Dubai teenager fights for water

Whenever Aman Ghose sees a leaking tap, he thinks about the trials of a boy named Mohammad.

Water is available at the push of a button for most people in the UAE. But for people like 16-year-old Mohammad, who lives in Ethiopia, thirst is a dangerous sensation.

Ghose, a 16-year-old Indian and photography enthusiast, said: "Mohammad told me he takes a six-hour walk to Wenchi Crater Lake every day to get the water he needs."

But that's not all. "If it's scorching hot or freezing cold, that's how the water will have to be consumed - and it's not even clean. It is so difficult to imagine living like that, day after day."

Ghose is a grade 10 pupil at Dubai International Academy (DIA) and went to the region on a school trip in December 2008.

Returning with life-changing experiences and photographs to document his journey, he decided to do something about the situation.

He said: "The facts are scary. Politicians around the world are fighting over oil today, but in the near future, they say the fight will be over water. It's an important issue that I wanted to highlight with my photography."

He created four posters as part of a personal project in school, with the aim of building awareness and inspiring action. With some hard work, the posters are now a regular feature around his school - and Ghose hopes to put them up at local supermarkets and around his neighbourhood, too.

Timely support came in the form of UAE-based Oasis Water.

He said: "I knew about the Oasis Water for Africa campaign and approached them. They allowed me complete access to their resources and assisted me, especially when it came to posters."

The Oasis Water for Africa campaign was a United Nations-Global Environment Monitoring System Water programme that ran for the last two months of 2008 and aimed to provide some of the poorest people in Africa with access to life-saving, clean, potable drinking water.

It was a mission that Ghose could appreciate.

"After my project, I visited a water desalination conference in Dubai and was able to discuss issues with people who were doing what I did on a much bigger level."

Inspired by Prix Pectet, the world's first prize dedicated to photography and sustainability, and their book titled 'Water', Ghose is in the process of compiling his own book with photographs from around the world. He expects it to be complete by 2010.

Even as he plans ahead, he is firmly rooted in the challenges of the present.

In recent school exhibitions, Ghose raised over Dh1,000 by selling customised jute bags superimposed with the photographs he took in Ethiopia. The proceeds were donated to Oasis Water's cause.

As the calendars flip to March 22, Ghose knows exactly what he will be doing today, World Water Day. "I am involved in school activities such as fundraising and I will try creating awareness in a meaningful way."

Thumbs Up Aman! Your story would surely wake us up, especially those people who are just wasting water. We need to know - WATER IS LIFE!
Del
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 22, 2009, 15:49

Keep up the good work!!!
Malik Mohammad Ali
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 22, 2009, 12:48

Water is a very precious commodity. Not only in Ethiopia, but the water shortage is being faced even in India in big cities like Chennai. No water from taps and no ground water too. Water in UAE can be conserved by totally abolishing the car wash stations and introducing the manual car wash with just a bucket of water. Not only the water will be saved but also the chemicals used in the detergents can be avoided and will be economical for the car owners during this period of recession.
From A Reader
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 22, 2009, 12:15

The boy informed the truth, he can spread the world. God bless him and help him to proceed his duty which he accept as challenge.
Abdul Fateh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 22, 2009, 11:15

Very good work.
Hani Babu Vincent
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 22, 2009, 10:21