I give a crap! | The Ripple Project

Most of us don’t think twice about a trip to the loo, but unfortunately that is not the case for the 4.5 billion people around the world who don’t have access to a safe toilet – more people in the world have mobile phones than toilets!

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Dear MPs,

Today is World Toilet Day. Going to the loo is something that we take for granted in Australia, but for billions of people across the world, it can be a matter of life and death.

Globally, fewer than 38% of people have access to a safe toilet. 900 million children have no access to hand-washing facilities. 20% of schools don’t provide any toilet facilities.

Polluted water and lack of sanitation can lead to the spread of diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, malaria, and dengue. These diseases have considerable short and long-term impacts on people’s health, and equally devastating effects on their economic prosperity and quality of life.

Water, sanitation, and hygiene programs run by Australian NGOs and the Australian Government truly reflect our values, and the belief that everyone deserves a fair go at life, regardless of race, gender, or place of birth. Australian aid is how we as a nation come together to help end extreme poverty.

But the Government's recent cuts to Australian aid make it so much harder for us to do our part in ending extreme poverty and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Reducing our contribution to aid means that programs which promote access to toilets, safe drinking water, and sanitation have been cut.

I call on you to grow the aid program by 10% each year for six years. We have an opportunity to lead the world as global citizens, let's take it.

Will you show bipartisan leadership and commit to rebuild aid?

Yours sincerely,