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ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Con

Meanwhile, in California….
-Brianna Ganzon

In recent months, almost everyone with an Instagram can’t scroll down their feed without escaping an ALS Ice Bucket Challenge posted someone whom they follow.

The Ice Bucket Challenge entails this: Pour a bucket of freezing ice water on yourself and nominate several people to do so as well. If they accept the challenge, they have 24 hours to mimic your actions, but if they fail to do so, must donate $100 to the ALS Association.

I think that almost everyone can agree that the spreading awareness about Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease has benefitted the ALS Association in terms of donations for their research and care. ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s, is a chronic, fatal, neurological disease. It is a degenerative disease that kills nerve cells which control vital muscle functions.

While spreading awareness for a deteriorating disease like ALS is very admirable, Californians also have to become aware of the drought that plagues our state.

According to the theblaze.com, as of August 19th, 6 million gallons have been used by Americans partaking in the chilly challenge. This translates to 19,000 homes’ daily water usage being allocated to the challenge.

Another downfall of the challenge is that many nominees participate in the challenge while standing on the pavement. At the very least, you can redeem yourself while partaking in this waste of water by standing on a dry patch of grass.

At least the water that you dump on yourself will hydrate the greenery around you. It honestly drives me insane to see people sloshing close to six gallons of water straight onto the pavement when it can at least be recycled by watering plants.

Photo Courtest of pun.org

On the other hand, many constituents don’t even know what the challenge is for. Basically, they’re wasting water and tittering around in a puddle of ice water without understanding the cause.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s amazing that the ALS Association has received over $100 million in donations. However, Californians in particular need to be aware of the fact that a drought is very present in our state. We can donate to the cause and spread awareness without producing detrimental effects on our environment.

Written by Uma Vaingankar

Uma Vaingankar is a junior and the Centerspread editor. She is a free spirit and spontaneous soul and enjoys spending her free time in the out doors. She likes going on hikes and spending all day soaking up the sun at the beach with her friends during the summer. She says that cliff-diving at Sunset Cliffs was the most memorable and dare-devilish thing she has ever done. Uma has been part of the varsity Cross Country and distance Track & Field team since her freshman year and is very close with her team mates. Her favorite memory from Cross Country was when she and her fellow sophomores won their grade-division title at the MC Moving Shoes invite last year. She aspires to get an MBA and open up a bakery shop in her retirement.

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