One of our former presidents, Jimmy Carter, has been leading the crusade against the Guinea worm with his non-profit the Carter Center since 1986. Back in 1986, it was estimated that 3.5 million people in Asia and Africa suffered from a parasitic infection of the guinea worm. The Carter Center's motto is "wage peace, fight disease, build hope." Clearly with the Guinea worm almost eradicated, the Center is definitely successful.
The first of the two links above is part of an interview Jimmy Carter did with NPR. The second link is a direct link to the Carter Center. Read the interview and watch the video about the Guinea worm. In a scholarly response, write a paragraph about the elimination of the Guinea worm. What do you think? How did Jimmy Carter help eliminate this horrible parasite? Finally, if you were a person with tremendous influence and an unlimited supply of funds, what would be your cause? What would you do to make your mark upon the world? How would you help make the world a better place? Why? If you can't think of a cause that you would like to support, can you give me an example of another famous person and their philanthropy. Answer all of the above questions in a paragraph with at least five sentences. Proper spelling and punctuation are expected. Also, please comment on at least one other classmates post.
I think the elimination of Guinea worm is great for all those people in places like Nigeria, so farmers can keep planting crops and teachers can keep teaching. Jimmy Carter helped to eliminate this parasite by teaching people of places infected by Guinea worm how to prevent it and installing water treatments. My cause would be helping people who have diseases or harmful parasites. I would try to accomplish this by finding what diseases or parasites harm the most people and do everything in my power to prevent it and if possible eliminate it. I would make the world a better place by eventually eliminating those disease and parasites, so people can go back to their everyday lives which will help boost the economy.
ReplyDeleteI really like your cause. There are so many diseases and parasites all over the world and we need to start finding cures so no one has to suffer the pain and it will hopefully boost the economy in less fortunate countries.
DeleteThe elimination of the Guinea Worm would be so beneficial to hundreds of people, and I hope I live to see it happen. Jimmy Carter definitely deserved the Nobel prize he won for all the work he's done. If I had to means to do so and the influence he did, I would try to change lives too.
DeleteI agree with Jaylynn on the part that it does affect everyone's job. It is kind of like an ecosystem. If a nurse gets the guinea worm than thats one less nurse to cure other people. It is kind of like a keystone species
DeleteI really think that Jaylynn is right that there is a great opportunity to eliminating more harmful diseases. I would really like to see in the next years to come more and more eliminated diseases.
DeleteI think Jaylynn is correct about boosting the economy. After people have been cleared of such diseases then things will be headed for the best. Already the Guinea Worm has been down 99% so it's only a matter of time for the remaining 1% to be gone.
DeleteI think thats a good idea. Giving more medical care to sick people could improv things other than their health. People could start working again, help provide for themselves, and get back on their feet.
DeleteI think it was important that you mention the crops because even thought is is not good for a person to be affected by this for there community to stay intact they need to be able avoid malenorishment
DeleteI agree with Jaylynn that the elimination of the guinea worm is a huge accomplishment, and will definitely do wonders for the people in Nigeria and others that are suffering from this awful parasite. I think its awesome that Carter decided to take action for people who really needed our help.
ReplyDelete"Guinea worm eradication is like an orchestra: Every player has to play their own instrument but play from the same page of music." ~Ruiz Tiben
ReplyDeleteThe Carter Center helped lower the amount of people affected with the parasites. They taught people which waters not to go into and helped give clean water. If I had unlimited resources, I would either help save endangered species or help breast cancer. I love animals and it's awful to think that their homes are being destroyed by us. Breast cancer could also be my cause because my aunt is a breast cancer survivor and I would want to do that for her. I would try and help the endangered animal population grow again or help defeat breast cancer to save more lives.
I would agree that these are two very prevalent issues. Breast cancer has also plagued some of my own family members and it is something that is truly concerning since it has the possibility to affect practically all women. Also I understand your stance on endangered species since all animals are beautiful and are something we'd all like to share with our future generations. I mean, come on, who wouldn't want to see a cute and fuzzy panda bear?
DeleteThe Guinea Worm is one of the scariest parasites, just thinking about it makes my skin crawl. Living in Crystal Lake, we are super fortunate to have clean water and not worry constantly about getting a parasite like this. I think it would be absolutely fantastic if we could wipe out the Guinea Worms- worms like that have nothing helpful to contribute to the planet. Jimmy Carter has been a saviour to many living in other countries by providing wells for clean water and teaching others how to make water filters to prevent ingesting Guinea Worm larvae. If I had had unlimited resources to fight for a cause, I would fight world hunger. As typical as it sounds, it’s something we should work towards. Just think of how much food we waste or turn down everyday because it’s not appealing to us; all of the food we throw away because we’re picky or full could be feeding people who go days without eating. Now I’m not saying to send your uneaten peas across the world, but I’m trying to paint a picture of how ridiculous it is that world hunger exists. We have become so effective at producing food with modern technology that hunger should not exist anywhere. And believe me, it exists in more than just first world countries. People are starving in our town and everywhere around us. So if I had unlimited resources, I would back organizations like Feed My Starving Children and wipe out world hunger.
ReplyDeleteRachel, I agree with you. World hunger is a thing because selfishness, greed, and apathy exist. Many people simply aren't interested because it doesn't affect them. This is a good reminder for me not to take for granted food.
DeleteI agree with you I would also try to fight world hunger because we don't always realize how fortunate we are but after this video I appreciate living in Crystal lake so much more and hope to give to people living in poverty.
DeleteI agree with you. We are so fortunate here, and it also makes my skin crawl. Your cause is also incredible. I think many people look past the fact that this is a huge issue.
DeleteI totally agree. A lot of times we take for granted what we have access to, such as clean water, food, and shelter. It's important to give back so that we could provide those who don't have those things with what they need to survive.
DeleteI love how you said, "So if I had unlimited resources, I would back organizations like Feed My Starving Children and wipe out world hunger." After reading this I think of how much we take for granted, our clean water, comfy houses and food that is always at the touch of our fingertips. We never really think outside our own lives and about helping the less fortunate.
