Vanity Fair #3

There is a feature-length article in an issue of Vanity Fair that caught my eye.  

The article is titled:

Sarah Palin: The Sound and the Fury

It is different from many Vanity Fair articles that I have read because it is about something other than fashion or pop-culture.  But I have also read a handful of political articles in the magazine.  Even still, this article really stands out to me.  The tone that the author takes and the presentation of the article are unlike any other political article I have read in Vanity Fair.  

It has always been obvious to me that Vanity Fair is geared much more toward a Liberal audience than a Conservative one.  This can be seen in any issue.  The magazine has always seemed to be a friend to both homosexuals and Democrats.  In a previous issue, Lady Gaga was raved about for her support of the gay community.  In that same issue, Obama's administration was defended in two separate articles.  

This article about Sarah Palin definitely hold true to the idea that Vanity Fair is a predominantly Democratic magazine, as are the majority of its readers.  It has a different tone about it, however.

I think the article seems so different because it isn't taking the side of the person it is about.  The article doesn't even relate to Sarah Palin in any way shape or form.  It does not show her any sympathy either.  It pretty blatantly makes fun of the politician-turned-celebrity.

The main argument in this article: Sarah Palin is a joke.  She is a sham.  This loud, proud woman is a rehearsed part... and she doesn't even play the role well.  The only people she can convince are the people in this country who are as idiotic as her.  That is the vibe this article gives me.

By simply glancing at the pages, without reading a single word, it is very obvious that the author does not take Sarah Palin seriously.  Little cut-outs of Sarah Palin's head are placed throughout the article.  In each cut-out, Palin is making a different, ridiculous-looking facial expression.  These looks just scream "don't take me seriously."

The author backs up his claim that Sarah Palin is a joke with many subclaims throughout the article.  His biggest subclaim: Sarah Palin is a rehearsed part.

The author claims that everything about Sarah Palin is rehearsed and unrealistic.  He notes how many of her speeches sound almost identical.  He notes how her children are placed around in her in ways that make her seem like supermom, when she is really using them for political and financial gain.  He notes how her strange use of words mirrors that of many (also idiotic) people who follow her.

The author makes it seem as though it is a shock that anyone can take Sarah Palin seriously.  He does a really good job of it, too.  

Though the author inserts many subclaims into the article, none stray very far from the main point.  They serve more as evidence for the main claim.  The help him convince people that Palin is, in fact, a joke.

Photos courtesy of Vanity Fair and VF.com

Not Alone in the Fight

Most of us here in the United States have never really been thirsty.  We have never known what it is like to be without safe water to drink, clean our bodies with, make our food with, or wash our clothes with.  The only time I was afraid to drink water from the faucet was when I was on vacation in Mexico.  Even then, I had access to safe bottled water.  Most of us have also always had the "luxury" of toilets, bathtubs, and sinks.

That's why it is so crazy to think that over a BILLION people on this planet don't have access to clean water or sanitation facilities (like toilets, showers, and sinks).

As stated by charity:water founder Scott Harrison, water is "the most basic of human needs."  That is why the World Water Crisis is such a HUGE issue.  That is why it is public enemy #1.

That is also why charity:water is not alone in the fight against unsafe water.  There are many, many other organizations that focus on the same issue.  One of the other organizations that I have stumbled upon is Water.org.  I researched the organization a bit, and found that it is very similar to charity:water.  

Now, I want to share a little background on Water.org, as well as the similarities it has with charity:water.  I hope that it may help you see how much of an impact these water-based organizations are making around the world.

About Water.org

Water.org began as two separate non-profit organizations: H2O Africa and WaterPartners.

H2O Africa was co-founded by actor Matt Damon (who also serves as the official spokesman).   Before becoming part of Water.org, it was a part of the Running the Sahara expedition and film project.  

The expedition consisted of three men who took on the challenge of running 4 thousand miles across The Great Sahara Desert in Africa.  The men undertook this expedition in order to raise awareness for the people around the world who do not have access to clean water.  A film crew followed the three men for every step of their journey.  The footage was later turned into a documentary film, which was narrated by Matt Damon.  Damon got the idea of starting a water-based charity during the planning of the Running the Sahara expedition.  H2O Africa was formally launched in September 2006.  

