Patricia Arquette speaks candidly about demystifying the topic of treating sanitation & educates us on the shocking truths surrounding the issue:

KNOW THE FACTS:

2.6 Billion People, 40% of the world’s population live without any sanitation or proper toilets

3.5 Million people DIE each year from water-related disease

6,000 Children DIE every day from the lack of clean water and adequate sanitation

By the year 2025 over 2 Billion poor people will live in crowded slums with no toilets

Water-related disease caused by poor sanitation and the lack of proper toilets is a leading cause of death and illness in the developing world.

BACKGROUND:

There are hundreds of IDP camps in the greater Port-au-Prince area and approximately 1.3 million displaced people living without adequate sanitation, toilets or clean drinking water. Even before the 2010 earthquake, 80% of the rural population and 50% of city dwellers did not have access to proper toilets or clean water. And, waterborne disease caused by the lack of sanitation is a leading cause of child mortality and illness in Haiti.

Over 3,500 people have died since the October 2010 cholera outbreak, and 180,000 people have become sick from the disease. Health experts estimate 250,000 new cholera cases over the next 18 months, and the cost of the emergency response has tapped out the resources of the international community. Sadly, these outbreaks can be prevented with improved hygiene and sanitation.

Open defecation and the use of plastic bags for waste disposal is a major public health and environmental problem. The current practice of dumping minimally treated pit latrine waste on open wetlands and coastal areas is not environmentally sustainable. Even in rural areas, the improper disposal of human excreta pollutes land, rivers, and vital water resources, and perpetuates this dire public health crisis.

Patricia Arquette, Klout, CoTweet & World Poopin’ Day [Via the hashtag #POOPIN] worked together to help bring awareness and funding to this project on March 13th by setting up #Poopin teeshirt booths during SXSW and by sharing the charity information with online influencers both before, during and after World Poopin’ Day.
While March 13th has come and gone, and close to $3000 was raised, there is SO much more money that NEEDS to be raised. Check out what your donations can do down below…it’s pretty incredible:

DONATIONS: Give a Little… Help a Lot!

Your donations directly support our programs in Haiti.

$10 – buy tools and buckets for our Green School Program

$45 – gift a family a compost toilet

$100 – buy supplies to build a community compost pile

$1,000 – provide a primary school with new toilets and a community compost center

Other – any amount you’re able to donate will help in our efforts

To learn more about the project and it’s sponsors check out the following:

http://www.givelove.org/
http://worldpoopinday.com/
http://klout.com/
http://cotweet.com/

* Video Footage Captured By @CraftTestDummy – Jenny Barnett Rohrs * [Thank You!]