DeleteThat's such an important cause Rachael! I totally agree with you! I'm pretty sure you have done Feed My Starving Children before, but I love volunteering there because its so simple but helps so may people! Hopefully one day the problem of hunger is solved!
DeleteI love you idea of backing programs that are already running. Instead of spending all your resources creating a whole new program, you could give the majority to already successful nonprofits to further boost the impact they're creating.
DeleteI think that this world needs more people like Jimmy Carter and the world would be a much better place. The way that Jimmy Carter helped was by creating his organization to fight against these parasites. He did this out of the kindness of his heart and I am glad that he got rewarded. If I had enough money I would start a organization to fight breast cancer. I would choose breast cancer because someone in my family is fighting breast cancer. I would put all my money towards finding the cure for it and to help screening women more often because if you find the disease early it is much easier to get rid of.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Caige that there should be more Jimmy Carter's in the world than there are. I also think that your cause is an awesome one and I wish I could do that too.
DeleteI agree with Caige we are very privileged to not have to deal with some of the things that others around the world have to deal with on a day to day basis and we need more people like Jimmy Carter to help them.
DeleteFor most animals, extinction is bad but in this case it's a good thing. I think the extinction of the guinea worm will eliminate one less worry and disease for those in Nigeria
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the articles and watching the video I feel a lot more educated on Guinea Worm disease. It is awesome that we have come this far over the years and reduced to only around 150 cases in 4 countries. I certainly am glad that someone like Jimmy Carter could take on this task of fully eliminating this disease. With the help of his foundation he has really lived up to the Noble Prize he was awarded in 2002. If I could choose a cause to put my time and efforts into it would be the issue of child starvation around the world. I think that as a person living in one of the wealthiest nations in the world it should be our job to help those who are in need. Overall, I believe that we should be Helping those who are less fortunate than us.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I think it’s a huge accomplishment that Carter made and how determined he has been throughout the whole process. It also shows that he is very dedicated to what he chose to do. I bet he faced many obstacles to where he could have given up he didn't let that happen.
DeleteI agree with you I was a lot more educated after watching the video too. Helping those in need is very important too. People should take the time to help those who are not as fortunate as us.
DeleteI agree that child starvation is also a very worthy cause. It would definitely be much more difficult to get rid of, but I think is possible. We should be doing more to get rid of this awful thing that is happening around our world.
DeleteI agree with Kim that it's amazing that over the years we have been able to reduce the amount of cases of guinea worm. Also I agree with Kim that Jimmy Carter has been such an influence to these people and has really fought to get rid of this disease.
DeleteI agree, I think that the eradication of a parasite is no easy task and that it's incredible we've almost done it. I also agree that we should put our focus into aiding people without food, but we shouldn't just focus on children
DeleteI believe that eradicating the guinea worm is beneficial to all the countries that have problems with it. The man who has led the fight against these worms is jimmy Carter. His organization provides funds and educates the people of the villages. He had one village dig a deep well he paid for and then the Guinea worm was gone from that village. If I had tremendous influence and funding my cause would be helping war vetrans because when they come home from serving our country they have no money and no homes and that's not right.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your cause because all of the war veterans that come home after combat and have risked their lives for their country, deserve to be rewarded with a comforting home right when they return.
DeleteI definitely agree. Jimmy Carter and his organization massively impacted the people in the villages with no safe water to drink. Also, funding towards war veterans sounds like a great cause because I know that it can be rough for many veterans who come back home and have nothing.
DeleteI agree with your cause, people who have spent their lives protecting people voluntarily or even involuntarily should at least come back to a place they can call home.
DeleteFormer president Jimmy Carter is the one guy to tackle neglected tropical diseases. With the Guinea Worm he went to every village that has been affected by it and told them better ways to be drinking water. One of the villages he told was to filter the water just with a simple screen to keep the fleas that the Guinea Worm comes from out. Another village was told to dig a well and get fresh water from there. All of this advice he has given villages helped reduce the disease by 99%. If I had the money to change something in the world it would be to reduce the number of people in poverty like the Health Poverty Action or the Global Poverty Project organizations. In order to do this I would to build places for people to stay once they've got a step in the right direction and have them check back with people until they have things really going on their own. This would help make the world a better place because then there wouldn't be so many people on the streets, instead they would have a home and job to attend to.
ReplyDeleteI love what you said about how it would make the world a better place because if people on the streets could get the support they need, they can achieve whatever they want. Everyone deserves a chance to show all the potential they have.
DeleteIn response to Emily, I like your cause of helping people who are in poverty and I agree that this is a recurring problem we can work to solve. I think that once we have more people working instead of on the streets, that it will also help to boost the economy. Even though this might be a hard task to achieve with not many available jobs out there, I believe if you follow those steps and we create more jobs, then your dream could turn into a reality.
DeleteI agree with Emily. The disease was neglected for a long time, but now look at what has happened after we started to work to put an end to it. Jimmy Carter gave attention to the Guinea Worm and now it has been reduced by 99%.
DeleteI actually said I would help feed the hungry as well. Hunger can be just as devastating as a disease such as the Guinea Worm and needs to end.
DeleteThe accomplishments of Jimmy Carter was incredible. Carter spent a lot of time and energy on this subject. Cater helped out thousands of towns, and in the process of this, he also helped 25 million people. He gave the people techniques to help them with filtering the water to prevent the disease. He made it possible for the people to not suffer through this disease and has almost made it so the parasite aren't a problem anymore. Not only is Carter preventing this disease, but he is giving the people the ability to be healthy by drinking clean water. Carter has had a huge success in the health organization.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the interview and watching the video this showed true determination on the behalf of Jimmy Carter. What stuck out to me, was when it stated in the article that the Guinea worm disease decreased from an estimated 3.5 million cases worldwide in the mid-1980s to just 148 in 2013 and 126 in 2014, according to the WHO. That’s a huge decrease of cases! What I also found very interesting was the reason behind Carter’s choice of taking on the Guinea worm. Dr. Peter Borne came to the Carter Center because he couldn't get anyone else to tackle this problem. It was in such remote villages that no one wanted to take on the task. Carter and his wife started in 1986 and still do it to this day. Which is also amazing to see that he has made such a huge impact to where this disease is almost gone. If I were to support a cause I would choose to help families in need. To allow them to have food on their table every day and a roof over their head. I would do this because I feel that it’s very important to help those around you and especially ones in need. Also, to know that if I have helped at least one family get to a better place that’s truly rewarding.
