Posted on 08/27/2008 1:56:54 AM PDT by reaganaut1
More than one billion people worldwide have no toilet and defecate outside, while some have to be shamed into changing their habits when presented with conveniences, a conference was told.
Humanitarian organisations have for decades tried various ways -- be it new systems, pumps or subsidies -- of getting people in developing countries to stop defecating outdoors due to the serious health risks concerned.
But despite their efforts, an estimated 1.2 billion people, primarily in Asia and Africa, still don't use toilets to defecate, a forum of experts meeting in Stockholm was told.
For many extremely poor people who are given toilets by aid groups, it becomes the most precious item they own and therefore they use it as a religious shrine or a dry place to store firewood, international development consultant Kamal Kar said.
"What's becoming quite apparent is that the way you actually have an impact on health, development and poverty alleviation is when people adopt certain behaviours," Clarissa Brocklehurst, the head of UNICEF's water, environment and sanitation programme, told AFP.
In recent years, experts have found that the best method has been to shame people into using some form of toilets, even the most primitive sort, to confine excreta.
"It's just a matter of getting them to understand that what is a long established habit is in fact harmful and that you can do something about it," said Brocklehurst, one of 2,500 experts meeting in Stockholm to discuss water and sanitation issues at World Water Week.
She cited the example of India, where 48 percent of the population, or some 665 million people, still practice "open defecation".
Hook worms in human excretions are a horrible but preventable problem in underdeveloped areas, particularly as hookworms can enter the body right through skin when people go barefoot.
It was a terrible problem in parts of the southeastern United States until modern plumbing was widely available.
Ah gee, I smell a toilet campaign for the world’s poor coming out of the Dems. Obama will appoint a Poo Czar.
I live in Japan . My neighbors pee outside and do it in view . I’ve fought with them myriad times about it . There is a law , but the useless police won’t enforce it . They probably crap outside too but I’ve never witnessed it .
Are we talking properly placed latrines/outhouses or flush/indoor plumbing toilets? To often these NGOs try dragging these people kicking and screaming into the now. Instead of just upgrading them to the 15th century and advancing from there. One thing the could try is the Roman method of public shared baths. Have a little village. Put a bath house on the edge for communal use. Have villagers sign up for clean up duty.
Crappy situation.
You might consider a laxative.
Quick someone e-mail Al Bore!
He can add it to his list.
We think sending them all our money will work?
Escalades for everybody!!!
Oops, make that, Escalades for the vile dictators, only.
LOL :)
(But despite their efforts, an estimated 1.2 billion people, primarily in Asia and Africa, still don’t use toilets to defecate, a forum of experts meeting in Stockholm was told)
Lets see if I got this right. For several DECADES America and many other Nations have poured Hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars into these Africa and Asia areas and in 20-30 plus years with hundreds of billions of dollars, these people have not learned to crap in a toilet?
Well heck lets up the ante and send some more money in there......
Bear in mind that defecating outdoors is far more natural than using a toilet. It’s only when people practice poor hygiene or population densities are too large that it becomes a health issue. In lieu of westernizing the indigents’ bowel habits, I’d recommend we simply educate them on the dangers of crapping upstream from where they draw their drinking water. If they’re too primitive to grasp that concept, then this isn’t a tragedy, it’s simply Darwinism.
Just what you might expect in a turd world country.
All of Subsaharan Africa is a sewer as far as I’m concerned. I’ve been to a few countries there on...ahem...humanitarian missions. I have no desire to go back or to help people who are too lazy (or stupid) to help themselves even when given the tools.
And to oppose him, the Turd World will appoint a Grand Poo Bah.
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