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    North Korea : Waves for Water

    Surfer Charity Makes Waves
    Reported by Jinkuk Kim for RFA’s Korean Service.
    Written in English by Rachel Vandenbrink.
    2013-02-15

    Attention to North Korea’s water problems comes from an unlikely source.


    Waves for Water members demonstrate the use of water filters at a cooperative farm in North Korea, Oct. 2012.
    Photo courtesy of Waves for Water

    A U.S. charity organization founded by a surfer has taken a novel approach to North Korea’s water woes, encouraging travelers to the reclusive country to bring water filters with them to donate.

    By contributing water purification equipment, tourists can help more North Koreans access clean water, according to Waves for Water, which began work on the project during a recent trip to North Korea.

    Waves for Water, which works on providing clean water to disaster and crisis areas in 16 countries, distributed water filtration systems at two cooperative farms during the visit in October last year to North Korea, where aid groups say water supply infrastructure is deteriorating.

    Three members from the group, including its founder, American former pro surfer Jon Rose, visited the Chonsam and Dongbong cooperative farms—in Kangwon and South Hamgyong province, respectively—and showed the community members how to use the water filtration systems.

    Each of the 50 water filters they provided at the two sites can be used to provide enough clean water for at least 100 people per day for five years, the group’s director Christian Troy said, calculating that their filters could help 5,000 people at each site access clean water.

    “We spent a couple hours at each of the farms discussing how the filters work, how to maintain them, how it actually removes the biological contaminants, and [our work] was understood and welcomed,” Troy said, adding that they had talked with workers on the farms who confirmed residents had difficulty getting their hands on clean water.

    Troy said that North Korea was an odd choice for Waves for Water’s project because the organization has its backbone in the Western surfing community—fans of a sport virtually unheard of in North Korea.

    One of the group’s main programs focuses on getting surfing tourists to pack portable water filters in their luggage to give away to needy communities where they go to ride waves.

    Troy said the set-up for the trip, which the group made after receiving an invitation from a tour agency based in Beijing that arranged tourist visas for them and set them up with the guides in North Korea, was also unusual.

    “How often do humanitarians get tour guides? It’s not very traditional.”

    But Troy said the group wanted to work in North Korea because there was a clear crisis in the lack of access to a clean water supply that meant people were resorting to contaminated sources.

    “There’s a lot of remote areas where people are pulling water from the ground, and so often that water is contaminated,” Troy said.

    Deteriorating infrastructure

    International aid agencies say North Korea’s water supply systems are falling into disrepair and most health and education institutions in the country do not have functioning water systems.

    Aid groups have also said the deteriorating water supply systems are a major cause of diseases such as diarrhea that kill young children.

    A report by UNICEF on water issues in the country late last year said many North Koreans lack access to functioning water supply systems due to energy shortages and decrepit facilities and are forced to use less clean alternatives such as wells and springs.

    Aid agencies provided emergency assistance to tens of thousands left without clean drinking water in August of last year, after summer flooding contaminated supplies.

    Hopes to return

    Troy said Waves for Water’s trip had laid the groundwork for a larger-scale operation in the country and hoped the group could travel to North Korea again in the spring of 2013.

    “Now that we’ve done this smaller-scale distribution …. we laid some groundwork for a larger-scale operation,” he said, adding that normally the organization works by scaling up their projects after local communities get behind them.

    “If we go back, it would be to go to other areas and provide more clean water to different people.”

    But they would also explore more options for surfing on their next trip, since they hadn’t had much success riding North Korean waves during their last visit.

    “The surfing part was funny, because they didn’t know exactly what it meant when we said we wanted to find a beach where we could surf,” he said.

    rfa.org

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    In the long term, would the North Korean people be better off, if no western aid was given to prolong the current regime?