ReplyDeleteKatelyn...this is a great cause. There are so many families out there that do not have enough food. Have you volunteered at the Crystal Lake Food Pantry?
DeleteIn my opinion, it is great that we are finally getting rid of Guinea Worm, as it is a painful parasite that was a major threat to many people. Jimmy Carter has helped many people by educating and helping raise awareness for the parasite by going to infected villages and showing the people how to clean the water and treat it. If I could help one cause, it would be to help fight against animal cruelty and get pets into good homes. I would choose this cause because I have three dogs who are all rescued, and all of them have their own unique story of how they came to be our dogs.
ReplyDeleteLauren...I know that you are passionate about animals. Do you think that your career in the future will have something to do with saving animals?
DeleteI agree with Rachael that we are extremely lucky to be in Crystal Lake and that we don't have to battle a parasite like guinea worm. I think that you are right that if everyone stopped wasting food, that we could help the hunger problem.
ReplyDeleteJimmy Carter and the Carter Center’s efforts towards the eradication of the guinea worm parasite are unbelievable. They have been able to eliminate 99% of the guinea worm cases worldwide and they hope to eliminate the entire parasite within the next year or two. Jimmy Carter has had all this success by helping out all the countries affected by the guinea worm parasite and he has taught these people ways to prevent this parasite, including ways to purify the contaminated water. The influence Jimmy Carter has brought upon the world, makes me realize how many huge problems exist in this world, that no one brings to attention. If I was a person with tremendous influence and an unlimited supply of funds, my cause would be towards a major issue: world hunger. World hunger is an ongoing problem within our universe that can be fixed, but no one seems to shine much attention on this subject. The fact that so many people suffer from this terrible factor throughout the world seems irrelevant because of the amount of food we have around us, but we don’t realize the amount of food we waste. To help stop this problem, I would make sure my voice is heard throughout the world and gain a few other people to go on the mission with me.
ReplyDeleteI concur with Elise's point that we Americans fail to see the big picture; we don't realize how much food we have in comparison to poorer countries of the world, and, when we do, we dismiss the problem and keep eating. Mitigating world hunger in third world countries would be a huge step forward in the human condition.
DeleteI think getting rid of the Guinea Worm would be great for those who live in the countries Asia or Africa. Families would be able to send their kids to school, and would be able to work on their crops. Jimmy Carter helped eliminate the Guinea Worm by teaching villagers to use simple cloth nets to filter the water. Also, by informing people all around the world about this horrible parasite. If I had an unlimited supply of funds I would help find a cure for cancer. I would help research and test cancer to hopefully find a cure for it one day. I would try to make this world a better place by helping peoples love ones who are sick. Because if I knew someone who was very sick I would want someone to help that person.
ReplyDeleteMadie--The last unit of this quarter will explore cancer. Do you know someone with cancer? What type of cancer would you like to cure?
DeleteNow that the guinea worm is eradicated, it will take a lot of issues away from Nigeria and other countries that have dealt with the problem. Jimmy Carter has been a massive help to the cause, providing funds and education to those suffering from having no safe water to drink. He has made the stretch to reach out to these villages to provide them with safe, drinkable water. If I funded towards a cause it would probably be towards any type of cancer. I know many people that have suffered or are suffering from cancer, and if I had the ability to make an impact I definitely would.
ReplyDeleteKyle,
DeleteYou and Madie will both cure cancer. What type of cancer would you try to eradicate?
It would be great if cancer was cured, it hasn't affected my life directly but it's affected the lives of friends and family members.
DeleteI agree with Kyle that cancer should be eradicated, because I know people that have suffered from it and seen what they had to endure and it does not look fun.
DeleteI agree with Kyle because, it will take a lot of problems away, and less stress for countries who have and are dealing with the problem. I also chose with my funds to donate it to some type of cancer also, since I know people who have battled cancer and It just takes a lot out of people who have had it.
DeleteAlmost eliminating the guinea worm has been very effective to all the people in the countries that have this parasite or have experienced it. Jimmy Carter helped eliminate this parasite by educating the people in the villages and funding programs that help with providing a clean water supply. If I were a person with tremendous influence and an unlimited supply of funds then I would help homeless people. It isn't always their fault when they end up on the streets and I think if I could help those people I would because nobody deserves to live that kind of life.
ReplyDeleteI agree and I think that what you would do with unlimited funds would be a great way to use those.
DeleteI like the idea of helping the homeless. It is so terrible to see people walking around with no home to go to and no bed to sleep in. That would be really cool to help them out.
DeleteI agree with you Kendall. I think that we take many things for granted and we would never understand how it might feel like sleeping on the streets every night. I really like the idea of helping the homeless out. I think if we really tried we could eliminate many off the streets.
DeleteI believe that the eradication of the guinea worm is an incredible step forward for many 3rd world countries. It allows farmers to continue farming, it allows builders to continue building, and so on. This gives them more resources to grow and develop without worrying about the guinea worm. With an unlimited supply of funds, and tremendous influence, I would spend money towards eradicating diseases, similar to Jimmy Carter. This would bring an unarguable improvement to the lives of many, if not all people. Not only that, but once a disease is eradicated, it would be completely cured and never seen again.
