Nov.
19 was declared “World Toilet Day” in 2001 by 17 toilet associations around the
world. Since then, an annual World Toilet Summit has been established, as well
as many other regional conferences. Each toilet association also has engaged in
many activities promoting clean toilets in their respective countries.
This
year’s theme is “We Deserve Better.” The World Toilet Organization (WTO) stands
up for the 3 “WEs” in the theme:
-
Toilets
deserve better social status. The WTO has been striving to elevate the
status of toilets to make them status symbols and objects of desire. The
WTO speaks on behalf of toilets — “We deserve better social status.”
-
The
second WE concerns the toilet cleaners. The WTO aims to professionalize the
sanitation and restroom industry and to upgrade the skill sets of the restroom
cleaners. The WTO speaks on behalf of the toilet cleaners — “We deserve
better pay, respect and prospects.”
-
The
WTO speaks on behalf of 2.5 billion toilet-less people — “We deserve proper
toilets.”
Since
2001, World Toilet Day has become a global platform for academics, sanitation
experts, toilet designers, environmentalists, etc., to share the latest on rural
and urban toilets.
The
World Toilet Organization asks each individual, in his or her respective
country, to request better equality (more facilities for women); more
accessibility and special provisions (for the disabled and mothers with babies);
clean toilets (for everyone); and more toilets (for the less fortunate).
For
more information on World Toilet Day and other WTO initiatives, go to
www.worldtoilet.org.