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    Quote Originally Posted by swampfox1001 View Post
    In the long term, would the North Korean people be better off, if no western aid was given to prolong the current regime?
    Bit of a hard one to call there Foxy, one has to look at both sides of the coin ,sure its food for thought ,but maybe the NK leadership will not relinquish power so how much the people suffer, and as long as they keep the huge army fed and looked after the balance of power is very much on their side ,having said that I do understand the good point you make
    Last edited by piwanoi; 18-02-2013 at 06:04 AM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by swampfox1001 View Post
    In the long term, would the North Korean people be better off, if no western aid was given to prolong the current regime?
    That same argument was given in 2006-7 regarding Burma and its people, that the Burmese junta would be best brought to its feet by imposing more sanctions and by not allowing any western goods etc in.

    The opposite has been found true, that by increased tourism and foreign investment, the Burmese people are more in touch with and feel less isolated by the west, and are keen for interaction with western interests, as are the junta.

    A move towards greater freedom of expression and improved human rights has evolved, all be it slowly, but that's better than continued repression on the scale shown pre-2011.

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    Quote Originally Posted by ENT View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by swampfox1001 View Post
    In the long term, would the North Korean people be better off, if no western aid was given to prolong the current regime?
    That same argument was given in 2006-7 regarding Burma and its people, that the Burmese junta would be best brought to its feet by imposing more sanctions and by not allowing any western goods etc in.

    The opposite has been found true, that by increased tourism and foreign investment, the Burmese people are more in touch with and feel less isolated by the west, and are keen for interaction with western interests, as are the junta.

    A move towards greater freedom of expression and improved human rights has evolved, all be it slowly, but that's better than continued repression on the scale shown pre-2011.
    Yeah good point ENT, however There maybe a little difference between Burma and NK though as I do not recall the huge loss of life through famine in Burma like the one in NK .

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    I think the nK regime strictly controls travel and very few citizens come into contact with foreign devils, no matter how much good they do.

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    Quote Originally Posted by swampfox1001 View Post
    I think the nK regime strictly controls travel and very few citizens come into contact with foreign devils, no matter how much good they do.
    Yeah Foxy ,no doubts there ,people are risking their lives getting information out of what is going on in NK to the outside World , however the getting of information in we have no way of knowing ,there is now some info on youtube as to just what is going on and the suffering these people are going through at this moment in time!

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    I feel bad for them too. But I can't imagine any water filters being in the hands of anyone outside the government umbrella. I mean a traveler can't even go to areas where the filters would do the most good and actually help some poor people from being less miserable.

    Inside North Korea. A sad sad documentary.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Camel Toe View Post
    I feel bad for them too. But I can't imagine any water filters being in the hands of anyone outside the government umbrella. I mean a traveler can't even go to areas where the filters would do the most good and actually help some poor people from being less miserable.

    Inside North Korea. A sad sad documentary.
    Yeah thanks for that CT the main one of 48 minutes "cannot be viewed in this Country" however this short edition can be

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    CT maybe this one says what you was referring to much better , truly horrendous in this day and age

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    Quote Originally Posted by piwanoi View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by ENT View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by swampfox1001 View Post
    In the long term, would the North Korean people be better off, if no western aid was given to prolong the current regime?
    That same argument was given in 2006-7 regarding Burma and its people, that the Burmese junta would be best brought to its feet by imposing more sanctions and by not allowing any western goods etc in.

    The opposite has been found true, that by increased tourism and foreign investment, the Burmese people are more in touch with and feel less isolated by the west, and are keen for interaction with western interests, as are the junta.

    A move towards greater freedom of expression and improved human rights has evolved, all be it slowly, but that's better than continued repression on the scale shown pre-2011.
    Yeah good point ENT, however There maybe a little difference between Burma and NK though as I do not recall the huge loss of life through famine in Burma like the one in NK .
    Climate and seasonal differences may contribute to feast or famine.

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    ^^ Yeah, the second one. I don't think I could bear to watch it again.

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    Quite correct RS ,the differences in Climate is a huge factor between the two respective Countries , (thanks for pointing it out BTW, I mean lets have it right not many Burmese die of hypothermia do they, as Burma's so called "winter" is of no consequence to them as far as food production goes .