ReplyDeleteI think it’s awesome that we are so close to eradicating this terrible disease. I think it’s really cool that Jimmy Carter has done so much for this cause. He has the funds and I think helping people would be the best way to spend those dollars. If I had that kind of money I would definitely try to educate people on a terrible disease similar to what Jimmy Carter did. Without his help, they wouldn’t be as close to eradicating the species as they are now. I feel like everyone should be able to have a shot at a healthy life, and getting rid of diseases that cause so much pain is definitely something we should work towards.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Grace, without Carter's help guinea worm would still be and continue to be a huge issue in 3rd world countries. Everyone should have the opportunity to live a healthy life in a community where you don't need to think twice about completing a daily activity such as drinking water. Ridding of diseases like dracunculiasis is a great cause to work towards.
DeleteI agree with Grace too. When someone has enough money it is a good thing to use it towards educating people and helping to eliminate diseases like the Guniea Worm.
DeleteAfter reading the articles and watching the videos of guinea worm disease slowly decreasing, It makes me happy. Jimmy Carter is a huge reason that guinea worm has decreased so dramatically. He is working so hard to get rid of the horrible, painful, and life changing bacteria that is impacting Countries all around the globe so negatively. JImmy Carter has been educating people all around the globe on the safety of water and has been trying to find a safe and clean water supply for all of the people that dont have safe water to drink. If I had a lot of money to help out a cause, I would choose to help out the cancer foundation. Cancer has affected so many people in the world. If we could somehow find a way to cure the disease, we would be saving thousands of people everywhere. I could not imagine how amazing that would be to see so many people being cured from something that we never could.
ReplyDeleteAbby,
DeleteClean water is a huge deal. I buy the TOMS coffee because they pay to clean water with the money from the coffee. Great cause.
I think it's amazing that someone is trying to fight this disease. Jimmy carter is doing a great job, and i love the determination he has for curing this disease (which he has been trying to do since 1986). He is doing a fantastic job at educating people about how to stop the guinea worm, and all of it is about to pay off. It makes me really happy that he goes to every single one of the villages that suffers from the guinea worm. It just shows how much he really cares.If i had enough money and influence to create a cause, I would create shelters all over that country for people that don't have a place to go. I believe that everyone should have somewhere safe to go when there aren't any options. Therefore, by creating these shelters, it would give people the ability to go somewhere when there isn't anywhere left to go.
ReplyDeleteHannah,
DeleteHave you ever volunteered for PADS? There is a huge PADS fundraiser in the springtime to raise money for local shelters. I will see if I can find you some information.
After reading and watching the informative and uplifting story of how Jimmy Carter helping people in need, it made me realize just how big of a difference a person can make. He first started his Carter Center by asking his doctor about the freshwater problems and what would result in drinking bad water. He then decided that since no one else wanted to go anywhere near the villages that needed the most help, he took on the challenge. He began in 1986 and has visited exactly twenty six thousand and five hundred villages. To me that is the most amazing story of how one person cared enough to help people that didn't back down. If I were to have enough wealth and I was of great influence I would help by putting time forth to helping uneducated children get a better education. I always see on the news that many neighborhoods don't get to go to school because their parents don't have enough money to have them attend it. I would make it my goal to help find an alternative route for kids to find some form or passion for education and school for people who can't afford it.
ReplyDeleteOne of my former students enrolled in Teach America. I think that they give scholarships to students who will promise to teach in poor areas when they are certified teachers. You could probably coach soccer too.
DeleteFor many years in Nigeria and all over Africa and Asia, people have been suffering with a parasite called, Guinea worm. Thanks to huge efforts by Jimmy Carter and his campaign to combat the disease, through funds and teaching ways to prevent and stop the disease, the Guinea worm almost ceases to exist. If I had that kind of money and authority, I would probably start building more schools in South America, in order to root out illiteracy. There are so many children and people all over South America who never get the chance to make a life for themselves because they can’t afford to go to school. So if I had enough money, I would construct schools, that are free to attend, where children can go during the day and adults at night(that way parents can still work). This cause is really near and dear to me because I’ve grown up with many hispanic students whose parents have immigrated to the United States and financially couldn’t even finish sixth grade. Hopefully, someday, if I get the opportunity to build these schools and help educate more people, future Latino generations will have more than McDonalds in their future.
ReplyDeleteThe eradication of guinea worm will be a huge leap for poverty struck communities where this pain invoking parasite thrives. With the extinction of the guinea worm will come economically improved communities and overall healthier people, the people suffering from the worms intrusive life cycle will no longer have to worry about something as simple as taking a cool sip of water. Jimmy Carter’s efforts to eliminate dracunculiasis are taking their toll and have so far dropped the number of guinea worm cases by 99%. By informing the Twenty-six thousand five hundred some villages aided by the Carter Center of prevention methods and supplying them with the most effective water filters Carter’s foundation could buy, the parasites population has plummeted. Jimmy Carters cause is great and his foe large, he is considerably brave to tackle such a big world issue. If I had the same influence and fund availability as Carter I would also attempt to make the world a better place by taking on an issue caused by contaminated water. The issue of unclean water is well known and a seemingly impossible issue to solve, but I’m sure many said that about the guinea worm before Jimmy Carter stepped in. Although dracunculiasis was a powerful enemy, Carter proved he was better. Carter is quite the inspiration and I think the story of his determination should be shared with others looking to make a change.
ReplyDeleteGrace,
DeleteDo you remember in the Parasite movie how they talked about contaminated water in Milwaukee? Also the Cholera outbreak in South America was mentioned in that video. Clean water is a cause I also feel strongly about.
After reading the article and watching the video I am happy with Jimmy Carter's efforts in eradicating the guinea worm. Jimmy Carter and the Carter Center are helping eradicate this disease by supplying water filters, educating the people about safe water, putting safe chemicals in the water to clean it and providing safe water from underground wells. If I had enough money to make a real dent in a world issue it would be giving care to people with a mental illness because they are the most neglected. I would be helping the world by saving people from taking their own life.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a very good cause because the government has been reducing the amount of funding to help people with mental illness.
