Archive for the ‘Press and media’ Category

World Toilet Day, November 19th

November 17, 2010  |   Empowerment,Environment,Events,General news,Poverty,Press and media,Sanitation,Water   |

World Toilet Day, November 19th

November 19th is World Toilet Day. Join the Big Squat! A day to celebrate the importance of sanitation and raise awareness for the 2.6 billion people (nearly half of the world's population) who don't have access to toilets and proper sanitation. Where there are no toilets: 2.6 billion people worldwide are without access to proper sanitation, which risks their health, strips their dignity, and kills 1.8 million people, mostly children, a year. Diarrhoeal diseases kill five times as many children in the developing world as HIV/AIDS. That's 5,000 children DYING EVERY SINGLE DAY. Not only that, but the disease kills more children than either malaria or AIDS, stunts growth, and forces millions - adults and children alike - to spend weeks at a time off work or school, which hits both a country's economy and its citizens' chances of a better future. The majority of the illness in the world is caused by faecal matter. Lack of sanitation is the world's biggest cause of infection. One gram of faeces can contain 10 million viruses, one million bacteria, 1,000 parasite cysts and 100 parasite eggs. Safe disposal of children's faeces leads to a reduction of nearly 40% in childhood diarrhoea. Wherever the ...

Not just another bog standard charity event

November 09, 2010  |   Events,General news,Press and media,Sanitation   |

Not just another bog standard charity event

Our Doorway to Dignity campaign reached new heights last week as stars from the stage, sports field, music world, political arena and the arts helped us raise £40,000 to provide sanitation for people in the developing world. Famous faces from Conservative leader David Cameron to actor Kenneth Branagh, pop star Geri Halliwell to model Lily Cole submitted artwork which was auctioned at London's Tabernaccle club last Thursday night (4th November 2010). Some took photographs, some added glitter, some used text to decorate their designs, some (like the Prime Minister) had help from their children. But each and every contribution had one very important thing in common. All artwork involved in the auction was based on the template of the 'toilet people' - those familiar signs we see outside toilets everywhere. The subject matter might not be your average after dinner conversation but there was nothing bog standard about this event - or the attendees who included celebrity guests Gabby and Kenny Logan and Merlin actress Angel Coulby. Gabby, whose contribution to the auction was a combined effort with her husband, commented: "Lots of charities fight for your attention This project ...