Thanks from Matt Damon
As part of his advocacy work on behalf of clean water and sanitation around the world, actor and advocate Matt Damon recently visited new water projects in India. While there, he took the opportunity to thank the more than 100,000 ONE members who signed our petition to senators asking them to cosponsor the Durbin-Corker Water for the World Act, and showed us an example of the kind of projects this bill will support. Senators Durbin (D-IL) and Corker (R-TN) have led the charge so these types of project can reach over 100 million people globally.
Check out the video:
Thanks in part to the efforts of ONE members and our partners, support for the Water for the World Act is growing in the Senate. Since we began our campaign in early June, 8 senators have signed on as cosponsors. And just since our last update, Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) has signed on, bringing the total count to 14 cosponsors:
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Sen. Bob Corker, Bob (R-TN)
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL)
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Sen. Byron Dorgan D-ND)
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT)
Our legislative experts estimate we need 20 cosponsors to get the bill a hearing and move it through the Senate, so we’re going to keep our campaign open in the hope of accumulating even more grassroots support — hoping to meet our goal of 150,000 petition signers — for the Water for the World Act. If you haven’t already, you can sign the petition here. And be sure to share it with your friends, here:
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In addition to his thanks to ONE members, Matt Damon invites us all to check out the website of his new organization, water.org.
Water.org is a non-profit organization that has transformed hundreds of communities in Africa, South Asia, and Latin America by providing access to safe water and sanitation. Founded by Matt Damon and Gary White, water.org works with local partners to deliver innovative solutions for long-term success. Their microfinance-based WaterCredit Initiative is pioneering sustainable giving in the sector. You can learn more at water.org.
And thanks to everyone who took action on behalf of the Water for the World Act. Slowly but quite surely, our voices are making a difference.
-Emily Stivers
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July 22, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Clean Water and access to it is the most basic of human necessities. Please support this initiative to make this a reality for hundreds of millions of people across the globe. Thank you!
July 22, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Great job, it is so important that the world not the just the U.S. deal with global issues, we all have a stake in the improvement of lives of others and by doing that we improve our own.
July 22, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Amazing. The video had tremendous impact. Something as simple as clean water — something we take for granted. How wonderful.
July 22, 2009 at 3:49 pm
If we all find ways to help our fellow humans, we all win in the long run. Please support efforts to bring clean water to those who do not have it. Thanks!
July 22, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Our church makes yearly trips to help build clean safe water piping. It is truly amazing the hope that water can bring to a community. Please support these efforts.
July 22, 2009 at 4:06 pm
This made me feel so good inside. We can make this world a better place it’s up to us.
July 22, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Anyone who surfed and knows the value of all water has to support persons desperate for drinking water.
July 22, 2009 at 4:31 pm
To think that in this day and age, children still become ill for the lack of a clean water supply. This is such a basic necessity for the dignity of human life. We can make this happen. Let’s do it!
July 22, 2009 at 4:44 pm
http://shareddarkness.com/2009/07/22/matt-damon-one-thanks.aspx
^ Linked here, too!
July 22, 2009 at 5:14 pm
I am a Pakistani living in America. Being from south east asia give my comment much more value. Please read. Most parts of India and Pakistan are almost the same in terms of living conditions. Extreme poverty. However India in the last 15 years because of IT and Steel manufacturing and export amongst other things has been very successful financially. They have a lot of money!!!!! You can google all this. The problem is that they could care less about their own people living in slums. Their movie stars make almost as many millions per movie as the Americans. The same can be said for Pakistan they are equally corrupt however do not have as much revenue as the Indians.
I have always been supportive of ONE and for giving for deserving countries, specially those in Africa.
But it is definitely unfair when India cannot help their own people and we have to do it for them. They are in a position to do so and we must stop giving them any aid.
Most celebrities do not understand the entire picture or even parts of it which is not surprising. They are not the best judge of every situation. I admire Matt Damon and others and I think they are very honorable people and people to look up to. But please think before you commit.
July 22, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Thanks so much Matt! Keep on keepin on and hopefully we can make lots of progress!
July 22, 2009 at 5:34 pm
I shared the petition with my friends on Facebook. Let’s pump it up to 150k and get some attention from the Senate!
July 22, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Matt Damon is such a liberal puke, I wouldn’t trust anything he was involved in. I’m thinking of deleting my middle name (Matt).
July 22, 2009 at 5:42 pm
everyone in the world should have clean water.
thank you matt for helping all those wonderful people drink water like us!
