Rice Bucket Challenge
{{Short description|Internet challenge}}
The Rice Bucket Challenge is a response to the Ice Bucket Challenge that started in India and spread to other South Asian nations. Whereas the original Ice Bucket Challenge involved participants pouring a bucket of ice over their heads and/or donating to the ALS research, the Rice Bucket Challenge involves donating a bucket of rice to a poor person or family.{{cite news|url=http://qz.com/254910/india-adapts-the-ice-bucket-challenge-to-suit-local-conditions-meet-the-rice-bucket-challenge/|title = The story behind India's rice bucket challenge|last = Madhok|first = Diksha|date = August 25, 2014|accessdate = September 13, 2014|work = Quartz}}{{cite news|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/26/india-rice-bucket-challenge_n_5710481.html|title = 'Rice Bucket Challenge' Reminds World How Scarce Clean Water Is In India|last = Rao|first = Mallika|date = August 26, 2014|accessdate = September 13, 2014|work = Huffington Post}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2014/08/25/indians-trade-ice-for-rice-in-new-charity-challenge.html|title = Indians switch ice for rice in new charity challenge|last = Harjani|first = Ansuya|date = August 25, 2014|access-date = September 13, 2014|work = CNBC}}
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Significance
As an alternative to the Ice Bucket Challenge, the Rice Bucket Challenge served the dual purpose of highlighting water scarcity (in that the use of ice was considered expensive and wasteful) and poverty (in that a bucket of rice was considered a valuable donation by recipients).
History
The idea for the Rice Bucket Challenge is attributed to Manju Latha Kalanidhi, a 38-year-old journalist based in Hyderabad, India.{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/offbeat/the-rice-bucket-challenge-a-new-made-in-india-charity-chain-580950|title = The Rice Bucket Challenge, a New Made-in-India Charity Chain|last = Kohli|first = Amita|date = August 29, 2014|accessdate = September 13, 2014|publisher = NDTV}}{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/sns-rt-us-india-challenge-rice-20140829-story.html|title = In India, rice replaces ice in bucket challenge|last = Kalra|first = Aditya|newspaper = Chicago Tribune|date = August 29, 2014|accessdate = September 13, 2014}} She considered the Ice Bucket Challenge artificial and wasteful of water, and came up with the Rice Bucket Challenge as a less-wasteful alternative that would help local communities. It started off as a Facebook page on August 23, 2014, and within a day, the page had 7000 likes. On August 24, 2014, the Twitter hashtag #ricebucketchallenge was first used, and within a month, the hashtag had been tweeted 11,000 times. On August 25, the Rice Bucket Challenge was covered in BuzzFeed{{cite web|url = https://www.buzzfeed.com/imaansheikh/the-rice-bucket-challenge-is-indias-brilliant-alternative-to#2i1ja26|title = "The Rice Bucket Challenge" Is India's Brilliant Alternative To The Ice Bucket Challenge. The idea is to donate a bucket/bowl of rice to someone in need. |last = Sheikh|first = Imaan|date = August 24, 2014|accessdate = September 13, 2014|publisher = BuzzFeed}} and Quartz, and within a few days, it had received coverage in the Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune, CNN,{{cite web|url = http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/25/world/asia/india-rice-bucket-challenge/|title = India swaps ice for rice in new bucket challenge|last = Agrawal|first = Ravi|date = August 25, 2014|accessdate = September 13, 2014|publisher = CNN}} CNBC, NPR,{{cite web|url = https://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandsoda/2014/08/27/343498667/rice-bucket-challenge-put-rice-in-bucket-do-not-pour-over-head|title = Rice Bucket Challenge: Put Rice In Bucket, Do Not Pour Over Head|last = Poon|first = Linda|date = August 27, 2014|accessdate = September 13, 2014|publisher = NPR (National Public Radio)}} NDTV, Time,{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/3183211/rice-bucket-challenge-india/|title = Rice, Not Ice: India's Answer to the Ice Bucket Challenge|last = Aneja|first = Arpita|date = August 27, 2014|access-date = September 13, 2014|magazine = Time}} and many other news websites.
The Rice Bucket Challenge spread to other South Asian nations, including Nepal and Sri Lanka.{{cite web|url=http://www.rappler.com/world/regions/south-central-asia/67337-south-asia-rice-challenge-hunger|title = Water-starved South Asia fills buckets with rice, not ice. Instead of ice, people in India and other south Asian countries are asking social media users to fill a bucket with rice to feed those in need|publisher = Agence France-Presse|date = August 26, 2014|accessdate = September 13, 2014}} Ingress Philippines attempted to start the challenge in the Philippines on Google+ private post {{Cite web|url = https://plus.google.com/103409163457089692250/posts/EaqgXd34G4U|title = Hello Ingress Agents|date = September 3, 2014|accessdate = September 16, 2014|website = Ingress Philippines|last = |first = }} It was forwarded to other social network sites on September 3, 2014, as a public post and accepted by Ingress Enlightened Philippines community on the same day.{{Cite web|url = https://plus.google.com/117774819621376808421/posts/CvC5wfbEZ1a|title = From Ice to Rice, now use your bucket for another good gift!|date = Sep 3, 2014|accessdate = September 16, 2014|website = Ingress Enlightened Philippines|last = |first = }} A version of this challenge not related to it was led by businessman Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong in Manila in the Philippines on September 12, 2014, that attracted media attention in the Philippines.{{cite news|url=http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/hunger/68952-rice-bucket-challenge-philippines|title = Businessman starts Rice Bucket Challenge in PH, tags MVP|last = Gavilan|first = Jodesz|date = September 12, 2014|accessdate = September 12, 2014|work = The Rappler}}