The Big Necessity

As we plan our Christmas camping trip to Big Bend, my fellow campers (and I) have one requirement - flushing toilets. We are willing to brave insects, sub-zero temperatures and no showers as long we can take a dump in peace. "In peace" means a private, enclosed setting with water, toilet paper and soap.

Disclaimer: If you are squeamish about shit, stop reading now. It only gets worse.

We all know that this is not the case for millions - and as I recently learned, billions. According to The Big Necessity: the unmentionable world of human waste and why it matters, 2.6 billion people do not have access to toilets - this does not include folks who have access to public toilets or latrines or buckets or boxes. The 2.6 billion have no access, period - meaning they defecate in the open. If this number does not get you, picture this (I warned you) - In India, 200,000 tons (yes, tons) of human feces are deposited every day in the open. This is 155,000 truckloads of shit left in the open every day.

Forget the imagery, these actions have serious health consequences. According to the UNICEF, more than 2 million people die of diarrhea every year, greater than AIDS, TB, or malaria combined. Diarrhea is a results for poor sanitation. And poor sanitation is due, in a large part, to poor access to basic toilets. Obviously something needs to be done.

The thing is, most of us could never work in this area - we just don't have the stomach for it. But luckily, many do. The book highlights organizations employing innovative approaches to tackle the problem. It is a hard read due to graphic descriptions, but worth the time and occasional revulsion.