I've churned out a fair amount of open source software over the years. I like it, but it doesn't really pay. I just feel that his article comes off more like a rant than listing problems that need to be solved, and will generate revenue, because in the end, that's got to be part of the equation too, otherwise he should just be hitting up people with money to spend more of it on charities.

Clean water is one area where someone stands to make a lot of money and do a ton of good at the same time.

And as far as money to charities goes, there's money out there. Figuring out the best way to spend it is an ongoing problem.

At the risk of drifting further afield from the topic, isn't the real solution to to scarce water supplies better filtering and water recycling -- in other words, wouldn't there be plenty of water if we just took what went down the drain, filtered it, and piped it back out again?

Feel free to correct me if I have misunderstood the problem.

Doing it at a cost that people can afford is the issue, especially in the third world.

But then it is maybe more efficient to make those people richer than to build cheaper filters. Cheaper filters is just one puzzle piece for getting richer, anyway.

It's a lot easier to make people richer when they have clean water, so they aren't sick from cholera, can safely bathe themselves, and they aren't dehydrated.

Good points, but this sounds a lot like charity work. If that's what he wants, ok, great, but come out and say it clearly.

However:; I think that it's easier to contribute in a big, serious way to charity if you've already made your pile of cash elsewhere.

> However:; I think that it's easier to contribute in a big, serious way to charity if you've already made your pile of cash elsewhere.

That, or if you're really committed, go work for a relief organization in the third world yourself. Sometimes cash isn't as important as people who are willing to get their hands dirty.

Certainly, but I don't think this is what Umair was exhorting people to do. OTOH, I'm not sure exactly what it is that he wants everyone to go do, either.