DeleteJimmy Carter's attempt to alleviate the effects of the parasite known as the Guinea worm is an honorable cause. He went where no one else offered to go and did what no one else wanted to do: he visited several African villages and taught them how to prevent Guinea worm. He showed them simple techniques, such as a cloth water filter, and more complicated techniques, such as an underground water well.
ReplyDeleteGiven unlimited funds and great influence on others, a project I would like to begin is the complete termination of slavery. Although most Americans don't realize it, slavery in America was not completely abolished with the thirteenth amendment: Companies in the U.S. continue to use foreign child slaves and underpaid workers to make their products in overseas sweatshops. The reason I'd choose this goal over something like ending hunger or ending poverty is the same reason Jimmy Carter chose to wipe out Guinea worm: Nobody else wants to do it, and people tend to swipe this particular issue under the rug, unlike hunger and poverty. Freedom is important to humans, but slavery has been around since the beginnings of civilization, and eliminating it would obviously be a momentous step forward in mankind.
What would be your first step? Where would you start? This is definitely a cause that most Americans don't even realize exists.
DeleteNot only do people think that slavery is completely gone in America, but in the world also. In the country Qatar, slavery is legal, and people don't even know that it's happening. We love to turn the other cheek and not even acknowledge stuff like that is still there.
DeleteThis is a great summary and it hits all the main points that Jimmy Carter did,
DeleteThe work that Jimmy Carter did to eradicate the Guinea worm was incredible. First of all, the fact that at one point harmful parasite was affecting around 3.5 million people is a terrible thing. It is really neat that over the years we have been able to drop that to only 126 people is amazing. The help of the Jimmy Carter and the Carter Center has helped so much with removing 99% of this parasite. They were there to tackle the problem when no one else was willing to do it. I think that when the extinction of the guinea worm happens, this could lead to a better future where we will attempt to rid the world of other parasites also. So, I think that Jimmy Carter definitely deserves his Nobel Prize. He saved many people from a future filled with pain and agony. If I had unlimited resources, I would probably put them towards helping rid less-fortunate countries of other deadly diseases such as malaria or meningitis. If the world can take out one deadly parasite, I am sure they could take out another.
ReplyDeleteWow...can you imagine if we were able to eliminate malaria? That would be awesome.
DeleteI agree with you, it would be awesome to rid the world of harmful diseases. Jimmy Carter's work truly is incredible and I think we can learn a lot from him.
DeleteI think that this was a great idea. Jimmy Carter helped eliminate Guinea Worm just by teacher the people how to use simple filtering systems for their water. If I were a famous person with a tremendous amount of impact on the world, I would try to eliminate the Asian Carp that have plagued our country's water ways. These fish are responsible for the downfall of many ecosystems due to their lack of natural predators. It won't be long before the Great Lakes are swarmed by these fish. Fishing on the great lakes is a source of income for many families. If the Asian Carp infect these lakes and ruin the ecosystem, these people could be out of a job and unemployed. Asian Carp don't have anything to offer us either. They eat our food's food, and we can't eat the Asian Carp because they have too many bones. Importing food in unhealthy ways is already a health problem for our country, but if the Asian Carp were gone, we would have more edible fish in our country which would reduce imported food.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Matt, I agree with what he is stating because I didn't really think about our country since its strong and powerful vs. the weaker ones in Africa. Eliminating these Asian Carps could really help other ecosystems from being off balanced.
DeleteMatt has a good point. By eliminating Asian Carp you are helping people in multiple areas. With less or none Asian Carp there will be plenty more of other fish which means more food and provides income to families.
DeleteJimmy Carter uses his non profit organization to treat others with the horrible parasite, signifcally lowering the number to 126, oppose to 5 million. A cause I’d to fund for is basically cancer. Cancer affects many of the people in our areas, which is why I’d like to defeat it. eliminating it would cass less tension and mortality. Hopefully this will make my mark on the world.
ReplyDeleteFormer president Jimmy Carter has helped eradicate the guinea worm. I think this is a great cause because it kills so many people on an everyday basis. If the guinea worm went completely extinct so many lives would be saved and dramatically changed. If I had an unlimited supply of money and I was very influential, I would work to keep our military veterans in homes and not out on the streets. After making the biggest sacrifice possible, they deserve to have a place to call home.This might also bring the rate of veteran suicides down tremendously.
ReplyDeleteI feel like the elimination of the guinea worm was not only an extremely helpful step, but it was also a symbol of hope for the human race. If Jimmy Carter could eliminate a disease that use to affect a devastating number of people, then who knows what else we can do that we think is impossible? If i had all the money in the world and was and beyond intelligent, i would try to find a cure for AIDS. I would research this because I've always though AIDS would be one of the scariest conditions to have, just waiting for a cold to know you out, knowing that every day your immune system becomes weaker. That is truly a devastating way to live. If i could, i would open up huge research labs just for AIDS and HIV research. Even if it was hard to find a cure or prevention right away, i would also research ways to slow it down tremendously. I would send people on mission trips to try to find curse in other countries. If we can get rid of the guinea worms, who knows what else we could accomplish.
ReplyDeleteI thought the video was pretty graphic and gross and made me hope I never get guinea worm. But since Jimmy Carter is about to eradicate guinea worm I don't have anything to worry about. Jimmy Carter taught the villagers how to safely get water from wells and from the rivers they were originally getting water from. If I had unlimited funds and had to fight a disease I would choose the flu. Because without the flu millions of people would not be bedridden and and unable to sleep and it would generally make life a lot more easy. That is how I would make the world a better place.
ReplyDeleteI agree with matt, guinea worm parasite looks very painful and makes me rethink how lucky I am to be in a country where safety is a priority. I also liked how he would eradicate the flu...Good idea!!
