THIS NEWSLETTER IS PUBLISHED BY THE ROTARY GLOBAL HISTORY FELLOWSHIP.
THE COMMENTS AND STORIES IN THIS NEWSLETTER DO NOT REFLECT THE OPINIONS OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL,
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL OR ANY OTHER ROTARY RELATED ORGANIZATION.
A monthly feature of the Rotary Global History Fellowship Issue #157 March 15, 2015
RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter … A Newsletter for Rotary Leaders UN Health Agency Urges Europe to Step Up Measles Vaccination Survey: Parents Increasingly Ask Doctors to Delay Vaccines Big U.S. Majority Favors Mandatory Vaccinations: Reuters/Ipsos Poll Most Doctors Give In to Requests by Parents to Alter Vaccine Schedules Oregon Considers Banning Most Vaccine Exemptions The Dangers of Vaccine Denial Unsure You Need a Measles Shot? Get Vaccinated Measles and the Vaccine Opponents Measles: Perilous but Preventable Reckless Rejection of the Measles Vaccine 2nd Commuter With Measles Prompts California Transit Warning Three Infected With Measles at Las Vegas Seafood Restaurant Commuter With Measles Also Dined at Bay Area Restaurant Experts Blame Anti-Vaccine Lobby for Bosnia Measles Outbreak Measles Epidemic Is Spreading in Central Africa
THE DANGERS OF VACCINE DENIAL Rotarians worldwide are well positioned to share accurate vaccination data in their communities alerting families to the importance of mandatory vaccinations. Vaccine denial is dangerous and let’s call this out as the nonsense it is. If we are going to denounce the Taliban for blocking polio vaccinations, we should be just as quick to stand up to health illiteracy in our midst. Refusing to vaccinate your children is not personal choice but it is public irresponsibility. You no more have the right to risk others by failing to vaccinate than you do by sending your child to school with a hunting knife. Vaccination isn’t a private choice but a civic obligation.
RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 2 VACCINES, MEDICAL EXPERTS SAY, SAVE MORE LIVES THAN ANY PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURE OTHER THAN CLEAN WATER AND SEWAGE. WE NEED IMMUNIZATIONS Newborns, babies, and toddlers are constantly being exposed to germs from their parents, other adults, brothers and sisters, people in stores, and other children in child care. With travel easier than ever, you and your baby can be exposed to diseases from other countries without you knowing. For a few weeks after they are born, babies will have some protection, which was passed from their mother through the placenta before birth. After a short period of time, this natural protection goes away.
WE NEED CLEAN WATER AND PROPER SANITATION Clean water is a basic need for human beings. When people, especially children, have access to clean water, they live healthier and more productive lives. However, at least 3,000 children die each day from diseases caused by unsafe water, which is what motivates our Rotary members to build wells, install rainwater harvesting systems, and teach community members how to maintain new infrastructure. While very few people die of thirst, millions die from preventable waterborne diseases, providing the impetus for our members to also improve sanitation facilities in undeveloped countries. Members start by providing toilets and latrines that flush into a sewer or safe enclosure and then add education programs to promote hand-washing and other good hygiene habits.
IMMUNIZATIONS help protect infants, children, and adults against many infections that used to be much more common.
EXAMPLES INCLUDE tetanus, diphtheria, mumps, measles, pertussis (whooping cough), meningitis, and polio. Newer IMMUNIZATIONS PROTECT CHILDREN AND ADULTS against other types of meningitis, pneumonia, and ear infections. Many of these infections can cause serious or LIFETHREATENING ILLNESSES, and may lead to lifelong disabilities. Because of immunizations, all of these illnesses are now rare. Issue #157 Page 3 RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 4 Dr. Paul A. Offit, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine said, “Last year (2014) in the United States there were approximately 650 cases of measles. This year, as of February 6, 2015, there have been 121 cases of measles in 17 states. At that rate, we are going to have twice the number of cases of measles as we had last year, and last year was the biggest measles epidemic we have had in 20 years.” Major outbreaks have also been occurring worldwide. SOME PARENTS ARE CHOOSING NOT TO VACCINATE THEIR CHILDREN AND IN SOME AREAS IN THE WORLD VACCINE IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE In the U.S. this is happening because parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children. The problem now is that we have reached the tipping point. Unvaccinated children put other children with whom they come in contact at risk. The state of Washington (USA) has recently introduced a bill to eliminate philosophical exemptions. The state of California has done the same thing. THE BATTLE IS ABOUT BALANCE BETWEEN THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL VS. THE GOOD OF SOCIETY. The battle now is about rights — that balance between the rights of the individual vs. the good of society. Is it your right to catch and transmit a potentially fatal infection? Rotarians can (must help) educate those folks that do not understand the terrible consequences of denying vaccination. MEASLES OUTBREAKS: THERE ARE TOO MANY UNVACCINATED CHILDREN Issue #157 Page 5 IS IT YOUR RIGHT TO CATCH AND TRANSMIT A POTENTIALLY FATAL INFECTION? IT IS IMPORTANT FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE MEASLES. Healthcare providers should consider measles in patients who present with febrile rash illness and clinically compatible measles symptoms (like cough, Coryza, or conjunctivitis) especially if they: • Recently traveled abroad or were exposed to someone who recently travelled abroad; • Have not been vaccinated against measles; or • Live in a community where measles is currently occurring. IF YOU SUSPECT THAT SOMEONE HAS MEASLES, YOU SHOULD ACT QUICKLY. • Promptly isolate the patient to avoid disease transmission. Patients with measles are infectious from 4 days before through 4 days after rash onset. • Immediately report the suspected measles case to the health department. Health department employees must obtain specimens for testing from patients with suspected measles, including viral specimens for genotyping, which can help determine the source of the virus. MEASLES IS PREVENTABLE THROUGH USE OF A SAFE, HIGHLY EFFECTIVE VACCINE Symptoms of fever and rash RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 6 REMARK ON HPV VACCINE COULD RIPPLE FOR YEARS The American Academy of Pediatrics corrected a false statements made that HPV vaccine is dangerous and can cause Autism and mental retardation. There is absolutely no scientific validity to this statement. Since the vaccine has been introduced, more than 35 million doses have been administered, and it has an excellent safety record. During a recent debate a political candidate called the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer “dangerous.” Medical experts fired back quickly. Her statements were false, they said, emphasizing that the vaccine is safe and can save lives. The political candidate was soon on the defensive, acknowledging that she was not a doctor or a scientist. But “The harm to public health may have already been done. When politicians or celebrities raise alarms about vaccines, even false alarms, vaccination rates drop. These things always set you back about three years, which is exactly what we can’t afford,” said Dr. Rodney E. Willoughby, a professor of pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin and a member of the committee on infectious diseases of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The harm to public health may have already been done. When politicians or celebrities raise alarms about vaccines, even false alarms, vaccination rates drop. Issue #157 Page 7 Immunizations teach your body how to defend itself when germs such as viruses or bacteria invade it. They expose you to a very small, very safe amount of a virus or bacteria that has been weakened or killed. Your immune system then learns to recognize and attack the infection if you are exposed to it later in life. As a result, you will either not become ill or have a milder infection. This is a natural way to deal with infectious diseases. Four different types of vaccines are currently available: 1. Live virus vaccines use the weakened (or attenuated) form of the virus. