Mr. Toilet Starts Worldwide Sanitation Revolution
- WHO: Nearly 2 million people die every year from diseases related to bad sanitation
- World Toilet Association aims to provide toilet facilities to impoverished nations
- South Korea’s “Mr. Toilet” unanimously elected association’s first president
- 2.6 billion people worldwide lack access to proper restrooms
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The World Toilet Association kicked off its inaugural conference Thursday, hoping to spark a sanitation revolution that will save lives through better hygiene and break taboos about what happens behind closed bathroom doors.
2.6 billion people worldwide lack access to proper restroom facilities.
To the celebratory rhythms of a percussionist beating on toilets, dozens of government delegates and U.N. representatives began two days of discussions on improving bathroom facilities for the 2.6 billion people worldwide who lack access to proper restrooms.
Dr. Shigeru Omi, western Pacific director of the World Health Organization, said 1.8 million people die annually due to diseases related to inadequate sanitation, 90 percent of them children younger than 5.
Providing healthy bathroom facilities worldwide would 
cost some $10 billion a year — equal to 1 percent of world military spending or what Europeans annually spend on ice cream, he said. The new association aims to provide toilet facilities to impoverished countries, provide for urgent sanitation needs after natural disasters and spread information and technology for improving toilets.
The South Korean government has given strong backing to the World Toilet Association, which has been spearheaded by the country’s “Mr. Toilet” — parliament member Sim Jae-duck. He earned his nickname for improving public restrooms for the 2002 World Cup as mayor of Suwon city.
“The restroom revolution will provide hope and happiness to mankind,” Sim told delegates.
Its all about hygiene. Its all about education. Too many of today’s youth are not taught the consequences. Spreading biological material between humans is one of the greatest threats to world health, besides war. BossKitty applauds all efforts to teach the basics of hygiene. It is alarming how many people in supposedly technologically advanced countries are careless or oblivious to the consequences of poor personal hygiene.
Useful tools for spreading the word and not bacteria …
Is the toilet seat really the dirtiest place in the home?
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TruthHugger 
You leave me speechless OpIt. “Disinfecting in a contaminated environment is pretty much a waste of time.” I am convinced this administration is unsanitary and need disinfection … you’re right. That is probably a waste of time … but it is a redeeming exercise.
Cleaning must precede sanitation. That is simple removal of foreign matter. The best method is usually irrigation. Various aids, such as detergents and emulsifiers, can make a more thorough job faster and easier. This removal should suffice in most cases.
But. Disinfecting in a contaminated environment is pretty much a waste of time. Germicides only work when in a liquid state. Leaving a toxic deposit may put the integrity of one’s hide at risk; inappropriate use of germicide causes resistant strains to predominate. Oops!
It was only after working in the industry for a long time that it hit me. A “wash room” is one that is cleaned by a thorough washing.