It's always been my dream to address the World Toilet Summit. To get up on their stage and talk about how their goals and PoopReport's goals are one and the same. To advance the cause of Shameless Shitting directly to those leading the industry. I don't know when my dream will be realized; in the meantime, however, I'm pleased to see this coming out of
this week's Summit in Belfast, as related in
The Mail and Guardian Online:
"We have been conditioned not to talk about it," said Jack Sim, the Singaporean businessman who founded the World Toilet Organisation, which runs the annual event. "We have had women's liberation, sex revolution, workers' revolution, we can talk about everything now -- the toilet is the last taboo which must be broken," he said.
Amen, brother. That's exactly what we're talking about. The Brown Revolution: breaking the last taboo. Making poop not a thing of mockery, not a thing of shame, but just a thing that we all do.
"Forty-two percent of the world's population, 2,6-million people, have no access to basic sanitation, a basic human need and dignity. A child dies every 15 seconds from diarrhoea caused by poor sanitation and water supply," said Therese Mahon, from the British-based charity Water Aid.
"Action is required by both developing and developed world governments. Developing-country governments must take the lead and recognise the importance of sanitation for their economic and social development," she said.
Amen again.
"Our organisation was born in the East and got a lot of support, and people are starting to be awakened in the West. They are realising that other people can talk about toilets," Sim noted.
Now you see why I want to speak here? These folks are kindred spirits!