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine are examples of this type. 2. Killed (inactivated) vaccines are made from a protein or other small pieces taken from a virus or bacteria. Influenza shots are an example of this type of vaccine. 3. Toxoid vaccines contain a toxin or chemical made by the bacteria or virus. They make you immune to the harmful effects of the infection, instead of to the infection itself. Examples are the diphtheria and tetanus vaccines. 4. Biosynthetic vaccines contain human-made substances are very similar to pieces of the virus or bacteria. The Hib ( Haemophilus influenzae type B) conjugate vaccine is one example. WHY WE NEED IMMUNIZATIONS Newborns, babies, and toddlers are constantly being exposed to germs from their parents, other adults, brothers and sisters, people in stores, and other children in child care. With travel easier than ever, you and your baby can be exposed to diseases from other countries without you knowing. For a few weeks after they are born, babies will have some protection, which was passed from their mother through the placenta before birth. After a short period of time, this natural HOW IMMUNIZATIONS WORK Continued on next page RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 8 protection goes away. Immunizations help protect infants, children, and adults against many infections that used to be much more common. Examples include measles, tetanus, diphtheria, mumps, pertussis (whooping cough), meningitis, and polio. Newer immunizations protect children and adults against other types of meningitis, pneumonia, and ear infections. Many of these infections can cause serious or life-threatening illnesses, and may lead to lifelong disabilities. Because of immunizations, all of these illnesses are now rare. SAFETY OF IMMUNIZATIONS Many parents are worried that some vaccines are not safe and may harm their baby or young child. They may ask their doctor or nurse to wait, or even refuse to have the vaccine. However, it is important to also think about the risks of not having the vaccination. Some people believe that vaccines cause autism or ADHD. They are worried that a small amount of mercury (called thimerosal) that is used as a preservative in multidose vaccines will cause these problems. Multidose means that many doses of vaccine come in one bottle. However, studies have NOT shown this risk to be true. Experts such as The American Academy of Pediatrics, and The Institute of Medicine (IOM) agree that no vaccine or part of any vaccine is responsible for the number of children who are currently being diagnosed with autism. They conclude that the benefits of vaccines outweigh the risks. If you are still worried about the risk of autism or ADHD, ask your doctor or nurse about single-dose forms of the vaccine. All of the routine childhood vaccines are available in single-dose forms, and they do not contain added mercury. IMMUNIZATIONS (continued)Issue #157 Page 9 THE SKELETON (THE GOOD BONES) OF A ROTARY GLOBAL GRANT Richard Dangler (Past President of the Edwards Rotary Club in Colorado, USA) initiated the Club’s “Water and Sanitation” project in Kosovo. Rotarian Dangler spent quite some time in Kosovo in 2008-09 as the chief water engineer for International Relief and Development, helping to install a $12 million potablewater system in Kosovo that was funded by USAID. This Water and Sanitation project brought clean water and modern toilet facilities to six area schools with the worst conditions. The Edwards RC $50,000 project was funded by a Rotary Foundation Global Grant. Dangler recalls that those schools' water and sanitation facilities were "ghastly" with flooded commodes; dirty water for washing; and crumbling walls, floors, and roofs that made the facilities almost unusable The Edwards Rotary Club Global Grant project replaced all the commodes and sinks, repaired leaking roofs, and installed floor tiles, fixtures, and new septic tanks. You can set the course for your Rotary Global Grant. The Rotary Foundation’s World Fund provides a minimum of $15,000 and maximum of $200,000 towards Global Grants. Clubs and districts contribute District Designated Funds (DDF) and/or cash contributions that the World Fund matches. DDF is matched at 100% and cash is matched at 50%. SO, HOW CAN YOU INITIATE A ROTARY GLOBAL GRANT? LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO FUND A ROTARY FOUNDATION GLOBAL GRANT ON PAGES 22 AND 23. RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 10 Led by its Past President Richard (Dick) Dangler and through a $50,000.00 Rotary Foundation Global Grant, the Rotary clubs of Edwards, Colorado, USA, and Peja, Kosovo, brought clean water and new bathroom facilities to six area schools in Peja. Blighted schools in the mountain city of Peja in western Kosovo are a reminder of the ethnic strife and war that ravaged this area in the 1990s. RESTORING RUINED SANITATION FACILITIES To restore ruined sanitation facilities in some of those schools, local Rotary Club members recently partnered with their counterparts from Colorado, USA. Though residents have been slowly rebuilding the city's infrastructure after years of neglect under earlier governments, most resources are going to improve roads, rebuild homes, and create new businesses. Little money remains to restore the schools. As a result, students have fallen ill, stayed home from school, and been unable to focus on their education, says Neshad Asllani, a member of the Rotary Club of Peja and a physician with the Health Center of Excellence in Kosovo. "Healthy students make better students," he says. THE ROTARY CLUB OF EDWARDS, COLORADO* JOINS A PEJA, KOSOVO ROTARY CLUB TO RESTORE SANITATION IN BLIGHTED LOCAL SCHOOLS *The Rotary Clubs of Edwards and the Eagle RC in Eagle County, Colorado were both sponsored by the Vail Rotary Club. Continued ... Edwards (Colorado) Rotary Club Past President Richard DanglerIssue #157 Page 11 Last year (2014), Dr. Asllani’s club in Kosovo joined the Rotary Club of Edwards, Colorado, USA, to bring clean water and modern toilet facilities to six area schools with the worst conditions. The $50,000 project was funded by a Rotary Foundation Global Grant and completed in September 2014. It replaced all the commodes and sinks, repaired leaking roofs, and installed floor tiles, fixtures, and new septic tanks. EDWARDS ROTARY PAST PRESIDENT RICHARD DANGLER LEADS PROJECT The project was initiated by Edwards Rotary member Past Club President Richard Dangler, who'd spent time in the area in 2008- 09 as the chief water engineer for International Relief and Development, helping to install a $12 million potable-water system in Kosovo that was funded by USAID to 86,000 villagers. Although that system benefited most homes and businesses, the pipes didn't extend to schools in rural areas. Dangler recalls that those schools' water and sanitation facilities were "ghastly," with flooded commodes; dirty water for washing; and crumbling walls, floors, and roofs that made the facilities almost unusable. Dangler traveled to Peja in 2013 to plan the project there with local Rotary members. He says the community was instrumental in carrying it out. BEORE PHOTOS Continued ... RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 12 ACCOUNTABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY "We held planning meetings where 100 people would show up," says Dangler. "The community were incredibly engaged. They showed a desire and readiness to be included in planning, designing, and maintaining post-construction tasks. Out of all the war-torn and underdeveloped places in the world I've worked, I found the Kosovo people had the greatest willingness to help themselves." LOCAL STUDENTS ARE ALSO INVOLVED The project also calls for water and sanitation education in the six schools. Students