Posts Tagged ‘sanitation’
Reflections on the Work of Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak (1943-2023)
Imagine this… You’re six years old. Happy, healthy, active and curious about everything around you. Everyday, a woman comes to your house to clean the toilet. Your grandmother has told you not to touch her. You notice that when this woman leaves, your grandmother sprinkles the pure water of the Ganges river where the woman…
Read MoreCorrectional Facilities: Left Behind in Times of COVID-19
By Qianxue Zhang August 10, 2020 • 5 min read Photo courtesy: Emiliano Bar Table of Contents We’re all together in the face of this global pandemic. COVID-19 has worsened injustices in correctional facilities. People in jails are dying before their time. Remember to look back to see who has been left behind. We’re…
Read MorePublic Restrooms and COVID-19: Guidelines for Reopening
June 29, 2020 The re-opening of the economy during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic depends on the successful re-opening of toilet facilities. Retail businesses, manufacturing firms, trade workshops, food-processing units, schools and universities, and government institutions must protect people from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. And they are in a position to support and encourage social distancing, handwashing,…
Read MoreReversing Water Shut-Offs Helps Vulnerable Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic
By Aleia Maria Dela Cuadra June 11, 2020 • 5 min read Photo courtesy: uusc.org Table of Contents Reversing water shut-offs can promote handwashing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Water shut-offs in Detroit show unequal access to water and environmental racism. This trend extends beyond Detroit, Michigan. Now more than ever, access to clean…
Read MoreSanitation, Hygiene, and the Global Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
By Rinnah Becker and Genevieve Schutzius April 19, 2020 • 13 min read Last updated: May 27, 2020 Table of Contents SARS-CoV-2 spreads through respiratory droplets. Advances are being made to track the spread of the virus. Handwashing and wearing cloth face coverings can reduce the spread of COVID-19. Some communities can access water for…
Read MoreDo Americans enjoy the Human Right to Water and Sanitation?
January 23, 2019 In a recent segment on NPR affiliate KLCC, Oregon journalist Denise Silfee points out that the UN General Assembly affirmed the human right to water and sanitation in 2010 while the United States failed to join the majority of nations voting for the resolution. In her interview with people sheltering in a…
Read MoreEmergency Sanitation Recommendations for Hurricane Florence
Hurricane Florence is upon us. She is predicted to bring excessive rainfall (over 2 feet) and dangerous storm surge (up to 9-12 feet) to North and South Carolina. While some are rejoicing that wind speeds have been downgraded, NWS continues to predict life-threatening storm surge and unprecedented rainfall. As an organization focused on safe sanitation…
Read MoreNew documentary breaks taboos to explore America’s wastewater infrastructure
Documentary filmmaker Karina Mangu-Ward is going to make a splash with FLUSH, which premieres worldwide on November 15th, 2017. Mangu-Ward’s images are captivating, the editing is excellent, and the film features some of North America’s most important sanitation heroes. It will change the way you think about poop. We here at the other PHLUSH (Public Hygiene Lets Us…
Read MoreA Call for More Comprehensive Disaster Sanitation Preparedness
All citizens who pee and poop, that’s everyone, need to know how to safely take care of toileting when the luxury of a ‘flush and forget’ mentality is no longer an option. Natural disasters, such as recent Hurricanes Irma, Harvey and Maria, alter our world in unpredictable ways. One thing that we can anticipate is…
Read MoreEnacting Awareness: Water, Waste, and Public Space
With last Friday’s whimsical 5K walk, activists at the University of California at Santa Cruz focused attention on often-evaded issues. “Slugs to Sludge” was created as a playful way to raise awareness of sewage infrastructure and the water it requires, and to advocate for action on ecological sanitation at UCSC and beyond. With the average…
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