Thursday, July 25, 2013

The Idea that Won't Flush Away

Singapore's charge d'affaires at the United Nations is flushed with success.
Mark Neo's proposal to have Nov.19th declared as World Toilet Day has been wholeheartedly supported by the UN!
Before you start thinking of any amount of toilet humour, Neo says he doesn't care if jokes are made...as long as the message gets across: "I'm sure there'll be laughter among the press and the public when it is reported that the UN is declaring a World Toilet Day. That's ok, especially if they recognise the prevailing and unhealthy taboo, that prevents an open and serious discussion of the problems of sanitation and toilets globally."
He then went on to stress that 2.5 billion people around the world do not have proper sanitation, that 1.1 billion people poo in the open, and that providing toilets could save the lives of more than 200,000 children each year. The 193-member UN assembly voted unanimously in favour of declaring a World Toilet Day.
Singapore took up the toilet cause because of the efforts of one of its citizens, Jack Sim, who is known as 'Mr Toilet' because of his efforts to improve sanition around the world. He was named one of the Heroes of the Environment for 2008 by Time Magazine. He's even persuaded the Gates Foundation to switch its global focus from water to sanitation.
So joke about World Toilet Day as much as you like - it all helps to increase awareness of the problem.

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