designed posters promoting proper hygiene practices and will learn in science classes about diseases transmitted by unsanitary habits. The Peja club will create health committees made up of faculty and students for each school. Members also will oversee maintenance of the toilet facilities and devise sanitary and hygiene awareness campaigns to educate the entire community. AFTER PHOTOS Continued ... Issue #157 Page 13 Dr. Asllani notes that although the war's impact lingers, projects like this one are helping to restore area residents' spirit as well as the region's infrastructure. "The goodwill of NGOs and organizations like Rotary has helped our people overcome their animosities from the past by establishing projects that look to the future." Adds Dangler: "The people who lived through this conflict want to put this period behind them. At the top of the local community's priority list was improving the sanitary conditions of the schools. Focusing on the children and their education was the best way for them to look toward the future rather than to the past." This mural was painted by a student that graduated from this school who came back several years later. Pride goes a long way in sustainability. The Vail Rotary Club joined with the Edwards RC with a R500 contribution -- which with the matching funds added $1,750 as an important partner of the project showing the power of Rotary Global Grants and matching grants and partnerships. This Global Grant totaled $50,000 U.S. RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 14 WHAT IS WASRAG? The Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action group was formed in 2007 as a group of Rotarians, recognized by Rotary International, which focused on water & sanitation projects. Rotarians are uniquely qualified to deliver sustainable solutions. They understand the culture and values of the local communities to which they belong. They are attuned to political considerations and can pinpoint problems before they become hurdles. The world is discovering that effective programs take 3 to 5 years to be sustainable – local community engagement and appropriate technologies are keys to success. Solutions need to consider complex realities: geography, geology, climate, local culture for example. Ensuring a project is based on best practices isn’t easy, requiring skills often not readily available to Rotary Clubs. Wasrag was created to provide the knowhow, consistency and credibility essential to success over the long term. JOIN A ROTARIAN ACTION GROUP (RAG) A Rotarian Action Group is an autonomous group of Rotarians, family members, and Rotaractors who are experts in a particular field, such as microcredit or water and sanitation. Group members share their expertise by collaborating with clubs and districts on service projects. Issue #157 Page 15 THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN OF WASRAG IS TO ENSURE BOTH SUSTAINABLE WATER AND SANITATION PROJECTS AND TO PURSUE THE AMBITIOUS UNITED NATIONS MILLENNIUM GOAL OF: ... … “BY 2015 REDUCE BY 50% THE PROPORTION OF PEOPLE WITHOUT ACCESS TO SAFE WATER AND SANITATION.” UN estimates indicate 1.5 billion people lack access to safe water and 2.4 billion people have no access to sanitation. Other objectives include: Develop formal strategic partnerships that allow the collaboration and coordination needed to jointly plan and implement major regional projects Build on successful models based on Rotary projects and those of other NGOs Build the delivery capacity in the countries of need Prioritize programs to match resources and needs Create local (in-country) capacity and monitor for success RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 16 FLYING TOILETS A flying toilet is a facetious name for the use of plastic bags for defecation, which are then thrown into ditches, on the roadside, or simply as far away as possible. Flying toilets are particularly associated with slums surrounding Nairobi, Kenya, specially Kibera. According to a report from the United Nations Development Program launched in Cape Town on 9 November 2006, "two in three people [in Kibera] identify the flying toilet as the primary mode of excreta disposal available to them." This contradicts a Kenyan government report which indicates that 99% of Nairobi residents have access to a sanitation service. The UNDP report blames a taboo against bureaucrats and politicians discussing toilets, while others see a reluctance among the Nairobi authorities to formalize what they characterize as an "illegal settlement”. Piles of polyethene bags gather on roofs and attract flies. Some of them burst open upon impact and/or clog drainage systems. If they land on fractured water pipes, a drop in water pressure can cause the contents to be sucked into the water system. People can also be hit by the bags as they are blindly tossed. In the rainy season, drainage contaminated with excrement can enter residences; some children even swim in it. Such close contact leads to diseases such as diarrhea, skin disorders, typhoid fever and malaria. The practice of defecating outside, away from one's house, especially in the dark, causes concern for one's personal safety as well, especially among girls and women.[ Flying toilet and other waste in a slum in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti. A young boy sits over an open sewer Issue #157 Page 17 When Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech, vowed to eliminate open defecation, India took notice. After all, it was unusual for a prime minister to use the bully pulpit in India to exhort people to end this appalling practice and build more toilets. A staggering 70% of Indians living in villages - or some 550 million people - defecate in the open. Even 13% of urban households do so. Open defecation continues to be high despite decades of sustained economic growth - and despite the obvious and glaring health hazards. The situation is so bad that open defecation is more common in India than in that are poorer countries such as Bangladesh, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Burundi and Rwanda. But building toilets may not be enough to end open defecation in India, a new study has found. A team of researchers asked people in 3,235 rural households in five north Indian states where they defecate and their attitudes to it. OPEN DEFECATION IS VERY COMMON Some 40% of Indians live in these states - Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. They also account for 45% of households without a toilet. Also, a third of all people worldwide who defecate in the open live in these five states. The study found that people in households with working toilets continue to defecate in the open, and that toilets provided by the state are especially unlikely to be used. "In short," the study says, "we find that many people have a revealed preference for open defecating such that merely providing latrine access without promoting latrine use is unlikely to importantly reduce open defecation." The study found open defecation is very common, even in households with toilets. Toilet use did not necessarily increase with prosperity: in Haryana, one of India's richest states, most people in the villages continue to defecate in the open. Also, More than 500 million Indians defecate in the open WHY INDIA'S SANITATION CRISIS NEEDS MORE THAN TOILETS Prime Minister Narendra Modi Continued on next page RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 18 India needs a massive campaign on toilet use men living in households with toilets are more likely to defecate in the open than women. Why do so many Indians still prefer not to use toilets, even if they are available? The survey found a range of replies - most said they found it "pleasurable, comfortable, or convenient". Others said it "provides them an opportunity to take a morning walk, see their fields and take in the fresh air". Still others regarded open defecation as "part of a wholesome, healthy virtuous life". "Building toilets is not enough. What you need is a widespread motivation and information campaign," says Dr Bindeshwar Pathak of Sulabh, a non-profit organization which has built 1.3 million household toilets in villages. MP and writer Shashi Tharoor