# 9-17-2023 - Good News Weekend: From Waste to Water, 12-Year-Old Hero, & Lithium Mines

An episode of [Pray News](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1697158801), 16 Sep 2023, 14 min.

Audio: https://podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/ce9a673d-e313-4c0a-9df4-b4d6010c32c6/c011790b-8b3f-45b6-a6da-b4d7000c3608/audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=992944cf-642c-431f-a11e-b4d6010c32cd

This is PrayNews, your Daily Christian news and beacon of hope in the stormy seas of current events. Sign up to receive PrayNews in your inbox every weekday: https://www.praynews.com/ Today’s Good News at a Glance: • Namibia is leading the charge in turning waste into potable drinking water! • A 12-year-old hero credits his CPR skills to watching Netflix. • We revisit our favorite good news story of the week! Pray News is your number 1 source for the top conservative news given to you daily. Download the Pray.com app and make prayer a priority in your life. Watch and listen to inspiring sermons, dramatized Bible stories, and relaxing Bedtime Bible Stories at Pray.com, the digital destination for faith. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

## Transcript

[0:00] Speaker 1: Now on the last and greatest day of the feast,
[0:02] Speaker 1: Jesus stood and cried out, If anyone is thirsty, let
[0:05] Speaker 1: him come to me and drink. John 7, 37 Lord,
[0:10] Speaker 1: we acknowledge our spiritual thirst, a longing that can only
[0:13] Speaker 1: be quenched by you. In a world filled with temporary
[0:17] Speaker 1: satisfaction and fleeting pleasures, remind us the true fulfillment comes
[0:21] Speaker 1: from drawing near to you the living water. May we
[0:24] Speaker 1: always turn to you in our thirst, knowing that you
[0:27] Speaker 1: alone offer us refreshment and renewal that our souls crave.
[0:31] Speaker 1: Help us also to be channels of this living water
[0:33] Speaker 1: to others, leading them to the only source that can
[0:36] Speaker 1: truly satisfy. Thank you, Lord, for the invitation to come
[0:40] Speaker 1: and drink from the well of your eternal love and grace.
[0:43] Speaker 1: It's in the precious name of Jesus, our Lord and
[0:46] Speaker 1: our Savior and our Redeemer, we pray. Amen. Welcome to
[0:51] Speaker 1: Prey News, where hope is our only bias. Today's good
[0:54] Speaker 1: news in a glance. Namibia is leading the charge in
[0:58] Speaker 1: turning waste into potable drinking water. A 12-year-old hero credits
[1:01] Speaker 1: his CPR skills to watching Netflix, and we revisit our
[1:05] Speaker 1: favorite good news story of the week. It's Good News Weekend.
[1:08] Speaker 1: That means we are taking some time to highlight some
[1:10] Speaker 1: heartwarming and lighthearted stories. It's not that we want to
[1:13] Speaker 1: bury our heads in the sand and ignore the negative
[1:16] Speaker 1: things in life. We can't ignore the real world. However,
[1:19] Speaker 1: it's good for our hearts and minds to occasionally focus
[1:21] Speaker 1: just on the positive. So today, we pray these stories
[1:24] Speaker 1: would inspire you and remind you that this world is
[1:27] Speaker 1: filled with moments and movements of goodness that give us
[1:30] Speaker 1: hope and joy in the future ahead. Before we get
[1:34] Speaker 1: to today's first stories, let's hear a word from these sponsors.
