Church aid agency pitches flying toilets at radio
-20/11/05
Christian Aid has launched
Church aid agency pitches flying toilets at radio
-20/11/05
Christian Aid has launched its 2005 seasonal gifts catalogue with a spoof Christmas single ëFeeling flush this Christmas?í to help tackle sanitation problems such as ëflying toiletsí which affect many people in third world slums.
The single is a remix of the Christmas carol ëWe Three Kings of Orientí Are. No musical instruments are used. Instead the carol is composed of unusual sounds associated with gifts from the charityís catalogue.
The ëmusiciansí include a mosquito choir, a chorus of cows, sheep and goats, as well as toilet flushes.
ìThe term ëflying toiletsí might sound funny but itís deadly serious, ì says Christian Aid. ìIn some African slums, such as Kibera, in Nairobi, up to 15,000 people could be sharing a single block of six toilets.î
Without running water people are forced to use plastic bags to defecate in. They then throw the bags into the street ñ and hence are known as ëflying toiletsí.
Clean toilets drastically reduce diseases such as diarrhoea, malaria and cholera. A donation of £55 would buy a latrine that really gets to the bottom of things. And this is where the Present Aid catalogue comes in.
People can log on and choose a virtual present for a friend, relative or colleague who will receive a card. A gift then goes to help people in developing countries, wherever the need is greatest.
David Pain, head of the Africa division at Christian Aid, added: ìIt was hard to conduct the rowdy choir of mosquitoes and get the goats in tune, but we hope they will help us raise awareness about the difficulties facing some of the poorest communities around the world, not just at Christmas but throughout the year.î
Says pain: ìA quirky gift from presentaid.org will put a smile on the face of the person who receives a card about it, but more importantly it will help people in developing countries help themselves.î
The money raised through people ëbuyingí gifts doesnít go directly to a family in a poor country, but into one of the following funds that are used to support Christian Aid partner organisations, working with some of the poorest communities in more than 50 countries:
Development group World Vision were first off the mark in the Christmas charity stakes this year with their online Alternative Gift site selling unusual virtual gifts. The scheme allows goats, chickens, sheep, clean water systems and even bogs to be sent to people in the developing world on someone else’s behalf.
Christian Aid’s present aid site is following suit, and is also proving very popular.
The results in terms of assistance are highly significant. World Vision says that through their alternative gifts over 5,000 children have been immunised against six childhood killer diseases. Over 12,000 fruit trees have been planted, growing produce both to eat and sell. 3,000 children have had their sight restored through cataract operations.
Meanwhile, Christian Aid is waiting to see whether it can be flushed with success by an unexpected Number One Christmas Single hit.
You can purchase aid agency gifts here
[Other peace and justice gift links: Bibles for Christmas; Giving books; hanging decorations (discount); candle decorations (discount) Download the spoof CA single (MP3 file)]
Church aid agency pitches flying toilets at radio
-20/11/05
Christian Aid has launched its 2005 seasonal gifts catalogue with a spoof Christmas single ëFeeling flush this Christmas?’ to help tackle sanitation problems such as ëflying toilets’ which affect many people in third world slums.
The single is a remix of the Christmas carol ëWe Three Kings of Orient’ Are. No musical instruments are used. Instead the carol is composed of unusual sounds associated with gifts from the charity’s catalogue.
The ëmusicians’ include a mosquito choir, a chorus of cows, sheep and goats, as well as toilet flushes.
‘The term ëflying toilets’ might sound funny but it’s deadly serious, ‘ says Christian Aid. ‘In some African slums, such as Kibera, in Nairobi, up to 15,000 people could be sharing a single block of six toilets.’
Without running water people are forced to use plastic bags to defecate in. They then throw the bags into the street – and hence are known as ëflying toilets’.
Clean toilets drastically reduce diseases such as diarrhoea, malaria and cholera. A donation of £55 would buy a latrine that really gets to the bottom of things. And this is where the Present Aid catalogue comes in.
People can log on and choose a virtual present for a friend, relative or colleague who will receive a card. A gift then goes to help people in developing countries, wherever the need is greatest.
David Pain, head of the Africa division at Christian Aid, added: ‘It was hard to conduct the rowdy choir of mosquitoes and get the goats in tune, but we hope they will help us raise awareness about the difficulties facing some of the poorest communities around the world, not just at Christmas but throughout the year.’
Says pain: ‘A quirky gift from presentaid.org will put a smile on the face of the person who receives a card about it, but more importantly it will help people in developing countries help themselves.’
The money raised through people ëbuying’ gifts doesn’t go directly to a family in a poor country, but into one of the following funds that are used to support Christian Aid partner organisations, working with some of the poorest communities in more than 50 countries:
Development group World Vision were first off the mark in the Christmas charity stakes this year with their online Alternative Gift site selling unusual virtual gifts. The scheme allows goats, chickens, sheep, clean water systems and even bogs to be sent to people in the developing world on someone else’s behalf.
Christian Aid’s present aid site is following suit, and is also proving very popular.
The results in terms of assistance are highly significant. World Vision says that through their alternative gifts over 5,000 children have been immunised against six childhood killer diseases. Over 12,000 fruit trees have been planted, growing produce both to eat and sell. 3,000 children have had their sight restored through cataract operations.
Meanwhile, Christian Aid is waiting to see whether it can be flushed with success by an unexpected Number One Christmas Single hit.
You can purchase aid agency gifts here
[Other peace and justice gift links: Bibles for Christmas; Giving books; hanging decorations (discount); candle decorations (discount) Download the spoof CA single (MP3 file)]