says Indians also have a cultural problemwhen it comes to sanitation: "We are a nation full of people who live in immaculate homes where we bathe twice a day, but think nothing of littering public spaces, spitting on walls, dumping garbage in the open and urinating and defecating in public, because those spaces are not 'ours'." So how do you promote behavioral and cultural change? India, researchers say, "needs a massive campaign to change sanitation preferences" and promote toilets by linking sanitation behavior with health. One of the ways it can be done is by raising an army of sanitation workers and campaigners in the villages to spread the message. Punishment can also help, within reason: In a part of Haryana where Sulabh has built 100 household toilets a village council chief fines people caught defecating in the open. OPEN DEFECATION ….. Mt. Everest Is Covered In Human Poop KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Human waste left by climbers on Mount Everest has become a problem that is causing pollution and threatening to spread disease on the world's highest peak, the chief of Nepal's mountaineering association said Tuesday. The more than 700 climbers and guides who spend nearly two months on Everest's slopes each climbing season leave large amounts of feces and urine, and the issue has not been addressed, Ang Tshering told reporters. He said Nepal's government needs to get the climbers to dispose of the waste properly so the mountain remains pristine. "Climbers usually dig holes in the snow for their toilet use and leave the human waste there," Tshering said, adding that the waste has been "piling up" for years around the four camps. At the base camp, where there are more porters, cooks and support staff during the climbing season, there are toilet tents with drums to store the waste. Once filled, the drums are carried to a lower area, where the waste is properly disposed. Dawa Steven Sherpa, who has been leading Everest cleanup expeditions since 2008, said some climbers carry disposable travel toilet bags to use in the higher camps. "It is a health hazard and the issue needs to be addressed," he said. Nepal's government has not come up with a plan yet to tackle the issue of human waste. But starting this season, officials stationed at the base camp will strictly monitor garbage on the mountain, said Puspa Raj Katuwal, the head of the government's Mountaineering Department. The government imposed new rules last year requiring each climber to bring down to the base camp 8 kilograms (18 pounds) of trash — the amount it estimates a climber discards along the route. Climbing teams must leave a $4,000 deposit that they lose if they don't comply with the regulations, Katuwal said. Continued …. Issue #157 Page 19 FOOD SECURITY: IS IT TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF HUMAN WASTE? URINE AND FECES CONTAIN PRECIOUS NUTRIENTS THAT COULD FUEL FARMING. FORTUNATELY NGOS ARE GETTING OVER THE YUCK FACTOR The average person produces 500 liters of urine and feces in a year, which contain enough nutrients to grow the crops that person would need to feed themselves entirely for that year. “Human waste is filled with nutrients from the food we eat, nutrients that were taken from the soil as the food was grown and harvested, and the same nutrients that are essential for restoring soil productivity post-harvest,” explains Sasha Kramer, director of Haitibased not-for-profit Soil, an initiative that transforms human waste into resources. The challenge for the development sector is recognizing human waste’s economic value to improve food security and building a business case to support it in under-resourced communities. IDENTIFYING THE CHALLENGES Kramer explains that the primary obstacle to this potentially win-win situation is health concerns. Any bacteria that pose a danger to humans need to be eliminated from the waste during the treatment process. “When human waste composting is carried out at the household level it becomes more difficult,” she says. The other obstacle is overcoming end-users’ fears over, or objections to, the reuse of fecal matter. NGOs (RI) could play a key role in getting communities to discuss the taboo subject and educating them on the potential of poo power. “Given this natural aversion to human waste, it takes rigorous research, careful implementation and skillful social marketing to overcome the ‘yuck’ factor,” says Kramer. “That said, we found that, in Haiti, once people are able to see, smell and touch the final product they are more than eager to test it in their gardens.” The organization treats 240,000 US gallons of waste every year and has sold 75,000 US gallons of compost, Kramer says. It’s been bought by nurseries, backyard gardeners and large-scale agricultural projects run by non-profits to improve reforestation and soil quality. Kramer says human waste-based compost can bring “huge economic returns for farmers growing high-value crops, such as spinach and peppers”. Soil, an NGO in Haiti that transforms human waste into fertilizer, runs educational events for children about ecological sanitation Photograph: Soil/PR Continued on next page RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 20 FEEDING THE FOOD CHAIN Sanergy, an organization that focuses on improving sanitation in urban slums in Nairobi, is working with agricultural start-up AgriProtein to recycle human feces into animal feed via insects. Since 2010, AgriProtein has been working on developing technology that sees insects fed on streams of bio-waste, including slaughterhouse waste, and then processed into flakes which can be fed to pigs and sheep. According to Teun Veldkamp, a senior researcher at the Centre for Animal Nutrition at Wageningen University, insects are ideal because they can feed on any bio-waste. The collaboration, known as the BioCycle, is still in its infancy. Tests are ongoing to ensure that any feed produced from insects that have been fed on fecal waste is fit for human consumption further down food chain. Once the tests have been completed, the focus will be on how to turn into a sustainable business that can help locals to make money and improve community sanitation. The BioCycle’s program me manager, Marc Lewis, says local NGOs could help to roll out the technology into rural communities. “NGOs can provide the training around small-scale fly rearing practices,” says Lewis. “This will help farmers to better utilize waste for the benefit of animal rearing.” By building their capacity to provide support to smallholders, NGOs can help communities avoid the potential health problems of composting at home without any safeguards. They can also provide smallholders with market opportunities they might not otherwise have access to. CREATING A BUSINESS MODEL Another initiative to recycle human waste is Peepoople. It’s built around the Peepoo bag, a personal, single-use, self-sanitizing, fully biodegradable toilet that can be used in postdisaster situations and others where no other sanitation is available. It has a strong business model: local women can become micro-entrepreneurs by selling bags; customers receive a monetary incentive for each bag that is returned after use and the human waste collected is turned into a sanitized solution that is sold to farmers as a cheap fertilizer. Peepoople is also developing is a piece of machinery that will help farmers spread fertilizer – traditional methods involve spreading it by hand which is a barrier to acceptance of using humanwaste compost. “Normally, fecal waste is just a very difficult waste, but properly used, it becomes an asset,” says founder Anders Wilhelmson. “You get rid of a problem and gain a possibility.” READ MORE LIKE THIS: • ‘We need to talk about open defecation’ • Poo power: turning human waste into clean energy in Kenya’s slums • What do toilets have to do with nutrition? More than you might thinkIssue #157 Page 21 PRESS RELEASE FROM THE: INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT TOPS LIST OF GLOBAL RISKS IN 2015 TOP 5 GLOBAL RISKS IN TERMS OF LIKELIHOOD 1. Interstate conflict with regional consequences (geopolitical risk) 2. Extreme weather events (environmental risk) 3. Failure of national governance (geopolitical risk) 