[1:39] Speaker 1: Nestled amidst the parched vastness of two ancient deserts, the
[1:43] Speaker 1: Kalahari and the Nabib, Winduhek appears an unlikely place for
[1:48] Speaker 1: a water revolution. Yes, the compact African capital has done
[1:52] Speaker 1: the seemingly impossible, turning sewage into safe drinking water within
[1:56] Speaker 1: 24 hours, a method that's capturing global attention as water
[2:00] Speaker 1: scarcity becomes a pressing issue. Namibia is the driest country
[2:04] Speaker 1: in the sub-Saharan Africa region, a region known for its
[2:07] Speaker 1: arid conditions. Winduhek, the capital, sits an astounding 400 miles
[2:12] Speaker 1: away from the nearest perennial river. and even further from
[2:16] Speaker 1: the ocean. The city houses nearly half a million people, 99%
[2:20] Speaker 1: of whom have consistent access to drinking water, thanks to
[2:24] Speaker 1: an innovative technology initiated 55 years ago in the water
[2:28] Speaker 1: reclamation plant. This system of direct potable reuse, which is
[2:33] Speaker 1: labeled DPR, was born out of a necessity during Window
[2:36] Speaker 1: Heck's severe water shortage in the late 1960s. Water should
[2:41] Speaker 1: not be judged by its history, but by its quality,
[2:44] Speaker 1: said Dr. Lucas Van Vuren, a pioneer of this reclamation method. Indeed,
[2:48] Speaker 1: the multibarrier treatment that Windhoek devised ensures that the water
[2:52] Speaker 1: is free from pollutants and pathogens, harnessing bacteria to remove
[2:56] Speaker 1: waste effectively. Thomas Hohner, who manages the New Georgian Grav
[3:00] Speaker 1: Water Reclamation Plant, upholds safety as a facility's main concern.
[3:05] Speaker 1: We find contaminants and we remove them, he ensures. The
[3:09] Speaker 1: plant produces up to 5.5 million gallons of drinking water daily,
[3:13] Speaker 1: about 35% of the city's consumption. Monitoring tools consistently verify
[3:18] Speaker 1: that the water meets World Health Organization guidelines, with an
[3:22] Speaker 1: impeccable record of never causing waterborne diseases. Namibia's success has
[3:27] Speaker 1: lured delegations from countries including the U.S., France, and India.
[3:31] Speaker 1: American states like Texas and Arizona, grappling with ongoing megadroughts,
[3:35] Speaker 1: are seriously considering adopting the DPR model. It was about
[3:40] Speaker 1: seeing their system's success and applying it back home, said
[3:43] Speaker 1: Troy Walker, an environmental engineer expert who's visited Window Heck recently.
[3:47] Speaker 1: Window Heck's primary contribution has been the demystification of water reclamation,
[3:52] Speaker 1: challenging public prejudice that once hampered its global adoption. The
[3:57] Speaker 1: United States is ready to follow Namibia's pioneering footsteps. By 2025,
[4:01] Speaker 1: El Paso's water aims to turn up to 10 million
[4:05] Speaker 1: gallons of wastewater daily into drinking water, double Window Heck's capacity.
[4:09] Speaker 1: Other American cities are also exploring this innovative technology, recognizing
[4:14] Speaker 1: that while DPR can't create water, it significantly contributes to
[4:18] Speaker 1: a city's resilience against climate-induced scarcities. Thomas Horner fondly states
[4:22] Speaker 1: that windowheck was the first, and no one can take
[4:25] Speaker 1: that away from them. In a world where scarcity often
[4:28] Speaker 1: strikes the headlines, windowheck's story is a heartwarming example of
[4:32] Speaker 1: human ingenuity and divine providence. Just as Christ turned water
[4:35] Speaker 1: into wine, windowheck turns wastewater into, well, water. meeting the
[4:39] Speaker 1: basic needs of its people in a way that honors
[4:41] Speaker 1: the planet. The Bible tells us, if anyone thirsts, let
[4:44] Speaker 1: him come and drink. Indeed, Window Heck's technology brings forth
[4:48] Speaker 1: water to unlikely places, offering a hopeful vision of tackling
[4:51] Speaker 1: global water shortages in a manner that reflects God's own
