Clean, plentiful, running water is one of the greatest and most underrated human technologies.

Clean water hydrates our children, boils our food, sustains our livestock, washes our clothes, and provides the basic substrate for delicious, delicious coffee.

More importantly, with plentiful clean water, we don't have to spend our precious time suffering from dehydration or sickness (dysentery – gross!), fighting with other humans about water rights, or toting potable water for hours a day from miles away.

Yet a lot of people don't have access to clean water.According to Charity:Water, about 1 in 10 people lack access to water from improved drinking sources.

And without clean water, all of these wonderful human beings can hardly have the time and peace and wellbeing to enjoy the other things which make human life in the 21st century so bright. They can hardly build amazing technologies. They can hardly get free from brutal rulers and bureaucrats. They can hardly build more peaceful and creative societies if they're struggling just to get water for their kids every day.

It's wasted human potential. And one of the things that annoys me most in the world is wasted human potential. That's why dirty water is on my kill list.

So, if you like my writing and want to help me do something about wasted human potential, here's your chance.

I'm turning 22 years old this week, so I figure: why not raise enough money for Charity:Water to give clean water to 22 people? That's $800. I'm just curious enough to try to do something like this to see if it's possible. And I'm frankly just egocentric enough to ask you to help me do it for my 22nd birthday.

Charity:Water is a solid organization, from all I've heard. 100% of your donation will go toward water improvements, since Charity:Water's expenses are covered by private donors.

I've already donated $100, and I'll give another $100 in a separate donation to Charity:Water if we can raise $800. So all you have to do is come in and partner with me in raising the other $700 for this campaign.

Let's do it!

More details: https://www.jameswalpole.com/birthday-water/