Drones and Pirates

Here is a link to the use of drones to combat Somali pirates. It is a good article, but fails to mention that a limited number of drones have also been deployed that are capable of accurately shooting the powerful .338 Lapua cartridge. These are typically shot by snipers for especially long range sniping, but putting them aboard a drone provides a significant capability not previously available.

It is sometimes claimed by the pirates that they are forced to take revenge for foreign fishing in their waters. That claim, believed only by gullible westerners, is both false and specious. The pirates are not the people harmed, the ransom money goes to wealthy patrons. Further, the foreign victims of piracy are innocent and are almost never fisherman nor dumpers of pollution. The entire claim is just an excuse for greed by the wealthy patrons. The low level pirates are indeed unemployed otherwise, but so are many people who don't engage in crime.

Blog Action Day - Water - Its clean because we're rich

I know participating in Blog Action Day was my idea, but I have been having a hard time coming up with what to post about. I have already posted about my current favorite causes, being anti-plastic and a locavore. With most of my other favorite issues, our blog readership are already on the same page. Since the official Blog Action Day theme for 2008 is poverty (I didn't mention it on my other post, because I wanted to see what you would come up with), I decided to post about water.

Water is necessary for all forms of life, it is one of the most basic human needs. Clean water is now more precious then ever before. The facts are staggering. Over one billion people do not have access to clean drinking water. Millions of people spend hours a day collecting water, and it is often unsafe and polluted. A kid dies every 15 seconds from a water-related disease. 88% of all diseases are caused by unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation. Yikes.

$25 will provide one person, clean water for life. It may not feel like it lately (or ever), but if you have money in the bank, cash in your wallet and spare change hanging around somewhere you among the 8% of the most wealthy people on earth. WaterPartners is a non-profit organization that funds community-based, sustainable water supply and sanitation projects in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Kenya, Bangladesh, India, and the Philippines. That definitely is not local, but it is a good cause.

I'd still like to hear from the rest of you for Blog Action Day, especially those of you who haven't posted yet (Hallie, Andelle - this means you!).

Links:
Poverty Facts
Water Facts
State of the Village Report
Donate to WaterPartners International