4. State collapse or crisis (geopolitical risk) 5. High structural unemployment or underemployment (economic risk) Top 5 Global Risks in Terms of Impact 1. Water crises (societal risk) 2. Rapid and massive spread of infectious diseases (societal risk) 3. Weapons of mass destruction (geopolitical risk) 4. Interstate conflict with regional consequences (geopolitical risk) 5. Failure of climate-change adaptation (environmental risk) RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 22 GLOBAL GRANTS Global grants support large international activities with sustainable, measurable outcomes in Rotary’s areas of focus. Grant sponsors form international partnerships that respond to real community needs. WHAT THEY SUPPORT Global grants can fund these activities: Humanitarian projects Scholarships for graduate-level academic studies Vocational training teams (VTT), which are groups of professionals who travel abroad either to teach local professionals about a particular field or to learn more about their own HOW TO USE THEM A key feature of global grants is partnership, between the district or club where the activity is carried out and a district or club in another country. Both sponsors must be qualified before they can submit an application. To be successful, your application must: Be sustainable and include plans for long-term success after the global grant funds have been spent Include measurable goals Align with one of our areas of focus Respond to real community needs Actively involve Rotarians and community members Meet the eligibility requirements in the grants terms and conditions NOTE: Applications are accepted throughout the year and reviewed as they are received. HOW GLOBAL GRANTS ARE FUNDED The minimum budget for a global grant activity is $30,000. The Foundation’s World Fund provides a minimum of $15,000 and maximum of $200,000. Clubs and districts contribute District Designated Funds (DDF) and/or cash contributions that the World Fund matches. DDF is matched at 100% and cash is matched at 50%. Issue #157 Page 23 ROTARY’s SIX AREAS OF FOCUS We have identified specific causes to target to maximize our local and global impact. At the same time, we understand that each community has its own unique needs and concerns. Through global grants and other resources, we help clubs focus their service efforts in the following areas. PROMOTING PEACE Today, 42 million people are displaced by armed conflict or persecution. Through our partnerships with several leading universities, Rotary Peace Fellows develop the skills to strengthen peace efforts, train local leaders to prevent and mediate conflict, and support longterm peace building in areas affected by conflict. We provide up to 100 peace fellowships per year at Rotary Peace Centers. FIGHTING DISEASE More than 100 million people are pushed into poverty each year because of medical costs. We aim to improve and expand access to low-cost and free health care in underdeveloped areas. Our members educate and mobilize communities to help prevent the spread of major diseases such as polio, HIV/AIDS, and malaria. Many of our projects ensure that medical training facilities are located where the workforce lives. PROVIDING CLEAN WATER More than 2.5 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation facilities. At least 3,000 children die each day from diarrheal diseases caused by unsafe water. Our projects give communities the ability to develop and maintain sustainable water and sanitation systems and support studies related to water and sanitation. SAVING MOTHERS AND CHILDREN At least 7 million children under the age of five die each year due to malnutrition, poor health care, and inadequate sanitation. To help reduce this rate, we provide immunizations and antibiotics to babies, improve access to essential medical services, and support trained health care providers for mothers and their children. Our projects ensure sustainability by empowering the local community to take ownership of health care training programs. SUPPORTING EDUCATION Sixty-seven million children worldwide have no access to education and more than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy. GROWING LOCAL ECONOMIES Nearly 1.4 billion employed people live on less than $1.25 a day. We carry out service projects that enhance economic and community development and develop opportunities for decent and productive work for young and old. We also help strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities.A monthly feature of the Rotary Global History Fellowship (RGHF) Jeetendra Sharma Editor in Chief Jeeturotary@gmail.com William “Bill” Pollard Associate Editor william.pollard@farmersbankva.com Edward “Eddie” Blender Publisher EBlender@aol.com Sign up for our free RGHF newsletters at http://www.historyfeatures.org and use http://www.historysearch.org to find Rotary's Global History RGHF’s OUR FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER MARCH 15, 2015, #157
A monthly feature of the Rotary Global History Fellowship Issue #157 March 15, 2015
RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter … A Newsletter for Rotary Leaders UN Health Agency Urges Europe to Step Up Measles Vaccination Survey: Parents Increasingly Ask Doctors to Delay Vaccines Big U.S. Majority Favors Mandatory Vaccinations: Reuters/Ipsos Poll Most Doctors Give In to Requests by Parents to Alter Vaccine Schedules Oregon Considers Banning Most Vaccine Exemptions The Dangers of Vaccine Denial Unsure You Need a Measles Shot? Get Vaccinated Measles and the Vaccine Opponents Measles: Perilous but Preventable Reckless Rejection of the Measles Vaccine 2nd Commuter With Measles Prompts California Transit Warning Three Infected With Measles at Las Vegas Seafood Restaurant Commuter With Measles Also Dined at Bay Area Restaurant Experts Blame Anti-Vaccine Lobby for Bosnia Measles Outbreak Measles Epidemic Is Spreading in Central Africa
THE DANGERS OF VACCINE DENIAL Rotarians worldwide are well positioned to share accurate vaccination data in their communities alerting families to the importance of mandatory vaccinations. Vaccine denial is dangerous and let’s call this out as the nonsense it is. If we are going to denounce the Taliban for blocking polio vaccinations, we should be just as quick to stand up to health illiteracy in our midst. Refusing to vaccinate your children is not personal choice but it is public irresponsibility. You no more have the right to risk others by failing to vaccinate than you do by sending your child to school with a hunting knife. Vaccination isn’t a private choice but a civic obligation.
RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 2 VACCINES, MEDICAL EXPERTS SAY, SAVE MORE LIVES THAN ANY PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURE OTHER THAN CLEAN WATER AND SEWAGE. WE NEED IMMUNIZATIONS Newborns, babies, and toddlers are constantly being exposed to germs from their parents, other adults, brothers and sisters, people in stores, and other children in child care. With travel easier than ever, you and your baby can be exposed to diseases from other countries without you knowing. For a few weeks after they are born, babies will have some protection, which was passed from their mother through the placenta before birth. After a short period of time, this natural protection goes away.
WE NEED CLEAN WATER AND PROPER SANITATION Clean water is a basic need for human beings. When people, especially children, have access to clean water, they live healthier and more productive lives. However, at least 3,000 children die each day from diseases caused by unsafe water, which is what motivates our Rotary members to build wells, install rainwater harvesting systems, and teach community members how to maintain new infrastructure. While very few people die of thirst, millions die from preventable waterborne diseases, providing the impetus for our members to also improve sanitation facilities in undeveloped countries. Members start by providing toilets and latrines that flush into a sewer or safe enclosure and then add education programs to promote hand-washing and other good hygiene habits.
IMMUNIZATIONS help protect infants, children, and adults against many infections that used to be much more common.
