Thursday, November 19, 2009

Happy World Toilet Day

Today, the 19th of November is World Toilet Day, a day set aside by
the World Toilet Organization to demand proper sanitation for the
world's people. The lack of sanitation is the world's largest cause
of infection which contributes to approximately 4 billion cases of
diarrheal diseases per year (e.g., cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, and
dysentery) and roughly 600 million cases of intestinal worms which
can lead to malnutrition, anemia, and retarded growth according to
the World Bank.

A few toilet-related distractions:

Time Magazine's history of the toilet:
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1940525,00.html

Also from Time: "Is it time to kill the flush toilet?":
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1857113,00.html

World Toilet Organization's list of World Toilet Day events:
http://www.worldtoilet.org/getinvolved.asp?no=19

Chief Macha's Toilet Revolution Read about Account of how Chief Macha
has led the CLTS campaign 'No shit, please! One family, one toilet.'
in Choma and how this, together with the involvement of other
traditional leaders, has boosted efforts to transform rural
sanitation in the country.
http://www.communityledtotalsanitation.org/resource/chief-machas-toilet-revolution

International Glossary
http://www.communityledtotalsanitation.org/resource/international-glossary-shit

S.H.I.T.S (Sharing Highlights in Total Sanitation) Read the first two
instalments of this monthly newsletter created by Engineers without
Borders Canada staff in Malawi, describing district-level experiences
and aiming to encourage horizontal communication and learning.
http://www.communityledtotalsanitation.org/resource/shits-sharing-highlights-total-sanitation

AND there's even an educational game on the WaterAid website:
http://www.wateraid.org/uk/get_involved/world_toilet_day/5064.asp#top