It shouldn't be a privilege to poop

People feel awkward talking about poop. In many cultures around the world (including my own) defecation isn't something openly discussed in polite company. There's a "poo taboo" that makes people shy away from talking about about issues related to access to clean toilets. We want to change that. Below are pictures of bathrooms and toilets from all over the world. Some are creative, some are funny, and some give us perspective on just how lucky those of us living in developed situations truly are.

1)If you ever find yourself wandering through the Sahara desert, you may find yourself using this amazing toilet.

Flickr: John Georgiou

2)This toilet can be found on a mountaintop in the Swiss Alps.

Flickr: Jonty Sewell

3)This was King Henry VIII's toilet at Hampton Court Palace in the South of England. It had no running water, instead feces dropped through the hole down a long shaft to be collected later.

Imgur

4) This is the toilet at a beach resort, Sunset beach, Koh Lipe, Thailand. It has to be flushed manually with the water from the bucket.

Flickr: Rory Haddon

5) Ever wondered how people poop in space? This is a photo of the toilet on the space shuttle.

Imgur

6) Here are the ruins of an Ancient Roman public latrine. In Roman culture, there were no stalls. Instead, the latrines were common meeting places where people could catch up with their friends and neighbors.

Flickr: Ken and Nyetta

7) This "toilet" in Cambodia is really more of a hole over a stream.

Imgur

8) This is an innovative toilet built by Sanergy in slums in Kenya.

Sanergy

9) If you're as much of a nerd as I am, you'll geek out over this "Game of Thrones" toilet in the US.

Imgur

10) Here's a zebra-striped "port-a-potty" at a parking lot in the United States.

Flickr: Octoferret

11) In many places around the world, squat toilets are still the norm. This is not exclusively a factor of wealth vs. poverty; many cultures believe that squatting to defecate is healthier and more natural.

Flickr: Ivan Walsh

12) Public urinals like this are common in the Netherlands. In cities like Amsterdam, they can be found on any city block.

Wikipedia Commons

13) Those of you who've been to Bonnaroo should be familiar with this. Here are toilets at the Glastonbury Music Festival in the UK.

Flickr: Fussy Onion

14) In India, where access to clean toilets is scarce, people are forced to use the rivers and steams to dispose of human waste. This has lead to a public health crisis and has made finding clean water even more difficult than usual.

Flickr: Lyle Vincent

The first step in being a Global Citizen is education. Take the next step and sign the petition on this page to help ensure everyone has access to a safe, clean toilet. The US Congress is currently debating the passage of the Water for the World act so your voice is more critical than ever.