July 22, 2009 at 5:43 pm
thank you matt for helping these fine people get clean water just like we do.
July 22, 2009 at 6:13 pm
how can we help. our company handles over two million websites,
July 22, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Even tho India rich people will not help their people and this is terrible – that does not mean those people should suffer with no clean drinking water. We do have a responsibility to those people to help them. We are all in this world together. Just knowing this exists in India makes me really sad – I am glad we have caring loving human beings who will rally for those that cannot for themselves. No human should be left behind regardless whose fault it is. Emily
July 22, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Does anyone else think using Matt Damon as a spokesman is a really bad idea. If he’s doing good things for the water project great! I for one, am less likely to participate in ONE with idiots like Damon as our figurehead.
July 22, 2009 at 8:10 pm
I contacted my state representative of both house and both parties
to alert them to this problem. Anything we can do will help supply
fresh water – which every human being is entitled to. Keep up the
good work Matt and thank you for your efforts.
July 22, 2009 at 10:31 pm
It figures that McConnel & Bunning from KY aren’t listed. KY is a beautiful state, but our Senators infuriate the hell out of me! Wake up, KY!
July 22, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Matt is awesome and should be in office at the White House and with this Democratic, Obama Administration. We need his intelligence and great ideas, energy and generosity
July 22, 2009 at 11:06 pm
MATT: JOB WELL DONE, JUST TAKES SOMEONE LIKE YOU TO TAKE HOLD OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND HELP OTHERS, TOO BAD OTHERS DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES AND FINANCES TO CARRY ON SUCH A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT. YOU ARE TO BE COMMENDED.
July 22, 2009 at 11:07 pm
The book, Not-Two IS Peace, describes a way to solve all the problems of humanity at the same time via a “Global Cooperative Forum” made up of people like Matt Damon, people who place humanity generally above any citizenship in any specific country. Please get and read this amazing book.
July 22, 2009 at 11:23 pm
clean water is a must !!!!…no matter where you live.or who youare or how rich you are
July 22, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Join hands and make a difference around the world!
July 23, 2009 at 1:45 am
First off, I would like to say that I think it is great that Matt wants to help the people of the world in obtaining safe drinking water. It should not matter in any way, that he may be a “liberal,” or democrat, or, for that matter, what his political affiliations are. It is so frustrating to see bitter comments left by ignorant people who only look at the party lines.
That being said, I feel the best use of the money and resources, would be in places like Bangladesh, Bhutan, and many African countries that have no resources themselves. India is a place of sharp contrasts. NOT FAIR, above, was correct in saying that the country of India has grown quite wealthy in the past 10-15 years. I, myself, am an expat living in India, outside of Delhi. I see firsthand, daily, the poverty, as well as the extreme wealth that makes up the population. It is disheartening to realize how little human life is worth here. The value of life here is solely based on the Rupees earned by the individual. To see people being treated in such a way by their own… I have many stories I could tell.
I would love to see help being given to those countries determined to make a better life for their own people.
The best use of this organization as far as India is concerned, would be to lean on the government to start putting an end to the huge corruption problem, and start finding ways to feed and house it’s population. India has been using the excuse that they are a “developing country”. Well, that is true in many ways, but how many developing countries have wasted millions of dollars to send a rocket and a flag to the moon? How obnoxious! The government would simply rather ignore the massive problem’s there are with water, sanitation, food, disease, and infrastructure. What label should they be given, when they so blatantly ignore their own people to send a rocket to the moon? Frustrating.
Did you know that 30% of the population here has Tuberculosis? Such an easily treatable disease? Of those cases, 15% of them have “active” spreadable cases. I, myself, contracted TB while living here, and am currently being treated. By the way, 30% of 1.4 billion people is 420 million people! Why has TB not been wiped out? Because the Indian government does not care!
Regardless of my views on all of this, I believe that any help given to an individual or community is a good thing. Since the Indian population cannot rely on their own governments to help them, then why not support an organization that does? Thank you ONE, for making a difference to those people.
July 23, 2009 at 2:53 am
Hi! I agree with LORI above and NOT FAIR commentors. But all in all a big thank you on behalf of those people in India getting water and Matt Damon being there and seeing it happen is like bringing joy and smiles to them people. Thank you ONE for caring and making a difference to people who are in need of your love and generosity.
