The purpose of World Toilet Day is to get out the word about the global sanitation crisis.   Launched by the World Toilet Organization several years ago, World Toilet Day is now celebrated around the world by community groups, schools, universities and professional associations.  At PHLUSH we have chosen two simple messages – confirmed by Unicef and the World Health Organization:

2.6 billion of our fellow human beings lack access to a basic toilet.

A child dies of diarrhea every 15 seconds because of the lack of sanitation.

Here are six ways to observe World Toilet Day:

1. Join City Commissioner Randy Leonard, Portland Water Bureau officials, neighborhood business people, neighbors, local sanitation activists and PHLUSH on Friday for the First Flush of the newest Portland Loo.   That’s at noon on Naito Parkway at the foot of SW Ash Street on the edge of Waterfront Park.  Look for the Loo and the Neighborhood Association Tent.  If you don’t live in Portland or can’t come, why not post a message on the Portland Loo Facebook Page.
2. Watch award-wnning documentary The World’s Toilet Crisis.  The 44-minute Current TV special with Adam Yamguchi. is available free on line.
3. Promote passage in the House of Representatives of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act 2010 (HR 2030) during this lame duck session.  Excellent short video here.  Oregon Rep Earl Blumenauer has very clear messages on the importance of sanitation and the return to investment in it.
4. Organize a Big Squat to bring attention and an end to Open Defecation.  It’s a simple minute-long protest.  Five people or five hundred, it doesn’t matter as your group will be joined by thousands of people elsewhere. Like the Chicago chapter of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers.  The Big Squat Toolbox tells you what to do and how to communicate your support to others around the world.
5. Get creative and submit your entry in one of this week’s quick competitions.  For  Sanitation is Sexy a tweet, a Facebook picture or a blog post can win a nice prize.  Deadline Nov 19th.   Water for People has launched Support a Movement Video Competition Deadline is Nov 21st.
6. Use Facebook and Twitter:  Post messages on the World Toilet Organization page.   Visit our@PortlandPHLUSH Twitter feed and copy or retweet anything that speaks to you.