Descent into hell

Hyde Park Public Toilets given a startling makeover for World Toilet Day

19 November 2009

Alex Hankinson of Harringay, London, inside the transformed public toilets.

Credit: PA/David Parry

Plus Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley, Ewan McGregor & Ricky Groves reveal their loos to the British public in support of WaterAid.

One of London’s most popular public toilets will today be transformed beyond all recognition on World Toilet Day, 19 November 2009, to resemble some of the most hellish loos on earth.

Life without a proper toilet is a reality for 2.5 billion people in the developing world and, for one morning only, members of the public are being invited to see for themselves the kind of squalid environment that billions across Africa and Asia live with every day.
 
To raise awareness of the global sanitation crisis, WaterAid and award-winning ad director Kit Lynch-Robinson are creating a chilling scene in the Hyde Park Corner men’s toilets – complete with rubbish dump, maggots, rusted pipes, a stagnant stream and a unique toilet scent, Eau de Toilet.

Barbara Frost, Chief Executive of WaterAid said:
"Here in the UK we tend to take our loos for granted – but imagine not having one at all. A lack of toilets not only kills 4,000 children every day in the developing world, but keeps kids out of school, puts a massive strain on health systems and hampers economic prosperity.

"Today we're asking the public to spend just one moment experiencing what it might be like not to have a loo."

Members of the public will be able to experience the paradox between the above-ground world of London's beautiful Hyde Park and the loos below, as two very different worlds are brought together.

A celeb's loo, but can you guess who? Visit www.facebook.com/wateraid to find out!

The transformation is taking place to support WaterAid’s Loo’ve Been Framed campaign, which has attracted support from some of the UK’s best-loved celebrities.

High profile supporters Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley, Ewan McGregor and former Eastenders and current Strictly Come Dancing star Ricky Groves have all taken a picture of their most private place – their toilet – to highlight the campaign which calls on UK politicians to prioritise water and sanitation in the world’s poorest countries.

Stephen Fry said:
"No one likes to talk about loos, but for forty percent of the world it's a serious matter. With lack of toilets being responsible for thousands of child deaths everyday, we need to start talking about this sticky subject. I know I couldn't go without my loo - could you?"

Read Margaret Batty's Comment is free blog entry Kick up a stink for better sanitation, on The Guardian website 

Jake, from Lincolnshire Young Journalists' Academy, put together this report on the event:

• View a report by AsianLite on YouTube here
  
  
• To find out more about World Toilet Day activities and actions, visit www.wateraid.org/wtd

iPhone app

WaterAid will also officially launch a new iPhone application today. The ToiletFinder app allows iPhone users in the UK to locate their nearest public toilet, while reminding them how lucky they are to have use of a clean and safe toilet. For more information go to www.wateraid.org/toiletfinder.

For more information please contact: chloeirvine@wateraid.org or call +44(0)20 7793 4909 or 075 1494 1577.

NOTES TO EDITOR:

• Video footage available on request
• 19 November is World Toilet Day - a day to celebrate the humble, yet vitally important, toilet and to raise awareness of the global sanitation crisis.
• 2.5 billion people in the world (that’s 40% of the world’s population) don’t have a safe place to go to the toilet
• 4,000 children die every day and at any one time half of all hospital beds in the developing world are filled with people suffering from water and sanitation related diseases. 443 million school days are missed due to diarrhoea

Historically, political leaders have not given water and sanitation high priority. This global sanitation crisis could be averted if Gordon Brown and other world leaders prioritise toilets – especially leading up to the first ever high-level meeting on water and sanitation in April 2010.