July 23, 2009 at 9:46 am
One huge question is how this water would get to the people who need it. Various corporate interests have been saying for a while that water is the next place to make serious money, which would obviously involve charging money for the water. Poor people do not have money to pay for water, and a lot of people even in the USA are having a terrible time paying for utilities and such these days. Get to know all the details before you push for something, and make the necessities something that we all can afford.
I know that water in parts of the Navajo reservation in Arizona has been badly polluted with uranium wastes since mining for uranium was done there. A lot of the people have cancer, or have died from cancer. This is becoming true in areas near where oil shale is being mined now. We all need water we can afford, but it has to be clean water.
July 23, 2009 at 11:05 am
just the fact that people like you want to help gives me HOPE, HOPE, HOPE, there are no words or music or art that can compare to the deed………. when you live a life where people other than you are also important……… that life is worth living….. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU on behalf of humanity.
July 23, 2009 at 11:09 am
The fact that you help others gives me HOPE, HOPE, HOPE. A life where others are also important is a life worth living….. when you live to help…. the universe is at peace….. when you think of others…… you shift the balance….. your positive energy fills the heart……… there are no words, there is no music or form of art that can outshine your deed…… thank you on behalf of humanity
July 23, 2009 at 11:18 am
Thank you Matt Damon and ONE for this video. It touches my heart deeply to see the clean water flowing, and the people so excited and happy. Clean water is vital to all, and should never be looked upon as a luxury. I am personally honored to have taken part in this, and overflowing with joy!
July 23, 2009 at 11:35 am
Good message, but I’m sorry, I was distracted. What was up with his forehead?
July 23, 2009 at 11:46 am
You can locate your state senators on the following link.
http://www.senate.gov/index.htm
July 23, 2009 at 11:49 am
Thanks, all, for the comments. Just to clarify, Matt Damon happened to be visiting water and sanitation projects in India when he filmed this video for us. While ONE works to fight extreme poverty around the globe, our primary focus remains fighting extreme poverty in Africa.
The Water for the World Act would benefit people from around the world who are currently in the greatest need, and would benefit the most from improvements in access to clean water and sanitation. You can find more info about global levels of access, here:
http://www.wssinfo.org/en/40_MDG2008.html
July 23, 2009 at 3:30 pm
A less glamorous task should be pursued first: safe & healthy living conditions right here in US. The TN Appalachian mountain range notably. The shanties of SC. And those are just areas I’ve seen with my own eyes.
Helping India with it’s basic needs when it is no longer a 3rd world country, removes accountability from India’s own government. I agree with NOT FAIR and others who say now is the time to lean on india’s gov’t as part of trade agreements. Otherwise aren’t we just (commercially) supporting an inhumane regime. Hello … Where’s Amnesty International? Or for that matter the UN.
I look forward to more dialogue.
July 23, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Hey … Someone explain the red patch on Damon. Injury, birthmark, effort to assimilate in some way?
July 23, 2009 at 4:19 pm
The red dot patch is a part of Indian religion or culture. When you visit a foreign land yes it is natural to absorb as much of their culture as possible otherwise what is the purpose of such a trip. You can easily google the red patch. I am Pakistani. To people who are leaving comments please dont be derogatory towards other cultures. Expressing such ignorance is exactly why the whole world now laughs at Americans and their ways, ask any European.
While Matt Damon is definitely ignorant in this cause you cannot doubt that in his heart he had the right intentions. I do admire him and others like him for making these efforts. It takes a very honorable person to do these things. People who leave derogatory and racist comments are always the ones who do the least for their own people.
Good job Matt but please be informed the next time you decide to help out.
One is the greatest humanitarian organization in the world. Also shout out to all the missionaries who have been in Africa for years helping people.
July 23, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Unbelievable, I come here to post a short post about how awesome it was to see those people finally getting fresh water and being so happy that they had decorated the spout with flowers, a very moving image. Then some jack ass has the nerve to call Damon names and things that have NOTHING to do with what he’s doing. Seriously those of you who post BS like that here clearly don’t belong here because you’re missing the whole point. Grow up and do something positive instead of ripping people who are actually doing something about a huge problem. I support anyone, Dem. or Rep.if they are helping with this massive problem. Thanks to ALL who made this happen.
July 23, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Great cause.