DeleteIt is a great thing that the Carter fellow was able to almost expunge the guinea worm existence. I think it is cool that he did it because America has clean water and can't get the Guinea worm but the people in Africa can. Carter had a goal which he reached by diligently working. I don't understand why he made it such a commitment though. The water is still dirty and the Africans will still die of starvation or something worse. Also, its not like most of them have Ebola anyway. If I had the time and money to do something great, I would build an atomic bomb shelter with a stock of food and water so that when there is nuclear war, I know that I will be safe.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement about Carter and him eradicating the guinea worm but will the shelter be only for yourself? I'm pretty sure that would not be able to help the rest of the world and there may never even be a nuclear war so it could be totally useless. Have you though about that?
DeleteI partially agree with your statement, Mitch. Yes, there are still hundreds of other diseases in Africa that will be hard to eliminate. However, I think that Jimmy Carter made such a huge commitment so that there would be one less problem for the people of Africa to worry about.
DeleteTimothy, I would do it for me only and it would be important to humanity because I would be the only person left >:) ha ha ha
DeleteI think this article was very interesting and cool because Jimmy Carter helped eliminate the horrible parasite known as the Guinea Worm. What he did to prevent the parasite was that he supplied millions with water filters, safe chemical treatment to water sources, and safe water from underground wells. If I was like Jimmy Carter but had an unlimited supply in funds to make my mark on the world, then I would help those who do not have the food and water like we do. I would give them shelter as well because no one deserves to have a harsh life.
ReplyDeleteWhat Jimmy Carter and the Carter foundation is absolutely amazing. What they have done is eliminate only the third parasitic disease, and it doesn't look like they're stopping there. The Carter Center is working on eradicating the world of river blindness. If I had infinite money, I'd make sure no one was hungry, thirsty, bare, or hurt. I'd run the first successful communist government, where everyone was equal.
ReplyDeleteIt is very cool to me that this disease will be completely gone soon. It seems like a very unpleasant disease to have so its great that people won't have to suffer from it for much longer. By giving these people clean drinking water from underground wells, filtering dirty water etc., The Carter Center has made this parasitic disease decimate exponentially. If I had unlimited funding and I was a person with a lot of influence, I would feed the starving people in the world because there are people who get only one meal a day, or no meals a day. With hungry people fed, I think the world would be a much better, and healthier place.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this is a bad disease and I also think that trying to stop world hunger is a good cause to fight for.
Deletei agree with david, if we fed people the world would be a better place but we also would be able to have more workers, and scientists to find cures for more diseases like guinea worm.
DeleteEliminating a parasite is a huge accomplishment for the world. Only ever being done twice before, I think it can give more hope to parts of third world countries that are facing the guinea worm problem. By visiting and helping give clean water to villages, Jimmy Carter has helped eradicate the issue. If I were in a position to help the world, I would search to cure and prevent the world's leading diseases. More people would be able to experience life instead of falling to illness.
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ReplyDeleteAfter watching the video, and reading the interview with Jimmy Carter, I think that Guinea worm is more painful than it sounds than how it feels and especially if you have it, you won't know until about a whole year later and then having to pull it out inch by inch, day by day. Wow what a pain some of them who get Guinea worm have to go through. Jimmy Carter helped eliminate this parasite was by creating an organization to fight against not only Guinea worm but, other parasites around the world. The amount of dedication and kindness Jimmy Carter has not only put into this organization, but especially over that at africa with Guinea worm is absolutely amazing and especially since he has recently turned 90! I am very glad he got rewarded because of this. If I had an unlimited amount of funds, I would donate it to not just a breast Cancer society, but a Cancer as a whole kind of society because I could not imagine what the feeling is of waking up everyday and not knowing you will be able to live tomorrow with cancer inside of you it is truly a sad thing.
My cause, if I had unlimited funds, was the same! I would too try to find the cure for cancer. Something that surprised me was how he is 90 years old and he is still trying to stop these terrible parasites. If he is able to accomplish this, third world countries will be a lot safer.
DeleteIn the case of guinea worm, I believe that the extinction of this species would be a great accomplishment. Because of Jimmy Carter, the number of people with Guinea Worm is at 126 cases in 4 countries. Without him, the number of people with it would be at 3.5 million and most likely higher. Not only would this be an accomplishment for Jimmy Carter, it would be a large accomplishment for the whole world. Guinea Worms would be the second species to be eliminated. If I could give my money to any cause, it would be to help find a cure for breast cancer. I recently had a relative who went through breast cancer. If we could eliminate this disease, it would alleviate the struggle and pain that these people with breast cancer have to go through. I believe any cause that needs help and can be helped, should be given just as much attention, even if it is a smaller or larger case that needs to be eliminated.
ReplyDeleteJimmy Carter has made a huge impact on people living in places infested with Guinea Worm. He has taught people how to properly and safely drink water and helped water purifiers become easier to access. If I had unlimited funds, I would eliminate animal cruelty. I think it is important for people to understand how detrimental animal abuse can be. It is a continuously growing issue in the U.S., and it is time for a change. Animals can’t express their feelings (obviously) so there needs to be people to explain how cruel and harmful animal cruelty really is.
ReplyDeleteI think Jimmy Carter has done a great thing by helping with the elimination of the Guinea worm. He's done so by installing water treatments, and providing the proper education to people in those places affected by this awful parasite. If I were given unlimited funds and had tremendous influence, my cause would be to help those who have diseases and do the best I can to prevent or even cure them. I feel that it's very important to inform people about different diseases so that they get a better understanding, as well as take precaution. By doing this, my hope would be that people could return to living their normal lives and not have to live worrying about what could happen.
ReplyDeleteI think that the eradication of the guinea worm is a great thing for the people pf the carter foundation to work towards. Jimmy carter helped people eliminate this worm by teaching them about the worm and how to help prevent it. Finally if I had unlimited funds and influence I would dedicate my time to trying to help stop all of the pollution and also I would fight to stop the spread of other harmful diseases in 3rd world countries. So we could take another step closer to eradicating some of the most harmful diseases.
