Say No to the Ice Bucket Challenge

People organize activities to raise public awareness of a social or global need. We are familiar with an annual campaign known as the 30-hour Famine aimed at drawing attention to the global hunger crisis. School children are sometimes seen picking rubbish on the beach to remind the public to keep the environment clean. These activities have gained wide acceptance as they serve the purpose very well.

The Ice Bucket Challenge, which has grabbed world attention soon after its initiation, is aimed at raising fund for ALS research. It seems to be serving a cause worth great support. In fact, the activity has led to huge donations suggesting hope for a more effective cure for the disease through greater amounts on stringent research. However, it has sparked criticism lately. Why? Personally, I see this as nothing more than a viral phenomenon and would like to see it banned as soon as possible.

The act of dumping ice water on someone is meant to make him feel sympathetic about the kind of suffering the ALS victims are going through. Unfortunately, while some take the challenge with good intention, for some others, the focus is on the fun. The pictures and videos we are exposed to tend to show the ecstatic excitement of the participants. There are many who take the challenge and pass it on, quite ignorant of its original purpose. Some even take this for an in-thing to do. This may lead to a misunderstanding of the plight of the victims and an underestimation of the seriousness of the need for research on this disease.

Then the huge amount of water wasted, and still being wasted, in the name of the Ice Bucket Challenge is no less lamentable. When so much has been said and done to avoid wastage, the idea of pouring bucket and bucket of water on the ground is condemnable. Making ice cubes is itself a waste of power, too. How can we not think of many in the remote parts of China and other drought-stricken areas of the world who have to walk long distances just to get a bucket of water, which they will use and reuse before discarding it finally? For them, every drop of water counts. Are we doing these needy ones justice if we keep wasting water thoughtlessly?

By no means am I heedless for the need for ALS research. I would like to see improved medical advances in this field more than anything else. Having an ALS victim among my family members, I understand just too well what kind of suffering the disease can bring. What I am asking for is a better fund raising activity than the Ice Bucket Challenge.