Our world sometimes is a very funny place. Today, August 2nd 2008, when I searched the web for the latest information about the breakdown of the WTO talks (Doha-Development-Round) in Geneva, I found under the same abbreviation WTO a link to the World Toilet Organization. Interestingly enough, this organization wants to break the taboo of toilet and sanitation. One single guy from Singapore, Jack Slim, seems to be responsible for the whole effort.

Quote taken from its website: "After attaining financial independence at the age of 40, Jack decided to devote the rest of his life to social work. He established the Restroom Association of Singapore (RAS) in 1998 to break the taboo of toilet and sanitation and legitimize it for mainstream culture. In 2001, Jack created the World Toilet Organization (WTO) as a global network and service platform wherein the various toilet associations, academia, government, UN agencies and toilet stakeholders can learn from one another and leverage on media and corporate support to influence governments to promote sound sanitation and public health policies."

And of course he is right in arguing that without proper sanitation and toilet systems an individual experience a completely different environment compared to those which have access to proper sanitation systems. It sounds so simple but of course it is not. I grew up in Germany in the countryside and, many of my neighbours still had in their garden what we called a "Plumsklo", which was not more then a shack build out of simple wood. It was a horrifying place both in summer and winter. In winter it was cold like hell and in summertime it was buzzing with all kind of insects. And it always smelled awful. And at night it was full of ghosts and strange creatures hiding behind it and in the bushes nearby. The only good memory I carry from such a place is from Belarus. I was there in the 90 as an observer for the national election. Deep down in the country side a very old lady showed me the way to such a toilet. It stood in the middle of an old garden, full of flowers and beautiful trees. The only smell came from the flowers, lavender and thyme and it felt like a very peaceful place but, I have to admit the Vodka I drunk that evening might have helped to build this image of peacefulness.

World Toilet Organization (WTO), International NGO committed towards improving toilets and sanitation worldwide through innovation and leverage.
http://www.worldtoilet.org/ - 15k - Cached - Similar pages