Kicking up a stink on World Toilet Day
Actions across the world highlight urgent need for safe sanitation
A 'Sanitation is Dignity' exhibition in Lyon,
France, broke the silence on sanitation.
Credit: Coalition Eau
19 November 2008
Campaigners all across the world come together to cause a stink on one of the most important days of the year - World Toilet Day!
Set up to highlight the importance of safe sanitation in achieving life, dignity and prosperity, World Toilet Day was a hive of activity for campaigners. Just a few highlights of actions taken around the world include:
In Burkina Faso: With the declaration of a 'National Sanitation Week, WaterAid held a series of events under the campaign name 'My Dignity, My Health, My Life'. Alongside a 'Clean city day' were television appearances and a national forum attended by the Presidency of Agriculture, Water and Fisheries Ministry. Read more (opens in new window).
In Canada: SWAN Canada, the national coalition, wrote to all MPs and Senators promoting new materials and calling for sanitation to become a Canadian foreign aid priority. They also launched a 'toilet seat petition' to run until World Water Day 2009, with members of the public signing toilet seats and presenting them to MPs. Read more (opens in new window).
In Ethiopia: The WASH Ethiopia Movement held a media panel discussion in the capital Addis Ababa and aired a film on national television to illustrate good hygiene and sanitation practices.Read more (opens in new window).
In France: Coalition Eau held a 'Sanitation is Dignity' public exhibition in Lyon, using figures created by the German Toilet Organisation, and attended by media and local politicians. The exhibition aimed to break the silence over sanitation, and encourage citizens, media and local government to act to end the crisis. Read more (in French).
In Ghana: TV and radio stations dedicated airtime to discuss sanitation provision for the poor, and the national NGO coalition CONIWAS held a press conference under the banner 'We Deserve Better' to urge the Government to enforce sanitation building in new houses. Read more (opens in new window).
In India: Civil society organizations were busy lobbying regional leaders at the South Asian Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN). Having organized a region-wide civil society statement and a candlelight vigil, campaigners welcomed regional leaders who declared sanitation a birthright of all citizens. Read more (opens in new window).
In Liberia: The Liberia WASH Consortium issued a press statement urging greater action on water and sanitation, and held a successful radio programme with the Ministry of Health and local partners. Read the statement (opens in new window).
In Mali: The End Water Poverty Campaign group held a televised debate with the National Director of Sanitation, and, armed with the slogan "Latrines, a basic right for all", held a procession through the capital city Bamako. Read more (opens in new window).
In Nigeria: The local End World Poverty group held a media debate which was featured on radio and in newspapers. Key media figures committed to working closely with civil society organisations on issues around sanitation. Read more (opens in new window).
In Switzerland: Helvetas, the Swiss International Cooperation Agency, scattered piles of fake poo around a railway station in Berne to gain public and media attention for the sanitation crisis. Read more (opens in new window).
In the UK: Tearfund commissioned an opinion poll highlighting the strange toilet habits of the British people to gain media attention for international sanitation issues, WaterAid campaign groups worked in their communities to raise awareness with posters and postcards, while Pump Aid held a public exhibition, comedy night and a debate in the national parliament.Read more from Tearfund, WaterAid and PumpAid (opens in new window).
In the USA: Water Advocates held a press conference and rally alongside another 'Sanitation is Dignity' public exhibition, this time on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. Read more (opens in new window).