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November 19th, 2012

World Toilet Day

When I read that today is World Toilet Day, I immediately thought, “Well, every day is at the Ping!” But as I read more, it turns out it’s actually a kinda serious thing:

World Toilet Day is not just about toilet humor, or an attempt to make toilets sexy. World Toilet Day has a serious purpose: it aims to stimulate dialogue about sanitation and break the taboo that still surrounds this issue. In addition, it supports advocacy that highlights the profound impact of the sanitation crisis in a rigorous manner, and seeks to bring to the forefront the health and emotional consequences, as well as the economic impact of inadequate sanitation.

A few things I learned today:

  • 1 out of every 3 people doesn’t have access to a toilet
  • “Especially for adolescent girls, clean and private toilet facilities at school strongly influence their performance, and increase the chance to complete their education.”
  • Almost 1.5 million children under the age of five die every year from diarrhea

So next time you’re wishing you had a toilet with a stronger flush, remember: at least you’ve got a toilet that flushes. A lot of folks don’t.

Posted in Toilets

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