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    Quote Originally Posted by Camel Toe View Post
    ^^ Yeah, the second one. I don't think I could bear to watch it again.
    Once is enough CT, as it leaves an indelible Scar on ones mind!

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    Agree with CT.
    Let's mass a million troops in South Korea and say "come on have a go if you think you're hard enough"
    North Korea are 100 years behind the times.
    They could have better lives if the government weren't so dinosaunic.
    Fck me... look at south Korea.
    Oh bollocks... scrap all that shit and nuke the whole place.
    Do about 5 quids worth of damage.
    Falling asleep and waking up is not the same as passing out and coming to.

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    Quote Originally Posted by the dogcatcher View Post
    Agree with CT.
    Let's mass a million troops in South Korea and say "come on have a go if you think you're hard enough"
    North Korea are 100 years behind the times.
    They could have better lives if the government weren't so dinosaunic.
    Fck me... look at south Korea.
    Oh bollocks... scrap all that shit and nuke the whole place.
    Do about 5 quids worth of damage.
    Yeah DC while I fully understand your consternation , what about the millions of innocent people who are suffering under the iron grip of this ruthless dictator and his military might to keep all protest's of his regime in check under pain of death or torture ,do you advocate turning them to glass too ?, not quite that easy is it?

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    Quote Originally Posted by ENT View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by swampfox1001 View Post
    In the long term, would the North Korean people be better off, if no western aid was given to prolong the current regime?
    That same argument was given in 2006-7 regarding Burma and its people, that the Burmese junta would be best brought to its feet by imposing more sanctions and by not allowing any western goods etc in.

    The opposite has been found true, that by increased tourism and foreign investment, the Burmese people are more in touch with and feel less isolated by the west, and are keen for interaction with western interests, as are the junta.

    A move towards greater freedom of expression and improved human rights has evolved, all be it slowly, but that's better than continued repression on the scale shown pre-2011.
    What western goods do Burmese use that they couldn't live without? Sanctions never stopped the oil & gas companies from business there. Maybe that's part of the problem.
    Eat more Cheezy Poofs!

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    Fck me... look at south Korea.
    Yes, here's South and North. Not much of a party goin on up North, eh?



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    Quote Originally Posted by piwanoi View Post
    CT maybe this one says what you was referring to much better , truly horrendous in this day and age

    Truly terrible. They are nothing less than Nazis. The Chinese scum keep this state going as well. The worse part is American and other Western 'capitalists' have no problem doing business with these people and others like them around the world. Someday they'll be free to walk away from their crimes like so many have throughout history including those who made money off the Nazis. The wealthy Koch family in America got rich from oil deals with Stalin. Evil is all around us.



    I watched the water video. I think the amazing thing about that is the invention in it. Those North Koreans who gathered around would have gathered around for any simple technology as their country doesn't let them see anything. The North Korean leader and his family including his gambling brother in Macau should all be assassinated for what they've done.

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    Quote Originally Posted by piwanoi View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by the dogcatcher View Post
    Agree with CT.
    Let's mass a million troops in South Korea and say "come on have a go if you think you're hard enough"
    North Korea are 100 years behind the times.
    They could have better lives if the government weren't so dinosaunic.
    Fck me... look at south Korea.
    Oh bollocks... scrap all that shit and nuke the whole place.
    Do about 5 quids worth of damage.
    Yeah DC while I fully understand your consternation , what about the millions of innocent people who are suffering under the iron grip of this ruthless dictator and his military might to keep all protest's of his regime in check under pain of death or torture ,do you advocate turning them to glass too ?, not quite that easy is it?
    Shit happens.
    Sorry but we have to make sure it doesn't happen to us.

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    North Korean Water Project Faces Funding Woes
    Reported by Ahreum Jung for RFA’s Korean Service.
    Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
    2013-03-19


    North Koreans drink water at a stand in Pyongyang, Dec. 25, 2011.

    AFP PHOTO / KCNA VIA KNS

    A U.N. effort to expand an initiative to provide North Koreans with safe drinking water is being held up by funding and logistics problems, an official says.

