Happy World Toilet Day!
No, seriously!
The World Toilet Organization (a.k.a the other WTO) declared this day as World Toilet Day in order to call attention to sanitation issues in developing regions. They ask that each individual, in their respective country, to request better equality (more facilities for women); more accessibility & special provisions (for the disabled & mothers with babies); clean toilets (for everyone); and more toilets (for the less fortunate).
According to the WTO’s website, there are 2.5 billion people in the world without toilets today. Their goal is to cut that number in half by 2015 through awareness, advocacy and building sanitation projects.
Needless to say, a huge percentage of illnesses and deaths in the developing world are directly linked to poor sanitation. Some cultures who have never seen or used a toilet may be slow to adopt the practice, so education is a crucial component.
So…how to celebrate World Toilet Day?
The WTO website has several creative suggestions for getting involved, from joining their “Don’t Blush, Sponsor a Flush” campaign to creating toilet art.
If nothing else, next time you, um…use the facilities…ponder for a moment the wonderful gift of modern-day sanitation.