WaterPartners International was founded in 1990 by Gary White (who also served as the executive director of the organization).  It was an American non-profit developmental aid organization with the purpose of fighting the World Water Crisis.  

In July 2009, H2O Africa and WaterPartners merged to form Water.org.  It was co-founded by Matt Damon (of H2O Africa) and Gary White (of WaterPartners).  

charity:water & Water.org

As I said before, there are many similarities between charity:water and Water.org.  These similarities range from the overall idea behind the organizations, to the way that their ideas are carried out.  They are, in a sense, two peas in a pod.

The Mission

The first similarity is pretty obvious.  charity:water and Water.org are working toward a unified goal: putting an end to the World Water Crisis by providing safe drinking water and basic sanitation to people in developing nations.  

Creation

charity:water and Water.org were also created in similar ways, for similar reasons.  Scott Harrison and Matt Damon have both lived glamorous lives.  Damon, an incredibly successful actor and screenwriter, has walked the red carpet, attended A-list parties, and appeared on the cover of magazines for years.  Harrison, a former nightclub and party promoter, lived the lavish, fast-paced life of a celebrity for many years.  

Both men also decided to start  water-based non-profit organizations after spending time in Africa and coming face to face with extreme poverty.  

Damon has said that he got the idea after spending a day with a 14 year old girl in Zambia.  The girl was in charge of collecting water for her family.  Damon and the young girl walked over 2 miles to get to the closest water source.  The water, that came from a newly-built freshwater well, was safe to drink.  While walking to the well, Damon asked the girl if she wanted to live in her village when she grew older.  The girl told him that she wanted to move to a big city and become a nurse when she grew up.  Damon said he saw how this ONE well gave hope to thousands of people in the area, like the young girl.  It allowed for them to plan for the future.  That is when he decided that he wanted to help.  

Harrison got the idea after spending 8 months off the west coast of Africa as a photojournalist for Mercy Ships, which offers free medical care to those who do not normally have access to it.  While volunteering for the organization, Harrison saw thousands of people suffering from diseases that are fairly easily treated in places like the United States.  Mercy Ships gave many people in Africa a second-chance at a long, healthy life, and that is what Harrison aimed to do when he returned from his trip.

Application

Not only do charity:water and Water.org have the same mission, they also go about solving the crisis in very similar ways....

• Both raise funds for water projects through both private and public investors.  (The only difference is that charity:water is funded by grants completely.  Water.org is funded through both grants and loans.  They are the first in the field to use loans.)
• Both build freshwater wells and sanitation facilities (toilets, hand-washing stations).
• Both help educate the community on the importance of hygiene and sanitation.
• Both work with local partners to find solutions tailored to each community's specific needs.
• Both work with members of the community throughout the entire process.  
• Both see that a committee is elected to oversee the continued success and maintenance of the project.  
• Both promote gender equality by ensuring women are part of the committee in charge of the project. (It only seems fair that women have a say, considering they are often the ones who are in charge of collecting water.)
• Both sell merchandise (such as water bottles and clothing) to help generate funds and raise awareness.

Who They Have Helped

charity:water and Water.org have both helped build projects in multiple impoverished countries.  charity:water has funded over 3 thousand projects in 17 countries, helping over one million people.  Water.org has helped over 200 communities in 8 countries.

Here is a list of who they have helped:

charity:water 

1. Bangladesh
2. Cambodia
3. Central African Republic
4. Democratic Republic of Congo
5. Ethiopia
6. Haiti
7. Honduras
8. India
9. Ivory Coast
10. Kenya
11. Liberia
12. Malawi
13. Nepal
14. Rwanda
15. Sierra Leone
16. Tanzania
17. Uganda

Water.org

1. Bangladesh
2. Ethiopia
3. Ghana
4. Haiti
5. Honduras
6. India
7. Kenya
8. Uganda

Though charity:water has impacted the lives of more people than Water.org, it does not take away from what Water.org is doing.  They share a common goal.  They both want to put an end to world thirst.  They both want to bring safe water and sanitation to the entire world.  It doesn't matter who is making the bigger impact.  They are in essence a team.  

Information and photos courtesy of 

• charity:water
• Water.org
• H2OAfrica.org
• WaterPartners
• Looktothestars.org