April 11, 2008

t is snowing again this morning. It has been snowing pretty much every day. Yesterday is the only day I have said "OH NO!" as I see the lack of bare ground again as I woke up. It happens. I have seen it snow clear up into May. Actually two years ago I saw it snow in July for about 15 minutes.

Water, water everywhere!!! Well at least the small river cruising down my driveway. I was considering this run-off as I got home from work yesterday. Up here, people are complaining about the snow... most of us are ready for it to be gone. 

As I was shutting the gate, I was considering the water running down my driveway. How would it be to drink? Yes, the water off my driveway... to drink! Before you think I am completely off my rocker....

Yesterday I was watching the news about Maasai warriors from the Africa village of Elaui in northern Tanzania, who are running in the London Marathon in a few days. They survive on fresh blood drained from the neck of a living cow, they often run for days and nights on end to find water for their village to bring back in jugs. The shoes they run in are made from car tires cut up and strapped to their feet. To think I used to have the easy way of hauling 300 gallons of water in a tank in the back of a pickup truck before the well was drilled.

One man said, ""If we have no milk or meat, we cut the cow's neck and let out the blood to drink. If I drink enough blood -- maybe two or three liters -- it gives me a lot of energy and I can go for days without food or water." The Maasai warriors, whose role is to protect and help provide for their people, hope to raise enough money to find and access a fresh water source for their community -- something they say could cost up to $120,000. 

Years of drought in the region around Eluai, where these six warriors live with their elders and children, is killing their cattle and threatening their way of life with disease and famine. Two out of three of the children born in Eluai die before they reach the age of five due to the poor water conditions. Ground surveys of the area around Eluai had found an underground water source which could offer the Maasai a lifeline. So the men are bringing awareness and possibly funding through awareness by running in the event, to bring clean and safe water to Eluai. 

So these six men, in their traditional clothing, shield and spears, will be running the London Marathon in shoes made from recycled tires. The sight of thousands of London Marathon runners taking two sips of water from a bottle at each mile and throwing the rest away is likely to horrify the Maasai runners, who will choose not to have a single sip.

If you want to learn more about these guys, click here.