---
title: Better Water System poster (Lao, distributed in Vientiane)
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/better-water-system-poster-lao-1959/
description: A Lao-language photo poster under a large headline on solving a water problem. Tagged by technique, with source and rights.
section: Collection
---

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3. Better Water System poster (Lao, distributed in Vientiane)

[![Better Water System poster, 1959 US poster: A Lao-language photo poster under a large headline on solving a water problem](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/better-water-system-poster-lao-1959.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/better-water-system-poster-lao-1959.jpg)

# Better Water System poster (Lao, distributed in Vientiane)

A Lao-language photo poster under a large headline on solving a water problem. A central photograph shows a man in a jacket examining a blade; four smaller captioned photographs show villagers sitting in a meeting, bamboo pipe lengths laid along a field, people working at a vessel, and a man crouching by a channel. A centre text block describes a village's self-help water scheme. The tell is plain-folks: ordinary named villagers stand in for the programme.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/) [Testimonial](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/testimonial/)

## Text on the object

Original (Lao) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
ການແກ້ໄຂບັນຫານ້ຳ

[five photograph captions and a central text block in Lao, [illegible] at this resolution]

9-8775
```

English translation (machine translation by Claude, not verified by a fluent reader)

```
Solving the water problem (headline). The captions and central text block are not translated here; the central block describes villagers and the village head solving a water shortage by a simple new method without spending money.
```

Only the headline and printed code are transcribed; the Lao captions and body text are too small to transcribe reliably.

[← The Health of the Mother-to-be and her Unborn Child Depends on Good Food and Rest (Arabic poster distributed in Amman)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/health-of-mother-to-be-arabic-jordan-1959/) [Promotion Poster "High School Student" (Chinese poster distributed in Taipei) →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/promotion-poster-high-school-student-chinese-taipei-1959/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Trois Tetes sous l'meme bonnet (three heads under the same cap)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/trois-tetes-sous-le-meme-bonnet-1789/) (France · 1789 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['This log cabin was the first building erected on the North Bend', Whig print by T. Sinclair, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/harrison-north-bend-log-cabin-sinclair-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [Treeing Coons (pro-Polk cartoon), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/treeing-coons-polk-1844/) (United States · 1844 · Name-calling, Plain folks)
- [Zachary Taylor, People's Candidate for President (Currier banner), 1848](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/taylor-fillmore-peoples-candidate-1848/) (United States · 1848 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['Little Mac.' (from the Democratic presidential campaign songster)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/little-mac-song-sheet-feeks-1864/) (United States · 1864 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The peoples' choice, H. Greeley G. Brown](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/peoples-choice-greeley-brown-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The working-man's banner. For President, Ulysses S. Grant, 'The Galena Tanner.' For Vice-President, Henry Wilson, 'The Natick Shoemaker.'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/working-mans-banner-grant-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [The Chappaqua farmer](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chappaqua-farmer-1872/) (United States · Jul 1872 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)