Am I the only one that thinks this way?

Question

You see adverts on tv about some tribe living in say Africa and the Commentator says"little amed has to walk six miles for fresh water.Why oh why dont they just move the house nearer the water,its not rocket science,and before some do gooder has a go yes I do support charities.

Answer 1

I lived in Africa for a year and a half, South Asia for 3 months, and the Middle East for 4 months, so I have a fairly global perspective on some of these issues. Sometimes it just isn't possible to move the houses, etc. Where we were in West Africa, the city was over crowded and housing was extremely difficult to find, so people lived where they could, which meant hauling water from distant places at times. Even as Americans living there, we had to carry water to our house (granted, not 6 miles, but it was still a huge process to get water into the house). Infrastructure in these places is horrible, so even if someone lives in a house that should be supplied with water (from the water company, that is), it doesn't mean that water will be there. The rich people probably live close to the river/water supplies, because they can afford it, leaving the poorest to haul water for miles.

I understand your way of thinking, and I get frustrated with the commercials as well (maybe for different reasons). There are so many factors that play into circumstances, especially for those in extreme poverty. Corrupt governments, civil wars, environmental factors (like flooding), rights to land/land ownership issues, etc, etc.... I would recommend to anyone to take a trip and visit somewhere in the two-thirds world to have a better understanding of what most of the world suffers through on a daily basis.

Answer 2

This has thousands of factors that do not get stated in the commercial. If water was the only factor they would most assuredly leave. The trouble is in the other troubles. First most of the tribes are at war with other tribes over land and food. This makes moving without a huge attack on another village almost impossible. You can also rest assured that tribes closest to the water have the best spot. This means they will fight to the last man.

Specific areas of land are sacred to these people. They have lived in the same grounds thousands of years. They know every inch of their territory. Ceremonies have taken place there for hundreds of generations. Moving them would be like robbing the younger generation of their right of passage. Many will not accept leaving the ceremonial grounds.

New territory also means new forms of combat. The tribes near the water usually have more rifles and handguns. Their enemies are also armed. If they took the territory they would need a cash of weapons and enough soldiers to hold the original territory and the additional territory.

This is only a scratch on the surface of why they can not get closer to water. I hope that I have explained enough that you can kind of fill in the rest. I honestly wondered the same thing so I looked into it and learned the above. If this stuff makes you curious you should consider taking cultural anthropology. It is a rather fun class with a lot of valuable information.

Hails to the truth,
Silence

Answer 3

Sometimes common sense isn't the answer. Perhaps they are not allowed to live on the land near the water. Perhaps there is a greater danger in living near the water such as flooding. I think the better solution might be to teach them to build an irrigation system that delivers water. That may not be possible either. I see what you are saying and I understand the question. I guess without first being in the area to know why little Amed lives 6 miles away, I can't answer. My question would be if we can bring TV cameras over there, why can't we build them a water containment system or water delivery system?

Answer 4

Good point but I think you're thinking in terms of their communities being too much like ours. The places that they live are often just stops on the road of a journey to seek water and a better place to live. They end up becoming small communities or villages because the elderly and sick can't go any further. Hence the need for the young and fit to walk to the neareset fresh water and carry it back.

Answer 5

It seems that you know so very little about life. Do you think water is always at the same place? Some rivers change their course depending on the rain season. Other wealth issues should be solved like food and work, not only where the water is.

Answer 6

Perhaps it is many things, closer to grazing, closer to the road, a war lord may own the riverside land.
Perhaps it is overall healthier away from the river (flies, disease).
Perhaps if you write to one of the Charities, they might tell you.
They might even offer you a placement in Africa, then you could ask the folks first hand.
I think our own history may be of use.

Cheers..R

Answer 7

Yea, they could build it closer to the river. They may live six miles away just in case of flooding. If it ain't broken don't fix. If they want to walk 6 miles then good for them.

Answer 8

I've often wondered that too, maybe someone else owns the land close to the water, or wild animals may prevent them living there!! I also wonder why they don't sink a well where they live!!

Answer 9

It is not that simple to move a house. Furthermore, there are undoubtedly reasons (other than water, of course) why the house was situated where it is: proximity to one's cropland being an obvious possibility.

Answer 10

Its not like they have the resources to move their house. If they have built their house where they live now its probable that they can't afford to move their house. Also, I've spent a great deal of time in multiple african villages and they, like us, has laws about land and whatnot. People own farming land and housing land.