Today is World Toilet Day!
Yeah. You heard me. It's a UN recognized holiday organized to draw attention to the number of people around the world without access to sanitation.
In honor of this auspicious occasion, the team here at Global Citizen took a field trip to our bathroom to celebrate how much we love our toilets.
We also took a moment to remind ourselves why they're so important.
1. Say hi to Tom!
About half the world's hospital beds are occupied by someone with a water related illness.
2. This is Taylor, he has an important point.
Access to private toilets help keep children in school and out of trouble.
3. This is Zoe! (She's from the UK, where they spell things weirdly).
Today almost 1,400 children will die from diarrhoea caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation.
4. Say hi to Paul! (He's also from the UK. Side note: Why are their bathrooms so much nicer than ours?)
More people around the world have a mobile phone than a toilet.
5. Justine has a particularly important fact.
443 million school days are lost each year from water related illness.
6. Three cheers for Natalie!
2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation; 1.1 billion still practice open defecation.
7. Sofia has a surprising fact.
Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.
8. Tareian has something important to say.
More than half of the girls in sub-saharan Africa who drop out of primary school do so because of lack of access to private toilets.
9. Brandon really wanted to make sure the seat was clean.
Access to sanitation, the practice of good hygiene, and a safe water supply could save 1.5 million children a year.
10. Hilary has an important message.
1.1 billion people practice open defecation.
11. Mikey is also from the UK (And the US office is STILL jealous of their bathroom)
2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation; 1.1 billion still practice open defecation.
12. This is me on an especially good hair day.
Every dollar invested in sanitation saves $7 in health costs and productivity.
We had a lot of fun making this piece, but in all seriousness, we realize that having a safe, clean bathroom is a privilege. For the 2.5 billion people who don't have access to modern sanitation, toilets are no laughing matter.
That's why we're calling on Congress to pass the Water for the World Act, which will make better use of money dedicated to water & sanitation, strengthen accountability, and ensure that we have the greatest impact on communities all over the world without spending an extra penny. Sign the petition to make sure that every child, everywhere can enjoy the same privilege.