Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer Peter Vanderkaay (a.k.a. PVK) thinks water is cool. Very cool. So cool, in fact, that he teamed up with Blue Planet Run to raise awareness about our global water crisis.
Now Peter is swimming several days per week, and he estimates that he will swim 560 miles in training over the next couple of months! But in the midst of his very busy training schedule, Peter found the time to make a video about water sustainability with a few tips on how to ensure safe water access.
So how much do you think you know about clean water? Take the quiz.
And remember to support Peter in his efforts to promote safe water for drinking and sanitation around the world!
If you've been keeping up with the Play City, you already know about the World's water crisis. If you're reading this blog, you will probably never know what it is to be so thirsty that you have to walk miles to the closest river and drink muddy-looking water full of bacteria that could kill you. In fact, although most Americans have perfectly drinkable water coming out of their tap, many still don't want to drink it unless it's been filtered even further.
According to Blue Planet Run, 1.1 billion people in the World do not have access to safe drinking water. Through their program, they can guarantee one person a lifetime of clean water for only $30. So with a little basic math that means that $33 Billion Dollars would eliminate the World's water crisis.
$33 Billion dollars (according to google) also happens to be:
-what Americans spend PER YEAR on getting thin (to no avail, says cnn.com)
-what Americans spent on holiday shopping in 2007
-what the Oil & Gas industry is receiving in handouts from taxpayers over the next 5 years. (Friends of the Earth, foe.org)
-what the new airport in Dubai will cost to build
-what the Food Industry spent in advertising in 2002 (now its more!)
-the Budget that Bush gave the Dept. of Homeland Security for 2005
We have spent over $860 BILLION in war since 2001. (That could have solved the Water Crisis, eliminated World Hunger, and then some!)
It's kind of crazy when you put it in perspective.
Luckily, there are many people that DO care, and are working hard to come up with ways to make it easier to solve the problem like the LifeStraw
(image courtesy of Vestergaard-Frandsen.com)
Created by Vestergaard-Frandsen, "The aptly-named LifeStraw is an invention that could become one of the greatest life-savers in history."(gizmag.com) It is a straw that can filter bacteria such as Salmonella, Shigella, Enterococcus, Staphylococcu, Aureus and E.Coli. It lasts for a year and costs about $3 to make. 2.2 million people die every year from bacteria-related illnesses associated with no access to clean water. Meanwhile, "the most prolific killer of human beings in developed countries is the automobile, followed by a host of diseases resulting mainly from an indulgent lifestyle." (cnn.com)
Another invention comes from Dean Kamen, who has created a water filter that can turn raw sewage into drinkable water.
Dean Kamen is responsible for the Segway and the stair-climbing wheelchair. Now he has invented two devices, both the size of a household washing machine, that can provide clean water and power to rural villages. Also called The Slingshot, "the water purifier makes 1,000 liters of clean water a day, and we don't care what goes into it. And the power generator makes a kilowatt off of anything that burns." (CNN.com) His water filter uses a vaporization method that claims it can even filter raw sewage. The power generator runs on cow dung. The problem is financing. Kamen has already spent $50 million of his own money developing it, but needs the help of big money to build one in every village that needs it.
We have all the tools & resources, so why is there still a problem?
It is in our hands! We can each do our part to raise awareness and raise funds. One way to do it is through sports. Swim for it, run for it, play for it, get out there and let people know! We can all make a difference. Take example from Peter Vanderkaay, an Olympic swimmer who has a Blue Planet Run Page where you can sponsor him based on how many laps he swims in training.
2004 and 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer Peter Vanderkaay joined Team Blue earlier this year to help raise money and awareness for global water issues. Team Blue is a project of Blue Planet Run—an organization that addresses the billion people around the world who lack access to clean drinking water and sanitation.
Right now, Peter is training to compete at the National Swimming Championships in July. He estimates that he will swim 560 miles in training during the next few months, and he is using those miles to raise money for Blue Planet Run.