July 24, 2009 at 7:08 am
I am an American that spends several months a year in India. I have been coming here for over 20 years and I can say that things have been rapidly improving for the middle-class, however it will still take a long time before things will improve for the poor. This is partly because of ancient practices and strong superstions about certain members of society. I made a feature film “White Rainbow” which exposes the cruel treatment and social stigma that widows in Indian society face even today in modern times. The only way to make a difference is to educate people and to show them by your actions how to reach out to help others. I am starting service trips to work with widows in Vrindavan which is known as the “City of Widows” were thousands of widows are abandoned each year. If you want to learn more please go to my blog at http://www.whiterainbowproject.blogspot.com
July 24, 2009 at 8:25 am
No,……..Thank YOU Matt Damon for all your hard work and bringing to light what we cannot see. I am proud to be a member…. and to do whatever I can to help bring the most basic human necessity “CLEAN WATER” for ALL of the world……
July 24, 2009 at 12:02 pm
UPDATE: I’ve just learned that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has agreed to sign on as an additional cosponsor for the Water for the World Act. We now have 15 of the 20 cosponsors we believe the bill needs to move forward.
July 24, 2009 at 2:51 pm
This is an amazing effort that can do so much for so many!!! Pass this along and sign people! Get those numbers up and pass along the love. This is another ripple effect that will change the lives of many in so many positive ways! It is our duty and right as human beings! ♥ much loves
July 24, 2009 at 5:19 pm
thank u mattt! not only one person could do this- we all could this please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we need to get it out there and do this, a hand to hand no matter what people say! this is just like live 8 which means we need to come together at washington (capital) and get our presidents and/or prime minsters to get this though the senate and the house… if we all do this we CAN do this!!! thanks
July 25, 2009 at 11:21 am
يوتيوب–يوتيوب–بلوتوث–youtube–يوتيوب
فور–يوتيوب فور
July 25, 2009 at 11:45 am
please send messages in english. although we can use french,spanish,italian, we do not use cyrillic nor arabic
thank you for this opportunity to assist in this project.
starrmarlo@gmail.com , ceo, phd
celestalproductionsinc.org
silver rain gallery
royal american arts
the recording academy affiliate
the grammys affiliate
we own over 3 million websites
July 25, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I ONCE HAD THE PLEASURE TO TALK WITH MATT ABOUT HIS TRAVELS TO ZAMBIA AND IT IS NO SURPRISE TO ME THAT HE IS NOW A CO-FOUNDER OF WATER.ORG. .MATT DAMON IS AN AMAZING PERSON AND GRACIOUSLY GIVES OF HIS TIME TO TRAVEL TO PLACES LIKE ZAMBIA AND INDIA. HE COULD JUST WRITE A CHECK AND MAKE A VIDEO FROM THE SET OF A FILM HE IS WORKING ON. BUT HE TAKES THE TIME AND GOES TO HYDERABAD AND GETS INVOLVED. THE ONLY GAIN MATT GETS IS THE JOY THAT COMES FROM HELPING THE DISENFRANCHISED.
July 27, 2009 at 1:00 pm
You know how you feel after you’ve been out working in the yard on a 90 degree day? How great does that shower feel when your work is done? That’s something so many of us take for granted and something that millions in the world have no access to. Forget about showers….they don’t even have clean drinking water available. Join others in making this basic human requirement available to millions around the world.
July 27, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Great job everyoneee!
July 27, 2009 at 4:23 pm
your t shirt offer is being published, syndicated, and spidered.
thank you for this opportunity to help our cause
starrmarlo@gmail.com
July 28, 2009 at 12:24 am
H2O!
August 2, 2009 at 12:26 pm
This is good work. However, i relatively sure there are still places within the United States that lack clean running water. Perhaps we should tend to these places at home first.
August 3, 2009 at 12:47 am
What the hell is wrong with the world we live in! People are now so corrupt that they think of their own wealth before other people’s life dependency. I am ashamed of the human race and wish I was not part of it! I also realize that not all people are this way (Matt) and that we need more of them. I say stop the corruption and most of the country’s problems will sort themselves out. This is because more money will be spent on necessities and less to greedy people. With a corrupt free society, people who get elected to offices of power will actually care about their positions and try to fulfill the objectives to the best of their abilities resulting in a prosperous outcome for the people.
But who am I kidding. I`m a realist. Look at any government and see how corrupt they are. The worst part about it is that the PEOPLE voted them in and have the power to vote them out. I live in America but I was born and raised in South Africa. This country (America) is on its way to a socialistic community with major corruption unless the people speak out and make changes! People are now afraid of the government but it was set up for the government to fear the people…
Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely — This statement is so true but we have decided to learn from our own mistakes instead of being smart and learning from the mistakes of our past!
August 6, 2009 at 8:39 am
Thank you Matt for making a huge contribution to humanity.