EXAMPLES INCLUDE tetanus, diphtheria, mumps, measles, pertussis (whooping cough), meningitis, and polio. Newer IMMUNIZATIONS PROTECT CHILDREN AND ADULTS against other types of meningitis, pneumonia, and ear infections. Many of these infections can cause serious or LIFETHREATENING ILLNESSES, and may lead to lifelong disabilities. Because of immunizations, all of these illnesses are now rare. Issue #157 Page 3 RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 4 Dr. Paul A. Offit, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine said, “Last year (2014) in the United States there were approximately 650 cases of measles. This year, as of February 6, 2015, there have been 121 cases of measles in 17 states. At that rate, we are going to have twice the number of cases of measles as we had last year, and last year was the biggest measles epidemic we have had in 20 years.” Major outbreaks have also been occurring worldwide. SOME PARENTS ARE CHOOSING NOT TO VACCINATE THEIR CHILDREN AND IN SOME AREAS IN THE WORLD VACCINE IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE In the U.S. this is happening because parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children. The problem now is that we have reached the tipping point. Unvaccinated children put other children with whom they come in contact at risk. The state of Washington (USA) has recently introduced a bill to eliminate philosophical exemptions. The state of California has done the same thing. THE BATTLE IS ABOUT BALANCE BETWEEN THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL VS. THE GOOD OF SOCIETY. The battle now is about rights — that balance between the rights of the individual vs. the good of society. Is it your right to catch and transmit a potentially fatal infection? Rotarians can (must help) educate those folks that do not understand the terrible consequences of denying vaccination. MEASLES OUTBREAKS: THERE ARE TOO MANY UNVACCINATED CHILDREN Issue #157 Page 5 IS IT YOUR RIGHT TO CATCH AND TRANSMIT A POTENTIALLY FATAL INFECTION? IT IS IMPORTANT FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE MEASLES. Healthcare providers should consider measles in patients who present with febrile rash illness and clinically compatible measles symptoms (like cough, Coryza, or conjunctivitis) especially if they: • Recently traveled abroad or were exposed to someone who recently travelled abroad; • Have not been vaccinated against measles; or • Live in a community where measles is currently occurring. IF YOU SUSPECT THAT SOMEONE HAS MEASLES, YOU SHOULD ACT QUICKLY. • Promptly isolate the patient to avoid disease transmission. Patients with measles are infectious from 4 days before through 4 days after rash onset. • Immediately report the suspected measles case to the health department. Health department employees must obtain specimens for testing from patients with suspected measles, including viral specimens for genotyping, which can help determine the source of the virus. MEASLES IS PREVENTABLE THROUGH USE OF A SAFE, HIGHLY EFFECTIVE VACCINE Symptoms of fever and rash RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 6 REMARK ON HPV VACCINE COULD RIPPLE FOR YEARS The American Academy of Pediatrics corrected a false statements made that HPV vaccine is dangerous and can cause Autism and mental retardation. There is absolutely no scientific validity to this statement. Since the vaccine has been introduced, more than 35 million doses have been administered, and it has an excellent safety record. During a recent debate a political candidate called the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer “dangerous.” Medical experts fired back quickly. Her statements were false, they said, emphasizing that the vaccine is safe and can save lives. The political candidate was soon on the defensive, acknowledging that she was not a doctor or a scientist. But “The harm to public health may have already been done. When politicians or celebrities raise alarms about vaccines, even false alarms, vaccination rates drop. These things always set you back about three years, which is exactly what we can’t afford,” said Dr. Rodney E. Willoughby, a professor of pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin and a member of the committee on infectious diseases of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The harm to public health may have already been done. When politicians or celebrities raise alarms about vaccines, even false alarms, vaccination rates drop. Issue #157 Page 7 Immunizations teach your body how to defend itself when germs such as viruses or bacteria invade it. They expose you to a very small, very safe amount of a virus or bacteria that has been weakened or killed. Your immune system then learns to recognize and attack the infection if you are exposed to it later in life. As a result, you will either not become ill or have a milder infection. This is a natural way to deal with infectious diseases. Four different types of vaccines are currently available: 1. Live virus vaccines use the weakened (or attenuated) form of the virus. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine are examples of this type. 2. Killed (inactivated) vaccines are made from a protein or other small pieces taken from a virus or bacteria. Influenza shots are an example of this type of vaccine. 3. Toxoid vaccines contain a toxin or chemical made by the bacteria or virus. They make you immune to the harmful effects of the infection, instead of to the infection itself. Examples are the diphtheria and tetanus vaccines. 4. Biosynthetic vaccines contain human-made substances are very similar to pieces of the virus or bacteria. The Hib ( Haemophilus influenzae type B) conjugate vaccine is one example. WHY WE NEED IMMUNIZATIONS Newborns, babies, and toddlers are constantly being exposed to germs from their parents, other adults, brothers and sisters, people in stores, and other children in child care. With travel easier than ever, you and your baby can be exposed to diseases from other countries without you knowing. For a few weeks after they are born, babies will have some protection, which was passed from their mother through the placenta before birth. After a short period of time, this natural HOW IMMUNIZATIONS WORK Continued on next page RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 8 protection goes away. Immunizations help protect infants, children, and adults against many infections that used to be much more common. Examples include measles, tetanus, diphtheria, mumps, pertussis (whooping cough), meningitis, and polio. Newer immunizations protect children and adults against other types of meningitis, pneumonia, and ear infections. Many of these infections can cause serious or life-threatening illnesses, and may lead to lifelong disabilities. Because of immunizations, all of these illnesses are now rare. SAFETY OF IMMUNIZATIONS Many parents are worried that some vaccines are not safe and may harm their baby or young child. They may ask their doctor or nurse to wait, or even refuse to have the vaccine. However, it is important to also think about the risks of not having the vaccination. Some people believe that vaccines cause autism or ADHD. They are worried that a small amount of mercury (called thimerosal) that is used as a preservative in multidose vaccines will cause these problems. Multidose means that many doses of vaccine come in one bottle. However, studies have NOT shown this risk to be true. Experts such as The American Academy of Pediatrics, and The Institute of Medicine (IOM) agree that no vaccine or part of any vaccine is responsible for the number of children who are currently being diagnosed with autism. They conclude that the benefits of vaccines outweigh the risks. If you are still worried about the risk of autism or ADHD, ask your doctor or nurse about single-dose forms of the vaccine. All of the routine childhood vaccines are available in single-dose forms, and they do not contain added mercury. IMMUNIZATIONS (continued)Issue #157 Page 9 THE SKELETON (THE GOOD BONES) OF A ROTARY GLOBAL GRANT Richard Dangler (Past President of the Edwards Rotary Club in Colorado, USA) initiated the Club’s “Water and Sanitation” project in Kosovo. Rotarian Dangler spent quite some time in Kosovo in 2008-09 as the chief water engineer for International Relief and Development, helping to install a $12 million potablewater system in Kosovo that was funded by USAID. This Water and Sanitation project brought clean water and modern toilet facilities to six area schools with the worst conditions. The Edwards RC $50,000 project was funded by a Rotary Foundation Global Grant. Dangler recalls that those schools' water and sanitation facilities were "ghastly" with flooded commodes; dirty water for washing; and crumbling walls, floors, and roofs that made