[4:54] Speaker 1: economy of abundance. So, as droughts and water shortages grip
[4:59] Speaker 1: the planet, may we all take a lesson from Window Heck, innovate, collaborate,
[5:03] Speaker 1: and sustainably care for God's creation, one glass of reclaimed
[5:06] Speaker 1: water at a time. With this being said, let's lift
[5:10] Speaker 1: this story up in prayer. Lord, thank you for the
[5:12] Speaker 1: gift of human ingenuity and the capacity to innovate in
[5:15] Speaker 1: times of need. We praise you for the success of
[5:17] Speaker 1: this water reclamation project, a testament to your providence and
[5:21] Speaker 1: the resilience of your creation. As communities around the world
[5:24] Speaker 1: struggle with water scarcity, may we find inspiration in this
[5:28] Speaker 1: example to sustainably manage and cherish the resources you have
[5:31] Speaker 1: given us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. When it
[5:34] Speaker 1: comes to life-saving techniques, who would have thought a Netflix
[5:38] Speaker 1: binge could come in handy? It did for 12-year-old Austin McMillan,
[5:42] Speaker 1: who recently turned into a real-life hero by saving a
[5:45] Speaker 1: man who passed out underwater. And guess what? Austin attributes
[5:49] Speaker 1: his knowledge of CPR to none other than the popular
[5:52] Speaker 1: TV show Stranger Things. McMillan was enjoying his time in
[5:55] Speaker 1: the pool with his behavioral therapist, Jason Paquette. Paquette was
[5:58] Speaker 1: holding his breath underwater and managed to rack up an
[6:01] Speaker 1: eye-popping six minutes, though it's not entirely clear how many
[6:05] Speaker 1: of those minutes were voluntary. It became apparent that Mr.
[6:08] Speaker 1: Paquette had lost consciousness underwater. Not one to waste time,
[6:12] Speaker 1: Austin sprang into action. He quickly dragged Paquette out of
[6:15] Speaker 1: the water and sprinted out of the house, shouting for assistance.
[6:18] Speaker 1: When help didn't arrive, Austin returned to Paquette's side and
[6:21] Speaker 1: began performing CPR, just like he'd seen on Stranger Things.
[6:26] Speaker 1: It was definitely a really proud mom moment, said Christina McMillan,
[6:29] Speaker 1: Austin's mom. She called her son brave and courageous, and really,
[6:33] Speaker 1: who could argue that? This incident serves as a poignant
[6:36] Speaker 1: reminder that not all screen time is wasted time. In fact,
[6:39] Speaker 1: it underscores the social responsibility filmmakers and showrunners have in
[6:43] Speaker 1: depicting real-life skills accurately, just like CPR. You never know
[6:47] Speaker 1: who's watching and how they might use that knowledge. While
[6:50] Speaker 1: medical experts might still urge formal CPR training, as do
[6:53] Speaker 1: we here at Prey.com, It's hard to deny the value
[6:55] Speaker 1: of accurate portrayal in the media. After all, this isn't
[6:58] Speaker 1: the first time someone has learned a valuable skill from TV.
[7:01] Speaker 1: Who knew that the Duffer Brothers, creators of Stranger Things,
[7:04] Speaker 1: would inadvertently contribute to saving a life? Since this news broke,
[7:08] Speaker 1: the story has gone viral. The internet is full of
[7:10] Speaker 1: praises for young Austin and for the maker of Stranger
[7:12] Speaker 1: Things for incorporating a real and useful skill into their storyline. Indeed,
[7:16] Speaker 1: this incident has given us a different lens through which
[7:19] Speaker 1: to view the effects of companies like Netflix and movies
[7:23] Speaker 1: in our lives. As members of the faith community, we
[7:25] Speaker 1: see God's hand in even the smallest miracles, and saving
[7:28] Speaker 1: a life is no small feat. Young Austin's quick thinking
[7:31] Speaker 1: and bravery can be seen as an embodiment of the
[7:34] Speaker 1: principle greater love has no one than this, than to
[7:37] Speaker 1: lay down one's life for his friends. This story is
[7:39] Speaker 1: an encouragement and a reminder to us all to act
[7:42] Speaker 1: when we are called upon. The story of Austin and Mr.