    More than one-quarter of the people in the nuclear-armed but impoverished nation have no access to safe drinking water, a basic necessity.

    The U.N. initiative promotes the use of Gravity Fed Water Systems (GFS), which draw clean water from high up in mountain regions and pipe it down to residents of both urban and rural communities.

    The GFS initiative has been primarily funded by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and constructed by North Koreans.

    Geoffrey Keele, a spokesperson for UNICEF in Beijing, told RFA’s Korean Service that his organization had completed feasibility studies for expanding the GFS initiative in 14 villages in North and South Hamgyong, North Hwanghae, and North Pyongan provinces, but that more funding is needed to push ahead with construction.

    “Currently, we are lacking the necessary funding to support more GFS projects and there continue to be delays in receiving critical supplies from offshore locations,” he said.

    “There is also a considerable challenge in relation to local transportation due to a lack of trucking companies.”

    Keele said that GFS initiative had been completed in three urban and four rural areas, including Tosan, Hamju, and Hyangsan county towns, and Puksinhyon, Rimhung, Unbong, and Chusang villages.

    He said that more GFS projects are ongoing in Jangyon, Sinpyong, Sudong, Ichon, Sepo, Unjon, Kumya, Kilju, and Pihyon counties, as well as in 11 villages in Kangwon, North Pyongan, and North Hwanghae provinces.

    According to a report issued by UNICEF last summer, around 100,000 people, including some 7,000 children under the age of five, had access to safe water in 2011 following the completion of nine GFS projects.

    But it said that the coverage represented less than 2 percent of the 5.28 million people in North Korea that still need access to clean water—a staggering figure given the North’s population of just over 24 million.

    In 2011, the report said, the nine completed GFS projects provided clean water to all targeted institutions in the areas where the systems had been constructed, including 14 health facilities, 17 primary schools and secondary schools, 13 nurseries, and 14 kindergartens.

    An earlier pilot program in ten focus counties from 2007-2009 supplied more than 228,000 people with clean water.

    Water challenges

    Keele said that UNICEF partners with the Ministry of City Management and with local communities to bring GFS projects to North Korea, which despite a piped distribution network, suffers from poor delivery of water due to old systems and a shortage of electricity needed to pump water to homes.

    “Key supplies for operating and maintaining piped water systems are now in short supply, including pumps, spare parts, pipes and water treatment chemicals,” he said.

    “All of the old pump-based facilities use rivers or other low-lying water sources, which are more susceptible to contamination from human and industrial waste. So in many cases the water that does reach people is of poor quality.”

    According to UNICEF, diarrhea is the number one cause of child mortality in North Korea and, together with pneumonia, affects large numbers of children in the country.

    “Both of these illnesses can result from insufficient water for proper hygiene or through contaminated water caused by the deterioration of the country’s water supply infrastructure,” Keele said.

    He said that GFS is a simple, cost effective, and environmentally sound means of providing clean water to North Koreans by taking fresh water from the country’s abundant mountain ranges and filtering it through natural sand and gravel purification ponds.

    When the water is free of impurities, he said, it is channeled through a series of PVC pipes where gravity transports the water down to a community’s homes, schools, and hospitals, without the need for electricity.

    According to UNICEF, the average cost to design and construct a standard GFS in a medium-sized county town of around 20,000 people is about U.S. $500,000. It says the technology is low-maintenance and requires relatively low running costs.

    The project is expected to help North Korea achieve several of its Millennium Development Goals in 2015, including a reduction in child mortality, improvements in maternal health, and a reduction in malnutrition.

    rfa.org

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    Quote Originally Posted by piwanoi View Post
    CT maybe this one says what you was referring to much better , truly horrendous in this day and age
    Call me a Sook ,softie whatever but I cried my eyes out watching this ! No child should have to suffer like that just to be able to put a morsel of food into their stomachs ,Ive seen what people call poverty in Indonesia and Thailand but compared to how those poor little fuckers in NK are having to live they have a luxurious lifestyle .

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    I'm beginning to think by nuking the capital and taking over we might save lives.

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