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Q&A: 'Out-of-the-Box Solutions Needed to Solve World's Sanitation Problems'

Interview with Sim Jae-Duck, president of the World Toilet Association

SEOUL, Nov 22 2007 (IPS) - Born in a lavatory, South Korean legislator Sim Jae-Duck prefers to be addressed as ‘Mr. Toilet’ and hopes to die in one too. He moved into a home shaped like a giant toilet bowl in time for the launch, in Seoul, of the World Toilet Association (WTA) general assembly from Nov. 21-25.

Having spearheaded the Korean ‘toilet revolution’ some two decades ago, this less than reverential but very relevant politician now wants to take on the world with his ‘potty’ plans. He believes the United Nations Millennium Development Goal (MDG), of halving the number of people without sanitation, cannot be achieved unless world leaders wake up to the problem.

"I was destined to lead this movement," he told IPS correspondent Zofeen Ebrahim during an interview at the WTA assembly which brings together researchers and government officials from 60 countries – 21 from Asia, 14 from the Americas, 13 from Africa, eight from Europe and six from the Middle East. They are expected to discuss affordable and effective designs and technologies for a world fraught with challenges like climate change, rapid urbanisation and the population explosion.

IPS: You speak of the urgency of spreading the toilet revolution. Sim Jae-Duck: Worldwide 1.8 million people die every year from diarrhoeal diseases, mainly attributable to unsafe water supply, inadequate sanitation and poor hygienic practices. A majority of these deaths occur in Asia, of which 90 percent are children under 5 years of age.

IPS: What are the objectives of holding an assembly on an international scale on a subject which many politicians do not even regard as an issue? SJD: That is exactly the point of holding this high profile event. We want to bring a change in people’s perception about an issue which is still sniggered at and looked upon with displeasure. We want to bring it out in the open, initiate a discourse to smooth out any uneasiness that surrounds it. But most importantly, the idea is to bring to the notice of leaders that however much they try to tackle the issue of sanitation, and however much they try meeting the MDG of halving the number of people without sanitation, the goal will remain elusive and the eradication of disease a mammoth task, if people do not have access to proper toilets. It is about time the world community recognised this as a global agenda instead of brushing it aside as a triviality.

IPS: Can we achieve the MDG of halving the people without proper sanitation? Estimates by the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicate that the cost of meeting this goal would be ten billion US dollars per annum from now until 2015. SJD: We may have to stretch and go beyond the 2015 deadline, but it’s doable if all the nations work together. It also depends on the importance attached to it by the local and the national governments of each country. And if the political will is there, half the battle is won as resources will automatically be diverted.

IPS: The U.N. has declared 2008 the ‘Year of Sanitation’. How is the WTA planning to join this initiative and help make it a success? SJD: It is important that activities taken up by WTA build on the events that have already taken place and the ongoing efforts remain coordinated. We are supporting the U.N. in this by laying emphasis on raising awareness about acceptance of toilets which will go a long way in reducing the burden of disease. We also plan to assist willing governments across the globe in building exemplary toilets and systems for the poor.

In fact, in this way the WTA is different from other organisations working on this issue. We work with governments, other civil society organisations and associations similar to ours and the U.N. agencies.

IPS: Has any government in particular approached the WTA for replicating the Korean success story? SJD: The governments of Venezuela, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea have shown interest in our ‘toilets for humanity’ project. It is imperative for governments to be on board and be aware of the importance of toilets for this kind of collaboration to be a success.

IPS: Given the scant water resources, population explosion, rapid urbanisation and industrial growth, is it time to look beyond western sanitation systems and design toilets differently? SJD: Absolutely! The primary challenge facing the people in the19th century was water-borne epidemics and so the western urban water management model was appropriate. Today, we must base our designs that suit the socio-cultural norms of a society, but keep in mind that many developing nations are also water-starved or do not always have functioning sewer systems. So providing conventional flush toilets may really be quite a wasteful venture. They may need a technology that uses little water, or where recycling and wastewater management system is in place. In fact, one of the reasons for holding this assembly and expo is to share and learn from others. It is an education in itself.

IPS: Is it difficult to bring this issue into the political arena? With you in the assembly does it give you an advantage? SJD: It’s been a battle. I must confess that I’ve been laughed at by my very colleagues. But in the last 20 years, I’ve seen a difference in the Korean toilet culture. So it’s been all worthwhile. Being in the assembly has helped a great deal, especially in keeping the discourse going and ensuring that there is a budget kept for this.

IPS: Do you think we should have a pay-and-use system for latrines? SJD: It’s all wrong to have to pay for a service which is primarily the job of the government. Not only is the government not providing this convenience to everyone which is a basic right, on top of it, it is charging for it. I think the wealthy nations should learn from the Korean example where we stopped charging the citizens or the tourists to use these facilities some two decades ago.

IPS: Why have a home shaped like a toilet bowl? SJD: I guess I could not get to emphasise the importance of toilets in a person’s life enough. It is my way of telling the whole world, one more time.