge responsibility, and humbling at the same time."

Jay-Z has personally provided funds to help build “play pumps,” which resemble Merry-Go-Rounds that pump clean drinking water when they are spun, and has enlisted the help of his celebrity friends to do the same. But perhaps Jay’s greatest accomplishment will simply be educating the MTV generation of the fact that issues affecting the developing world, are really issues that affect everyone. A celebrity with a social conscience, now that’s refreshing.

Changing lives in Tanzania, one pump at a time

Something as simple as quick access to clean water can transform the future of a community.

The 4,000 inhabitants of Lusala, a village in south-west Tanzania, depend on farming for their livelihood, yet the lack of immediate access to water inhibits the community’s growth.

As part of the Community Water Initiative, the UNDP spent $40,000 on a water project in Lusala which enabled local villagers to set up an easy-access water supply mechanism. The water scheme relies mainly on gravity, and is therefore a very inexpensive measure that has life-changing benefits.

One villager is grateful for the changes:

Life is much better now that I have clean water near my house. I don't walk all day in the heat to find water. In three to five minutes you fill your bucket by turning a tap. The water project has saved every woman in Lusala a lot of hardship and time. My children, and even myself, used to fall sick because of dirty water. Now we don't run to the hospital complaining of diarrhea any more. With clean water, we enjoy good health.

This community-led initiative demonstrates the impact that targeted programs can have, and is a great example of how seemingly small projects can achieve direct impact on human life. One step closer to achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Tanzania.

Bringing Energy to the Poor

Sustainable sources of energy - like wind turbines and hydro electric - are not only less harmful to the environment than fire wood or fossil fuels, but in many developing countries are the only sources accessible to rural communities. In Kenya, UNDP and the Global Environment Facility's Hydro Power Communities project in the country's highlands are taking advantage of an abundance of water for electricity. UNDPs is helping to create micro hydro power plants for villages across the mountainous region. Check out the video to see the impact this project is already making.

Making Work Fun

Providing clean water has become a major focus of the UN development agencies work in recent years. A shortage of clean and accessible water impacts many other aspects of development - from spreading diseases that take the lives of millions of children and rob the poorest of their strength and work day, to causing crops to whither and exacerbating hunger in rural communities, to forcing children in many places to spend much of their day hiking miles to the nearest well rather than learning to read.

The play pump is

A life-changing and life-saving invention that can provide easy access to clean drinking water, bring joy to children, and lead to improvements in health, education, gender equality, and economic development. The PlayPump systems are innovative, sustainable, patented water pumps powered by children at play. Installed near schools, the PlayPump system doubles as a water pump and a merry-go-round for children.

The company that developed it has also put in place an innovative public-private business model that teams the goal of making a profit with making a difference in the lives of people.

In the UK, people have been working with UNICEF to raise funds to support the installation of these in communities in Africa. Check out this video to see the difference they are making

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Bringing Clean Water to People

Lack of clean and fresh water is a huge problem in many African communities today, resulting in poor health and bad living conditions for hundreds of thousands of people. Does it have to be so difficult? With the help of UNDP, things are changing for one community in Tanzania.

Lusala is home to about 4,000 people. Mostly farmers, they grow coffee, bananas, corn, and beans. Villagers also raise chickens, goats, and some cattle. For years, shortages sent women and children miles away each day to collect water. The lack of clean water made tending the farms difficult and caused a great deal of sickness.

Bringing fresh water to Lusala, though not cheap, was not prohibitively expensive. The project cost the equivalent of $40,000 - $10 per person. That figure would have likely quadrupled had private contractors implemented it. Instead, community members, with help from government water surveyors and engineers, built the reservoir, installed pipes and provided all the necessary labor! To ensure the water keeps running, a local association is responsible for collecting water fees from users. The money is used to repair equipment when needed.

Today, no one in Lusala needs to walk more than 400 yards to find clean water. Fresh water gushes from taps at 11 drawing-points right within the Tanzanian community.

According to Elizabeth Mtweve, a villager and mother of four:

"Life is much better now that I have clean water near my house. I don’t walk all day in the heat to find water. In three to five minutes you fill your bucket by turning a tap. The water project has saved every woman in Lusala a lot of hardship and time. My children, and even myself, used to fall sick because of dirty water. With clean water, we enjoy good health."

Water - A Youth Perspective

Each year UNDP's flagship Human Development Report takes a hard hitting look at a major issue effecting human development. This past year the report looked at the many challenges associated with water - from access to clean water to its use in farming to dealing with water sources that cross multiple states.

UNDP and Peace Child Int'l have just come out with Water Rights and Wrongs. This short report gives kids from around the world the opportunity to share their perspectives - with photos, poems, and stories - on the issues in the report. It's only 32 pages (with lots of photos) but I highly recommend it.

You can download a pdf or read it online

Runners Finish Mega Marathon Across Sahara to Raise Awareness

Three ultrarunners Charlie Engle of the USA, Ray Zahab of Canada, and Kevin Lin of Taiwan just finished their 111 day journey across the Sahara Desert to raise awareness about the water crisis and poverty. They ran 7300 km (4580 mile) in 4 months the equivalent of two marathons a day for nearly four months. This was a very difficult task with the runners enduring extreme heat as well as adverse weather and insects.

UNDP hosted the runners for their journey across the desert providing supplies and shelter along their trip. Actor/ filmmaker Matt Damon traveled along with the men to document the incredible journey they embarked on. Damon is partnering with H20 Africa to raise awareness and funds for projects in the region. UNDP's role as coproducers was to work with the governments of the six countries they traveled through to make sure that the runners were welcome and safe during their trip. According to UNDP’s 2006 Human Development Report, a lack of clean water and sanitation causes nearly two million child deaths every year. This documentary will be released later this year and will hopefully bring awareness to the increasingly harsh reality of water scarcity.