the facilities almost unusable The Edwards Rotary Club Global Grant project replaced all the commodes and sinks, repaired leaking roofs, and installed floor tiles, fixtures, and new septic tanks. You can set the course for your Rotary Global Grant. The Rotary Foundation’s World Fund provides a minimum of $15,000 and maximum of $200,000 towards Global Grants. Clubs and districts contribute District Designated Funds (DDF) and/or cash contributions that the World Fund matches. DDF is matched at 100% and cash is matched at 50%. SO, HOW CAN YOU INITIATE A ROTARY GLOBAL GRANT? LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO FUND A ROTARY FOUNDATION GLOBAL GRANT ON PAGES 22 AND 23. RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 10 Led by its Past President Richard (Dick) Dangler and through a $50,000.00 Rotary Foundation Global Grant, the Rotary clubs of Edwards, Colorado, USA, and Peja, Kosovo, brought clean water and new bathroom facilities to six area schools in Peja. Blighted schools in the mountain city of Peja in western Kosovo are a reminder of the ethnic strife and war that ravaged this area in the 1990s. RESTORING RUINED SANITATION FACILITIES To restore ruined sanitation facilities in some of those schools, local Rotary Club members recently partnered with their counterparts from Colorado, USA. Though residents have been slowly rebuilding the city's infrastructure after years of neglect under earlier governments, most resources are going to improve roads, rebuild homes, and create new businesses. Little money remains to restore the schools. As a result, students have fallen ill, stayed home from school, and been unable to focus on their education, says Neshad Asllani, a member of the Rotary Club of Peja and a physician with the Health Center of Excellence in Kosovo. "Healthy students make better students," he says. THE ROTARY CLUB OF EDWARDS, COLORADO* JOINS A PEJA, KOSOVO ROTARY CLUB TO RESTORE SANITATION IN BLIGHTED LOCAL SCHOOLS *The Rotary Clubs of Edwards and the Eagle RC in Eagle County, Colorado were both sponsored by the Vail Rotary Club. Continued ... Edwards (Colorado) Rotary Club Past President Richard DanglerIssue #157 Page 11 Last year (2014), Dr. Asllani’s club in Kosovo joined the Rotary Club of Edwards, Colorado, USA, to bring clean water and modern toilet facilities to six area schools with the worst conditions. The $50,000 project was funded by a Rotary Foundation Global Grant and completed in September 2014. It replaced all the commodes and sinks, repaired leaking roofs, and installed floor tiles, fixtures, and new septic tanks. EDWARDS ROTARY PAST PRESIDENT RICHARD DANGLER LEADS PROJECT The project was initiated by Edwards Rotary member Past Club President Richard Dangler, who'd spent time in the area in 2008- 09 as the chief water engineer for International Relief and Development, helping to install a $12 million potable-water system in Kosovo that was funded by USAID to 86,000 villagers. Although that system benefited most homes and businesses, the pipes didn't extend to schools in rural areas. Dangler recalls that those schools' water and sanitation facilities were "ghastly," with flooded commodes; dirty water for washing; and crumbling walls, floors, and roofs that made the facilities almost unusable. Dangler traveled to Peja in 2013 to plan the project there with local Rotary members. He says the community was instrumental in carrying it out. BEORE PHOTOS Continued ... RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 12 ACCOUNTABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY "We held planning meetings where 100 people would show up," says Dangler. "The community were incredibly engaged. They showed a desire and readiness to be included in planning, designing, and maintaining post-construction tasks. Out of all the war-torn and underdeveloped places in the world I've worked, I found the Kosovo people had the greatest willingness to help themselves." LOCAL STUDENTS ARE ALSO INVOLVED The project also calls for water and sanitation education in the six schools. Students designed posters promoting proper hygiene practices and will learn in science classes about diseases transmitted by unsanitary habits. The Peja club will create health committees made up of faculty and students for each school. Members also will oversee maintenance of the toilet facilities and devise sanitary and hygiene awareness campaigns to educate the entire community. AFTER PHOTOS Continued ... Issue #157 Page 13 Dr. Asllani notes that although the war's impact lingers, projects like this one are helping to restore area residents' spirit as well as the region's infrastructure. "The goodwill of NGOs and organizations like Rotary has helped our people overcome their animosities from the past by establishing projects that look to the future." Adds Dangler: "The people who lived through this conflict want to put this period behind them. At the top of the local community's priority list was improving the sanitary conditions of the schools. Focusing on the children and their education was the best way for them to look toward the future rather than to the past." This mural was painted by a student that graduated from this school who came back several years later. Pride goes a long way in sustainability. The Vail Rotary Club joined with the Edwards RC with a R500 contribution -- which with the matching funds added $1,750 as an important partner of the project showing the power of Rotary Global Grants and matching grants and partnerships. This Global Grant totaled $50,000 U.S. RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 14 WHAT IS WASRAG? The Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action group was formed in 2007 as a group of Rotarians, recognized by Rotary International, which focused on water & sanitation projects. Rotarians are uniquely qualified to deliver sustainable solutions. They understand the culture and values of the local communities to which they belong. They are attuned to political considerations and can pinpoint problems before they become hurdles. The world is discovering that effective programs take 3 to 5 years to be sustainable – local community engagement and appropriate technologies are keys to success. Solutions need to consider complex realities: geography, geology, climate, local culture for example. Ensuring a project is based on best practices isn’t easy, requiring skills often not readily available to Rotary Clubs. Wasrag was created to provide the knowhow, consistency and credibility essential to success over the long term. JOIN A ROTARIAN ACTION GROUP (RAG) A Rotarian Action Group is an autonomous group of Rotarians, family members, and Rotaractors who are experts in a particular field, such as microcredit or water and sanitation. Group members share their expertise by collaborating with clubs and districts on service projects. Issue #157 Page 15 THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN OF WASRAG IS TO ENSURE BOTH SUSTAINABLE WATER AND SANITATION PROJECTS AND TO PURSUE THE AMBITIOUS UNITED NATIONS MILLENNIUM GOAL OF: ... … “BY 2015 REDUCE BY 50% THE PROPORTION OF PEOPLE WITHOUT ACCESS TO SAFE WATER AND SANITATION.” UN estimates indicate 1.5 billion people lack access to safe water and 2.4 billion people have no access to sanitation. Other objectives include: Develop formal strategic partnerships that allow the collaboration and coordination needed to jointly plan and implement major regional projects Build on successful models based on Rotary projects and those of other NGOs Build the delivery capacity in the countries of need Prioritize programs to match resources and needs Create local (in-country) capacity and monitor for success RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 16 FLYING TOILETS A flying toilet is a facetious name for the use of plastic bags for defecation, which are then thrown into ditches, on the roadside, or simply as far away as possible. Flying toilets are particularly associated with slums surrounding Nairobi, Kenya, specially Kibera. According to a report from the United Nations Development Program launched in Cape Town on 9 November 2006, "two in three people [in Kibera] identify the flying toilet as the primary mode of excreta disposal available to them." This contradicts a Kenyan government report which indicates that 99% of Nairobi residents have access to a sanitation service. The UNDP report blames a taboo against bureaucrats and politicians discussing toilets, while others see a reluctance among the Nairobi authorities to formalize what they characterize as an "illegal settlement”. Piles of polyethene bags gather on roofs and attract flies. Some of them burst open upon impact and/or clog drainage systems. If they land on fractured water pipes, a drop in water pressure can cause the contents to be sucked into the water system. People can also be hit by the bags as they are blindly tossed. In the rainy season, drainage contaminated with excrement can enter residences; some children even swim in it. Such close contact leads to diseases such as diarrhea, skin disorders, typhoid fever and malaria. The practice of defecating outside, away from one's house, especially in the dark, causes concern for one's personal safety as well, especially among girls and women.