[7:45] Speaker 1: Paquette is not just one of timely intervention, but a
[7:47] Speaker 1: testament to the interconnected tapestry of life, where each thread
[7:51] Speaker 1: can serve as a divine purpose. So the next time
[7:53] Speaker 1: you find yourself questioning the utility of that Netflix subscription,
[7:56] Speaker 1: just remember, sometimes the strangest things can make all the difference.
[8:01] Speaker 1: With all this being said, let's lift this story up
[8:03] Speaker 1: in prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the miracles
[8:06] Speaker 1: that manifest every day in our lives, often when we
[8:08] Speaker 1: least expect them. Thank you for Austin's quick thinking and
[8:11] Speaker 1: for the life-saving knowledge gained in an unconventional yet divine manner.
[8:15] Speaker 1: May this event be a reminder to us that we
[8:17] Speaker 1: may be called upon at a moment's notice. Thank you
[8:20] Speaker 1: for this young man's bravery, and thank you for countless
[8:22] Speaker 1: other first responders who are continually doing this every single day.
[8:26] Speaker 1: We pray that you'd bless them, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.
[8:30] Speaker 1: This next story is our favorite good news story of
[8:32] Speaker 1: the week. In an age when technology permeates every aspect
[8:38] Speaker 1: of life, from smartphones to electric vehicles, The news of
[8:42] Speaker 1: a potentially monumental lithium deposit discovered in the McDermott Caldera
[8:46] Speaker 1: in Nevada is met with palpable enthusiasm. Early analysts suggest
[8:51] Speaker 1: that reserves could be a staggering 40 million metric tons, 700%
[8:56] Speaker 1: larger than any known reserve on Earth. Geologists are ecstatic,
[9:00] Speaker 1: as they should be, and this could fundamentally disrupt the
[9:03] Speaker 1: global lithium market, affecting everything from pricing to geopolitics. The
[9:08] Speaker 1: prospects extend beyond the balance sheets and into the realm
[9:12] Speaker 1: of ethics. For years, tech companies and manufacturers have struggled
[9:16] Speaker 1: with a moral conundrum. Many of their products are powered
[9:19] Speaker 1: by lithium, sourced through exploitive labor practices. For instance, the
[9:24] Speaker 1: Democratic Republic of Congo, rich in cobalt, a crucial component
[9:28] Speaker 1: of lithium batteries, is notorious for modern-day slavery conditions, including
[9:33] Speaker 1: child labor and environmental degradation. The discovery in Nevada offers
[9:37] Speaker 1: a glimmer of hope for establishing a more humane and
[9:40] Speaker 1: regulated supply chain. Lithium America's corporation has surveyed the site
[9:46] Speaker 1: and aims to start mining by 2026, promising higher standards
[9:50] Speaker 1: for labor and environmental practices. It's tempting to view our
[9:54] Speaker 1: digital devices as marvels of human ingenuity and a sign
[9:57] Speaker 1: that we are progressing into a more civilized society. Yet,
[10:00] Speaker 1: this rosy narrative bellies a harsh reality. Our technological innovations
[10:05] Speaker 1: are often gained in part by barbaric and inhumane practices.
[10:09] Speaker 1: Siddhartha Khara, a fellow at Harvard and author of Cobalt Red,
[10:13] Speaker 1: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives, describes
[10:16] Speaker 1: the situation as modern-day slavery. pointing to dangerous labor conditions,
[10:20] Speaker 1: inadequate pay, and a toxic work environment. In theory, large
[10:23] Speaker 1: industrial mines should not employ artisanal mining methods involving manual
[10:27] Speaker 1: labor under harsh conditions. However, the laws flouted blatantly, as
[10:31] Speaker 1: the reality of grinding poverty coerces people into accepting virtually
[10:36] Speaker 1: any form of employment they can get, regardless of the
[10:39] Speaker 1: risks involved. An entire population is faced with an impossible choice,
[10:43] Speaker 1: work under life-threatening conditions, or face starvation. Kara rightly insists
[10:48] Speaker 1: that transitioning to a sustainable energy should not come at
[10:52] Speaker 1: the expense of vulnerable populations. The newly discovered Nevada deposit
[10:56] Speaker 1: offers pathways towards ethical sourcing, provided it is managed responsibly.
