With the craziness of the last few weeks I haven't had much time to read either the newspaper or development blogs I enjoy. I thought the picture from Bill Easterly's latest blog entry was quite interesting, depicting the number of people on various income levels by region. It is a bit outdated (2000 data) but still quite powerful.
The New York Times recently ran an article about an exciting advancement in preventing HIV/AIDS. A study in South Africa found that a vaginal microbicidal gel containing an antiretroviral medication significantly reduced the likelihood of contracting the deadly disease. The most exciting part about this, in my humble opinion, is that unlike condoms, it is solely in the control of the woman and thus very empowering. The second study - of cash transfers to poor families - clearly demonstrates the link between abject poverty and increased chances of contracting diseases. Worth the read!Lastly, the LA Times recently featured an op-ed titled "Toilets: a simple solution to world health issues." We often time sideline issues of defecation because it is uncomfortable and impolite. The reality is that many of the world's poor don't have access to toilets, as much as 2.6 billion or about a third of the world's population! Today, as I was conducting interviews in the slum behind Guru Nanek Eye Hospital in Delhi, I witnessed a little boy no older than 3 years old crouching in the middle of the alley trying to poop. He seemed totally impervious to norms of modesty and was just happy to relieve himself. The article claims that "in India more people have access to cell phones than toilets." Modesty and odor is just part of the issue. The boy pooped in the main thoroughfare connecting the slum. Every child and adult without a pair of shoes will walk where he pooped (his mom did pick it up with newspaper thankfully). Diseases spread like wildfire in environments that lack proper sewage, leading to almost 2 million preventable deaths. My friend Jehan, who worked in the same office as Teach For Australia when I was in Melbourne, is attempting to address this issue by launching a non-profit titled Who Gives a Crap, which sells environmentally-friendly toilet paper. All the proceeds will fund water sanitation and sewage projects in the developing world.
4 comments:
all very interesting! thanks. But as an anthropologist can't let this one slide :) remember 'modesty' is entirely culturally conditioned, we can't assume it's a universal norm, so we shouldn't judge ppl's behaviour by our standards. In a majority of India, that is the accepted norm, so his behaviour shouldn't really be depicted as immodest - even though obviosuly there are heaps of different currents in India, that's thanksfully changing, and it's objectionable for lots of disease and hygiene reasons etc etc... xo Felic
Agree with you felic about the cultural conditioning and definitions of modesty. Wasn't trying to project onto them my own values.
The reality though is that many people in Delhi, esp girls and women, would not feel comfortable pooping in public because it would be embarrassing to them or "immodest". It seems like this practice, which may be widespread in the countryside I have no idea, is changing here in Delhi. Some will go long distances just to get some privacy. Regardless, the main point isn't about modesty, so much as the health danger such practices pose to the general public.
just caught up on your blog. thanks for the updates. looking forward to your return :)
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