Over 780 million people around the world do not have access to clean water or sanitation – critical to reducing water borne illness, reducing infection; and feeding crops and livestock. This results in approximately 3.4 million deaths annually; the majority of which are caused by fecal matter, and could be reduced through the simple act of washing hands with soap and clean water.
It’s no quick fix however, but fortunately there are people and organisations out there that are coming up with creative solutions to raise awareness and combat this issue:
- Wine to Water is an organisation set up by former bartender Doc Hendley, encouraging bartenders around the world to pledge 100% their tips from a shifts work to the charity devoted to fighting the epidemic.
- Who Gives a Crap is an Australian social enterprise that donates 50% of the profits from its toilet paper sales to WaterAid, who work improve sanitation in the developing world.
- University of Engineering and Technology created a billboard in Peru that turns humidity into drinkable water.
- I recently mentioned the campaign Farmageddon, which saw online Farmarama farmers help real-life farms through donations to the United Nations FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization).
- F/Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi created this TVC for S.O.S. Mata Atlântica, a Brazilian environmental charity, encouraging people to break the taboo of peeing in the shower to each save over 4000 liters of drinkable water a year.
