Pooing in public - caught on camera

Open defecation viral film

WaterAid's Multi Media Officer Beth caught short in King's Road.

Credit: WaterAid

19 November was World Toilet Day and to highlight the fact that 40% of the world's population do not have a safe place to go to the toilet, WaterAid released a series of four viral films featuring open defecation in London.

One gram of human faeces can contain 10,000,000 viruses, 1,000,000 bacteria, 1,000 parasite cysts, 100 parasite eggs. The lack of adequate sanitation in developing countries kills 5,000 children every day. 

"I know it may look funny, but acting in the film was a pretty horrible experience, I felt vulnerable, and it may be obvious to say but I felt really exposed. We wouldn't have done it if we weren't desperate to raise awareness of the issue and to be honest we're all a bit nervous about potentially millions of people seeing the films, but at the end of the day that's the objective - so I hope everyone sends it to everyone they know." Commented Charlotte who plays the role of a traffic warden caught short while ticketing cars.

"Talk to someone in London about bad sanitation and they instinctively think of a dirty public toilet. The true reality is so much more grim - open defecation. There is no room for pride or dignity - just squat down and do it. To think that in the UK we make such a fuss about dogs defecating in the street, I certainly won't be as embarrassed next time I pick up my dog's mess in public after this filming." Stated Paul, who plays the dog walker caught short in the park.

Multi Media Officer Beth, said: "Normally I refuse to get in front of the camera, but lack of sanitation is such an important issue I was prepared to break the rule of a lifetime, even risking severe embarrassment just to make others aware of the need for action." Beth plays a Sloanie shopper caught short outside the shops.

"I know from personal experience the knock on effects of poor sanitation, earlier this year I was struck down with dysentery whilst filming in a remote area of Uganda, so I had no hesitation in filming and starring in this film. Film is a very powerful media for getting a message across, viral films are particularly at the cutting edge of campaigning." Said Orlando of Grain Media who led on the production of the videos and performed as the businessman caught short in the city.

For further information, footage and interviews please contact: Beth 020 7793 4796 or watch them on the Youtube website:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9gaicVqoqHI
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll7CfotLxMk
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3b1PdliHWPU
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kb8Mc8rH4r0

Notes to editors

• WaterAid's mission is to overcome poverty by enabling the world's poorest people to gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education.
  2.6 billion people in the world do not have access to adequate sanitation, this is roughly two fifths of the world's population.
• 1.8 million children die every year as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation. This amounts to around 5000 deaths a day.
• WaterAid projects providing safe water, sanitation and hygiene education cost just £15 per head.
• The simple act of washing hands with soap and water can reduce diarrhoeal diseases by over 40%. (British Medical Journal)
• The integrated approach of providing water, sanitation and hygiene reduces the number of deaths caused by diarrhoeal diseases by an average of 65%. (WHO)
• Water-related disease is the second biggest killer of children worldwide, after acute respiratory infections like tuberculosis.