I recently had the opportunity to interview Peter about swimming, life, and his dedication to promoting safe water access. Check out what Peter had to say:
When did you start swimming?
I started swimming when I was 7 years old. I never dreamed that I would be swimming at age 25 professionally or at the Olympics. I never had that goal when I was younger. Growing up, I had a love for the sciences and either wanted to be a doctor or a medical researcher. I still really do love science, so who knows where my career may lead outside of the pool.
What sparked your interest in global water issues?
Growing up in Michigan, my family spent a lot of time outdoors on the lakes in the summers. Being a swimmer, I've always had an affinity to the water and as I grew up, I became more aware of the issues surrounding clean water. I'd love to make sure that people have the same opportunities to enjoy water that I have had. I feel that if there is any way I can help, I need to get involved.
How did you get involved with Blue Planet Run?
After the Olympics in Beijing, I knew I wanted to further commit myself to raising awareness about the world’s water crisis. I did some research and came across Blue Planet Run, who combine two of my passions: clean water and exercise. They have helped further my understanding on the breadth of the crisis and have intensified my passion to make an impact.
Where have you traveled to since joining Team Blue?
So far I have traveled to Chicago and the surrounding areas since joining Team Blue. Because of my training schedule, it has been tough for me to get involved as much as I would like. As I travel to different swim meets and events across the country I make sure to share Blue Planet Run’s message, especially by sharing my BPR trading cards with fans.
Do you play any other water sports?
I don't play anything else competitively but I enjoy almost everything in the water. Surfing, sailing, and kayaking are some of my favorite things to do besides swimming.
Anything else we should know?
Right now I live and train in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where I got a degree in Biology from the University of Michigan. London is in my sights, but I’m very focused on U.S. National Championships, which are in Indianapolis from July 7 -11. If I qualify, I will be in Rome in late July. Both events are going to be nationally televised, so I hope all of my fans and supporters of Team Blue will get a chance to watch. I really look forward to spreading the importance of water sustainability on a national and international stage!
Peter is encouraging others to swim for clean water. Check out Peter's Team Blue page to see how you can get involved!
Who is Peter Vanderkaay?
If you don't follow swimming too closely, you might not be familiar
with Peter, but he was a two-time Gold Medalist swimmer in the 2008
Summer Olympics, and this summer he's planning to compete in the
American Nationals. Whether Peter can win another gold remains to be
seen, but he's not just competing for himself or even for his country. He's swimming on behalf of the one billion people worldwide who suffer from a lack of access to clean drinking water.
Vanderkaay has teamed up with a clean-water advocacy organization
called Blue Planet Run, and he's planning to raise one dollar for every
lap he swims between now and nationals. That's 900,000 meters of
water-travel between now and July 7, if all goes according to plan, and
Peter's relying on people like us to donate for the cause.
A day in the life of Peter Vanderkaay. This is the kind of training that Peter will be doing to raise money for people who need better access to clean water around the world.
You can donate to Peter's project through the Blue Planet Run website,
and the money will be used to educate people who could use the help
finding, filtering, collecting, and drinking clean water
around the world. Peter Vanderkaay is using his high-profile
competitions to attract a broad donor-base, but Blue Planet Run also
provides resources for athletes at every level of competition who would like to use their sports to collect funds for clean water.
This is the kind of equipment that many people could use to collect drinkable water, if they only had the education and supplies. That's where Peter Vanderkaay, Blue Planet Run, and people like us come in!
If you're running, walking, swimming, or riding in an athletic event
anytime soon, you can use the occasion to collect money for this 'Blue
Planet' of ours and everyone on it.
Peter Vanderkaay is doing an
interview with PlayCity blogger Trina later this week as well, so stay
tuned to the blogs for more info on Peter's swimming, the need for
clean water, and the ways Blue Planet Run can help improve access to
the most important resource on the planet-- fresh, clean water.
Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer Peter Vanderkaay (a.k.a. PVK) thinks water is cool. Very cool. So cool, in fact, that he teamed up with Blue Planet Run to raise awareness about our global water crisis.