[11:02] Speaker 1: With more transparent supply chains, companies will have the luxury
[11:05] Speaker 1: of avoiding suppliers linked to human rights abuses. In contemplating
[11:10] Speaker 1: this issue, we revisit the words of Proverbs 31. Speak
[11:14] Speaker 1: up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the
[11:16] Speaker 1: rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly,
[11:19] Speaker 1: defend the rights of the poor and needy. This scriptural
[11:22] Speaker 1: wisdom calls us to engage with the world's injustices actively.
[11:26] Speaker 1: It's not enough to express concern, as stewards of the
[11:29] Speaker 1: earth and its resources were called to ensure the welfare
[11:32] Speaker 1: of all of God's children. We start locally and with
[11:35] Speaker 1: the people around us, caring for the people in our
[11:38] Speaker 1: sphere of influence. Jesus declared, whatever you do for one
[11:41] Speaker 1: of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,
[11:43] Speaker 1: you did for me. In light of the Nevada discovery,
[11:46] Speaker 1: we have an unprecedented opportunity to make a change. But
[11:50] Speaker 1: this should be the beginning of a much broader, long
[11:53] Speaker 1: overdue conversation about the ethical implications of our consumer choices.
[11:58] Speaker 1: With all of this nuance in mind, let's offer up
[12:00] Speaker 1: prayers to the Lord and close our time together. Lord Jesus,
[12:04] Speaker 1: we understand that with increased knowledge comes increased sorrow. Sometimes
[12:09] Speaker 1: hearing humanitarian crises or natural disasters and having that knowledge
[12:14] Speaker 1: can leave us in despair. It can make us sorrowful
[12:18] Speaker 1: and lose hope. Lord Jesus, we pray that even in
[12:22] Speaker 1: the midst of bad news that happens out in the world,
[12:25] Speaker 1: that you would give us hope. Not hope in any
[12:28] Speaker 1: specific circumstance, but hope that you, Jesus, are in control.
[12:32] Speaker 1: You are able to transform and uplift. And you are
[12:35] Speaker 1: able to use us to make this world a better
[12:37] Speaker 1: place each and every day. Would you empower us, Lord?
[12:41] Speaker 1: Would you lift us up and encourage our hearts so
[12:43] Speaker 1: that we can press forward in this world and make
[12:45] Speaker 1: an impact for your kingdom? Lord Jesus, for any of
[12:49] Speaker 1: us who find ourselves stagnant or unable to move, would
[12:53] Speaker 1: you empower us with your spirit? Would we go out
[12:55] Speaker 1: into our workplaces and our families and our friendships each
[12:59] Speaker 1: and every day wanting to leave the world a better place?
[13:03] Speaker 1: We love you, Lord, and we trust you to transform
[13:05] Speaker 1: our hearts. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thank you
[13:09] Speaker 1: for joining us today on Pray News. It is our
[13:11] Speaker 1: aim to be informed and transformed. We pray today you
[13:14] Speaker 1: would proceed with hope, love, and determination to be a
[13:16] Speaker 1: force for good. If you've enjoyed this take on the news,
[13:19] Speaker 1: consider writing us a review and share your experience. You
[13:22] Speaker 1: can sign up for our newsletter at PrayNews.com. There you
[13:24] Speaker 1: will find sources to all of our reporting. And be
[13:26] Speaker 1: sure to download the Pray.com app to make prayer a
[13:29] Speaker 1: priority in your life. God bless.

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