I was born on a tiny island of Micronesia called Tarawa in Kiribati. Not only that Tarawa is an atoll situated a click of the equator, it is also one of the hottest and humid places on earth and also one of those islands affected by global warming. The island of Tarawa also played an important part in the American history during WWII. On a little island about 2 miles long called Betio, is the site of one of the bloodiest battles the US Marines suffered as they tried to take control of this Japanese stronghold. It was on this island that my first lessons on water conservation was borned. Drinking water is so scarce that bathing in saltwater without rinsing of with fresh water is part of life. When it rains, we will do anything to collect every single drop of rain and store them. So as I listen about the plight of the Detroit families and their kids, it brings back memories of my childhood years in Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia. Water is life especially clean water, and we must do anything to help these families and their kids have safe, clean drinking water while they await changes to their water situations.



