THE MILLENIUM WATER

A TALE OF AN EDUCATED LITTLE GIRL
The relatives were coming today to pay a visit to the Diouf's family. They are going to enjoy themselves because Kumba the mistress of the house has millet grains from this year’s harvest and most of the ingredients to make a delicious meal. And after all, she was a very good cook. The only thing left was oil but the market was next to her house.
- Where is my daughter?
- Here mom playing with my friends!
- Come here a moment. I want you to go to the market and buy me peanut-oil.
- Take that container your father brought in yesterday.
- Mom, the container smells, it’s not clean!
- I washed it with hot water and soap yesterday but you can wash it again if you want.

The girl washed the container again and again unill she felt
satisfied with it and showed it to her mother.
- It says on the tag Parathion, poison look, said the girl to her mother.
- You know that I can’t read whatever is written on that container. Hurry up!
Watch out, the oil has to be fresh, from this year’s harvest.
The girl ran out of the house laughing and off went to the market.

It was a beautiful sunny day and many farmers came for the Monday market.
In the area, it was called “ Luuma “, a flea market taking place every Monday in agreed upon villages. People come from many different places, even from the city to buy or sell almost anything ranging from hardened bread to bottles and used clothes from abroad(Europe and Usa)

The flea market place was in the middle of the village. On one side,you could see many horses and donkeys next to their carts resting under shaddy trees. On the other side were the vendors, in two endless lines of roughly made shades built out of with wooden sticks and bush grass protecting them from the sun.

The bright colours of people’s clothes shining under the harsh light of the sun between the deep brown tint of the vendors shades, gave a touch of artistry to that part of the market compared to the place where women , the only owners restaurants were cooking local meals sold at very affordable prices.

Cooking usually takes place in the outside, using huge pots put on a wood burning fire and held by three big black rocks. Lunch is always ready to be served in these local restaurants aound noon. The best ones, had crowds of people and everyone struggled to be served first.

Kumba's daughter looked around for a while, saw a container on which she red:"Mineral Wter of the Millenium". She bargained it joyfully and bought it.
Of course, some money was taken from the money she got from her mother.
As she happen to know the merchant whose house was next to their's, she convinced him to have her mother paid him back later in the afternoon.
Then, she was given a golden looking peanut oil of the year by the merchant,.

The little girl ran back home as fast as she could and handed the bottle full of oil to her mom who was in the middle of a conversation and ran out of the house.


When lunch was ready, Kumba the meal in two different bowls. One for the guests and the another for the family members.The guests were given a big round bowl. Everyone washed his hands and theyall started eating.

The family members sat around their bowl and also started eating too. Kumba could not eat with them because her daughter was out of sight somewhere in the neighbourhood. She apologised and left the house to look for her in the nearby houses. She wandered for a while in the neighbourhood before meeting her daughter coming from the market running errands for one of her mom’s friend.

Kumba was relieved and waited for her to come back and they two headed home hurrying under a very hot sun, walking on broiled sand.All of a sudden they saw women screaming and running in the direction of their house.

Kumba get worried and started running too followed by her daughter.When they turn at the corner of the broad village street, they saw a crowd just in front of their house and many horse driven carts.Kumba 's heart was beating at a very high speed. Enable to understand what was happening she thought about everything and started pounding her fist on her chest in order to calm herself down.
Her daughter turned to her and said:
- Mom,what’s happening?
- I wish I knew it and she added, I hope it’s nothing serious but I am afraid it is.

As they approached, they saw the village chief, standing to the entrance of the house with a sad looking face.
- You had killed my donkey. Is this container of yours ?
Kumba looked at her daughter and said :
- So you did not use the container I gave you ?
- No said the little girl turning her head from right side to left side many times, looking to her with fear.

- You did it the right way but where did you throw the other container ?
- Outside the house on the side facing the bush.
- So you are responsible for the death of my donkey, shouted the village chief.
- How come asked the village chief.
- I sent her to the market to buy me peanut oil in the container that caused your donkey's death !
- Look, better have my donkey die than people from our community, but nevertherless we should inform the officials so that we can get helped in dealing with this matter. I forgive you for my donkey's death.

- Ok chief but I am so soorry about that and so happy any people was affected that I will buy you two donkeys to replace the one you lost.
Please come in to share the delicious recipe I cooked.

- What a wondergful daughter I have said the woman.
Girl education is really a wonderful good thing ! Wasn't it for my daugter's reading skills, many people's lives would have been lost today.

Later analyses of the container in laboratories showed high levels of a deadly pesticide called Parathion. Examination of the of the donkey showed also high levels of the incriminated pesticide.

The story of this smart girl who saved people's lives, was told throughout the land and from there on, all families sent their daughters to get education in schools

Given the poor level of education in rural areas, it’s very likely, that this dangerous practice of reusing contaminated containers, that can bring people's death is wide pratice. All communities should fight this pratice through education !

Readers, listeners, be careful, beware and watch out for your own safety and of your community ! All containers bearing the skull of a dead person are deadly dangerous. THESE CONTAINERS SHOULD NEVER EVER BE REUSED FOR ANY PURPOSE AND HAVE TO BE DISCARDED IN A SAFE PLACE, AND BE DISTROYED BY SPECIALISTS ONLY!


MORALE:
Never reuse containers that have previously been used for dangerous chemicals products.They still remain deadly poisonous for all living beings and for our environment

This story is based upon a real story which took place a few years ago in a small village of Western Africa but unlike the plot in here, many people unfortunatetly lost their lives.

Maam Daour WADE