ReplyDeleteI liked the article because I thought it was very interesting. Jimmy Carter did an amazing thing to help get close on the eradication of a painful parasite called guinea worm. He also visited different villages in Africa and has taught them different techniques to help prevent this parasite. For example, Jimmy Carter helped install deep wells in order to get fresh and clean water for the entire village.
ReplyDeleteIf I were a famous person with unlimited funds, I would donate and help to find a cure for cancer. Many people in the world have different types of cancer and the disease is growing and increasing in numbers. Some people may take cancer lightly but people don’t realize that it is a constant and daily struggle for many people around the world.
I think that these articles are absolutely amazing! The fact that Jimmy Carter put so much effort and attention into this seemingly impossible task and accomplished it is just so inspiring! If I had unlimited funds I would start a foundation that would help deserving, loving families/couples to afford adoption. There are so many sweet, innocent children looking for homes and so many good families that are willing to adopt, but just can’t afford it. Adoption can be $40,000+ and my cause would help families to have the children they always dreamed of having. I would especially promote adopting children with mental and physical disabilities. There are so many children who deserve a forever family but are left behind in an orphanage because they have an extra chromosome, or don’t have the ability to walk, and it breaks my heart. So I would for sure do that with my funds.
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DeleteI also find it amazing how after putting so much work and time into this cause that the goals of this foundation are nearly close to being accomplished! Its incredible to think that someone could accomplish so much and have such a big effect on the world.
Without Guinea Worm people can go to school, work and live their lives without fear of this parasite found in one of their life sources, water. But by the help of former president Jimmy Carter and his Carter Center this parasitic disease has decreased by 99% and it is almost eradicated from the earth. That is so amazing how the Carter Center has educated their people to eradicate the Guinea Worm. The pain on the children's faces made me hurt because no child should live in pain or fear. I believe children are so important, they feel, think and react so differently than adults. If I had a tremendous influence and an unlimited supply of funds, I would go to around our world setting up bases where children can learn, grow, eat, play and sleep. A huge care center to let children express their creativity and have opportunities they would never have before.
ReplyDeleteI think Jimmy Carter was a big part of eliminating the Guniea Worm disease. Not only did he start the Carter Center, but he seemed to be personally involved in the campaign. I also like how he focused on eliminating the disease so that the people's lives could be better, especially for kids to be able to go to school. I think if I had funds like that to create a new campaign, I would also focus on eliminating disease that can affect so many people, especially children.
ReplyDeleteFormer president Jimmy Carter has played a huge part in eliminating the guinea worm. The guinea worm has been a problem for many people in South Africa, Jimmy Carter has stopped this problem by sending them water filtration devices and teaching them how to prevent and get rid of the parasite. He has even lowered the number of people with the disease from over 5 million to 126! If I had the fame and money to make a large impact on the world I would help out the fight to stopping HIV. About 50,000 people a year are infected by HIV in America and 2.8 million die a year. Stopping HIV would help a lot of people world wide and that's why I would try to stop it.
ReplyDeleteI feel like stopping HIV would help a lot also
DeleteI thought that it was amazing Jimmy Carter was able to help eradicate the Guinea worm. Im glad to live here where we don't have to fear about unclean water. Im sure it will make life much easier for the people of Nigeria. The cause i would put money toward is definitely breast cancer. My aunt has been struggling with breast cancer for a while now. My cousin (her son) who is a professional goaltender in hockey had a special goalie mask created that has two breast cancer ribbons on either side of the mask that he wears in every game he plays.
ReplyDeleteI think it’s really sad that water, something a lot of people take for granted, could cause people in Africa and Asia to get the Guinea worm. I can not imagine taking a drink and wondering if it is clean or not. While the Guinea worm is not a problem in the United States, if we have the resources to eliminate it then we should. This is exactly what former president Jimmy Carter did. To bring hope to another country, even after he served as president, is a true act of kindness. He did not just bring resources and treatment to eliminate the Guinea worm, but a feeling of hope to all the people who had experienced this terrible parasite. If I could, I would help homeless people obtain a permanent place to live. I could do this by building small communities of tiny homes that would give people the security of knowing where they are going to stay. Tiny homes are cost effective, clean, safe and portable. This would allow the homes to be located where the need is greatest. Owning a home helps people feel secure and instills a sense of pride through home ownership, while allowing for individuality and the flexibility to relocate for jobs. Just like Jimmy Carter brought hope through the security of clean water I would offer hope through the ability to have a place to live.
ReplyDeletei think that eradicating this terrible parasite would be a major impact thanks to Jimmy Carter. He was able to stop it by finding where it was and then warning the others where it was. Also, he provided a water treatment system. If I had unlimited funds, I would try to find the cure for cancer. Although it would be very difficult, my plan would be to see what other scientists did and try to get a jump start. By this I would make the world a better place because overall, it is the right thing to do.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that a disease that causes so much pain and so many death is nearly irradiated is great. Jimmy Carter is leading this great cause which started off as 3.5 million cases and now it is almost gone. The life cycle must be broken by not having any diseases for one year. Once Guinea Worm is no longer in the world, people can get back to living their normal lives. Kids can go to school, parents can drink water with one less concern, and now because of Jimmy Carter, villages have wells and more knowledge on the disease. This is the best thing in a while that has happened to Africa, and I'm very happy that this is nearly gone.
ReplyDeleteJimmy Carter accomplished an admirable feat by nearly eradicating the Guinea worm. In particular, the extinction of the parasite is commendable because it is something that we, as Americans, often overlook. With that, I applaud Carter’s efforts. To accomplish his goal he had to provide the affected countries with proper filtration as well as educate these places on contaminated water. Most importantly, he had determination. This was not something he could fix in a day; it took almost thirty years to eliminate the parasite. Personally, If I were to ever be an influential figure in society I would choose to tackle homelessness. Often times homelessness is not taken seriously. We may provide food and temporary sleeping arrangements, but these only help momentarily without bettering their future circumstances. So if I were to run a campaign against homelessness I would provide the essential services that one would need to get a job such as grooming, showering, job training, and the supply of formal outfits. By helping the homeless to gain a stable income we set them up to support themselves. In doing this we not only lessen the amount of those who are homeless but we also boost the economy. Homelessness is something that I have always cared about, especially when it incorporates veterans. It irks me that those who fight for our country aren’t being assisted when they return if they have no home to call their own.
ReplyDeleteGoodbye, Guinea worm. Jimmy Carter definitely had a key role in eliminating this disease through his planning, funding, and development of the Carter Center, but as the Worldsciencefair article states, "Guinea worm eradication is like an orchestra: Every player has to play their own instrument but play from the same page of music". Although Carter has done phenomenal work personally, his efforts are matched by those in the villages and communities who are working to eradicate the disease firsthand everyday. If I had unlimited resources, I would fund programs in Guatemala to build and run good public schools. The public schools there are dilapidated, dangerous, and have very small resources. To truly get a good education you have to pay for private schools which most of the poor population can't afford. I chose Guatemala specifically because although I would like to help many other countries with this problem as well, I think my efforts would be more successful if I spend all my time on one specific thing or area like Carter did with the Guinea worm, and once the situation is fixed in that area I could move on to the next.
ReplyDeleteJimmy Carter truly has done a great amount to help have the guinea worm extinct. He has helped treat many villages in Africa where it is common because if their dirty water supply. Jimmy Carter has helped these people by giving the, a simple "filter". He showed them that they could use a piece of cloth to suparate the parasites from the water. He has truly shown how we can all help the world. If I had unlimited funding and a great amount of influence I would help kids stay in school and get a college degree. There are many poor people in the world and this is because they are unable to find a job. The most likely reason for this is because they do not have a college degree and if they did then they would be able to have a job and a better life.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great sign of the progress we've made in the world of medicine. Total eradication of any type of disease is quite the accomplishment, and to see it happen with a none profit organization proves that any thing can happen. If I had the kind of influence Jimmy carter has, I would work to give schools better funding. If more kids can recieve better education, then advances, such as the guinea worm eradication, will become more common.
ReplyDeleteI think that the elimination the the Guinea worm is a huge relief to all of the people who have been or were at risk of being affected by it. Jimmy Carter helped crush this parasite by spreading awareness about the importance of freshwater and by having the funds to help fight against this parasite. If I had the funds to help with anything in the world I would want to fund schools that may not have the resources and supplies they need, because not every school is fortunate enough to have computers, desks, and many other of the supplies that we use on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteI agree that ridding the world of guinea worm is a great achievement for carter, and that many will benefit from his actions.
DeleteI think that the work Jimmy Carter has been doing to help eliminate the Guinea worm is wonderful. Jimmy Carter and his team has helped to get the number of people effected by Guinea worm from millions to just hundreds. That is simply amazing. If I had unlimited funds and resources I would try to go to a third world country and build safe, well ventilated homes as well as build hospitals to help people who need medical attention or medicine.
ReplyDeleteJimmy Carters actions in getting rid of guinea worm was a very admirable action. He did something no one else wanted to, and he did it for the benefit of many people other than himself. Carter traveled throughout many countries affected by guinea worm and showed the people techniques such as a cloth filter to keep themselves safe from the parasite. If I were in the position of carter, I would use my power and resources to help end world hunger. Being constantly malnurished takes away from ones potential to do great things for themselves and others. It causes them to have a lack the energy needed to make a better life for themselves, and it takes away time by forcing people to attempt to find food rather than take productive actions.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alexander. Carter's actions are very admirable. He risked his own life and health in order to help many other people, and that's amazing. Jimmy Carter show that anything is possible when you set your mind to it and after 27 years, all of his hard work is finally paying off.
DeleteSince 1986, Jimmy Carter started the non-profit organization called Carter Center. With the motto, “Wage peace, fight disease and build hope”, this organization has been working extremely hard to help the estimated 3.5 million people affected by Guinea Worm. Carters hard work payed off and guniea worm is extinct. I think that this is an awesome organization and I think it is incredible the work and effort jimmy carter put into this! By educating the people and making sure they had their nets to filter the water, and more, this horrible disease is almost eliminated. If I had a cause, I would love to help children all over the world get educated. I feel that education is so important in life as we know it today. In fact, I would do anything that has to do with kids. I love little kids and seeing smiles on their faces!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.worldsciencefestival.com/2015/01/guinea-worm/
ReplyDeleteThe Guinea worm is ingested through drinking dirty water, it will be the first parasitic disease that was completely wiped out. Through better water filtration systems the cases have dropped from 3.5 million cases in 1980’s down to 126 in 2014. These worms can sprout from anywhere in your body but it mostly comes from the lower leg area. The only way to treat it is as it sprouts wrap it around a stick until the whole worm has left your body. Unlike Ebola it doesn't usually use animals as its victims so as long as we stop human infestation it can be eliminated in our lifetime. i would be happy if we eliminated this because it would give us one less thing to have to worry about.
After reading the article and watching the videos it made me happy what Jimmy Carter has accomplished. I think it is awesome that he took took on the challenge to eliminate the Guinea Worm. It was so sad watching people go through this painful thing that is living in there body. I think if I had a ton of money I would try to start in organization to find a cure for cancer. I believe that if we all start to research and take more test we could find a clue to cure cancer. Also if I could make this world a better place I would help as many people that aren't as fortunate.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that we should put more towards research for cancer because of the many people that struggle through it yet still don't have the proper medicine to help them treat it.
DeleteAfter reading all these articles I can say that we have improved in finding cures for diseases because of how far our science has come. And one of the men that has helped us was Jimmy Carter, he wanted to help improve others lives before benefiting himself and I believe that is one of the reason why he has come so far in fighting the Guinea Worm. And I believe that if i was a rich philanthropist I would try to p people who are either struggling with disabilities or lupus because my mom has that disease and knowing first hand all the pain that she has to deal with everyday is something that I wouldn't want anyone else to feel, and I also think my mom would be proud and happy that I chose to help that cause.
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