[ Flying toilet and other waste in a slum in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti. A young boy sits over an open sewer Issue #157 Page 17 When Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech, vowed to eliminate open defecation, India took notice. After all, it was unusual for a prime minister to use the bully pulpit in India to exhort people to end this appalling practice and build more toilets. A staggering 70% of Indians living in villages - or some 550 million people - defecate in the open. Even 13% of urban households do so. Open defecation continues to be high despite decades of sustained economic growth - and despite the obvious and glaring health hazards. The situation is so bad that open defecation is more common in India than in that are poorer countries such as Bangladesh, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Burundi and Rwanda. But building toilets may not be enough to end open defecation in India, a new study has found. A team of researchers asked people in 3,235 rural households in five north Indian states where they defecate and their attitudes to it. OPEN DEFECATION IS VERY COMMON Some 40% of Indians live in these states - Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. They also account for 45% of households without a toilet. Also, a third of all people worldwide who defecate in the open live in these five states. The study found that people in households with working toilets continue to defecate in the open, and that toilets provided by the state are especially unlikely to be used. "In short," the study says, "we find that many people have a revealed preference for open defecating such that merely providing latrine access without promoting latrine use is unlikely to importantly reduce open defecation." The study found open defecation is very common, even in households with toilets. Toilet use did not necessarily increase with prosperity: in Haryana, one of India's richest states, most people in the villages continue to defecate in the open. Also, More than 500 million Indians defecate in the open WHY INDIA'S SANITATION CRISIS NEEDS MORE THAN TOILETS Prime Minister Narendra Modi Continued on next page RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 18 India needs a massive campaign on toilet use men living in households with toilets are more likely to defecate in the open than women. Why do so many Indians still prefer not to use toilets, even if they are available? The survey found a range of replies - most said they found it "pleasurable, comfortable, or convenient". Others said it "provides them an opportunity to take a morning walk, see their fields and take in the fresh air". Still others regarded open defecation as "part of a wholesome, healthy virtuous life". "Building toilets is not enough. What you need is a widespread motivation and information campaign," says Dr Bindeshwar Pathak of Sulabh, a non-profit organization which has built 1.3 million household toilets in villages. MP and writer Shashi Tharoor says Indians also have a cultural problemwhen it comes to sanitation: "We are a nation full of people who live in immaculate homes where we bathe twice a day, but think nothing of littering public spaces, spitting on walls, dumping garbage in the open and urinating and defecating in public, because those spaces are not 'ours'." So how do you promote behavioral and cultural change? India, researchers say, "needs a massive campaign to change sanitation preferences" and promote toilets by linking sanitation behavior with health. One of the ways it can be done is by raising an army of sanitation workers and campaigners in the villages to spread the message. Punishment can also help, within reason: In a part of Haryana where Sulabh has built 100 household toilets a village council chief fines people caught defecating in the open. OPEN DEFECATION ….. Mt. Everest Is Covered In Human Poop KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Human waste left by climbers on Mount Everest has become a problem that is causing pollution and threatening to spread disease on the world's highest peak, the chief of Nepal's mountaineering association said Tuesday. The more than 700 climbers and guides who spend nearly two months on Everest's slopes each climbing season leave large amounts of feces and urine, and the issue has not been addressed, Ang Tshering told reporters. He said Nepal's government needs to get the climbers to dispose of the waste properly so the mountain remains pristine. "Climbers usually dig holes in the snow for their toilet use and leave the human waste there," Tshering said, adding that the waste has been "piling up" for years around the four camps. At the base camp, where there are more porters, cooks and support staff during the climbing season, there are toilet tents with drums to store the waste. Once filled, the drums are carried to a lower area, where the waste is properly disposed. Dawa Steven Sherpa, who has been leading Everest cleanup expeditions since 2008, said some climbers carry disposable travel toilet bags to use in the higher camps. "It is a health hazard and the issue needs to be addressed," he said. Nepal's government has not come up with a plan yet to tackle the issue of human waste. But starting this season, officials stationed at the base camp will strictly monitor garbage on the mountain, said Puspa Raj Katuwal, the head of the government's Mountaineering Department. The government imposed new rules last year requiring each climber to bring down to the base camp 8 kilograms (18 pounds) of trash — the amount it estimates a climber discards along the route. Climbing teams must leave a $4,000 deposit that they lose if they don't comply with the regulations, Katuwal said. Continued …. Issue #157 Page 19 FOOD SECURITY: IS IT TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF HUMAN WASTE? URINE AND FECES CONTAIN PRECIOUS NUTRIENTS THAT COULD FUEL FARMING. FORTUNATELY NGOS ARE GETTING OVER THE YUCK FACTOR The average person produces 500 liters of urine and feces in a year, which contain enough nutrients to grow the crops that person would need to feed themselves entirely for that year. “Human waste is filled with nutrients from the food we eat, nutrients that were taken from the soil as the food was grown and harvested, and the same nutrients that are essential for restoring soil productivity post-harvest,” explains Sasha Kramer, director of Haitibased not-for-profit Soil, an initiative that transforms human waste into resources. The challenge for the development sector is recognizing human waste’s economic value to improve food security and building a business case to support it in under-resourced communities. IDENTIFYING THE CHALLENGES Kramer explains that the primary obstacle to this potentially win-win situation is health concerns. Any bacteria that pose a danger to humans need to be eliminated from the waste during the treatment process. “When human waste composting is carried out at the household level it becomes more difficult,” she says. The other obstacle is overcoming end-users’ fears over, or objections to, the reuse of fecal matter. NGOs (RI) could play a key role in getting communities to discuss the taboo subject and educating them on the potential of poo power. “Given this natural aversion to human waste, it takes rigorous research, careful implementation and skillful social marketing to overcome the ‘yuck’ factor,” says Kramer. “That said, we found that, in Haiti, once people are able to see, smell and touch the final product they are more than eager to test it in their gardens.” The organization treats 240,000 US gallons of waste every year and has sold 75,000 US gallons of compost, Kramer says. It’s been bought by nurseries, backyard gardeners and large-scale agricultural projects run by non-profits to improve reforestation and soil quality. Kramer says human waste-based compost can bring “huge economic returns for farmers growing high-value crops, such as spinach and peppers”. Soil, an NGO in Haiti that transforms human waste into fertilizer, runs educational events for children about ecological sanitation Photograph: Soil/PR Continued on next page RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 20 FEEDING THE FOOD CHAIN Sanergy, an organization that focuses on improving sanitation in urban slums in Nairobi, is working with agricultural start-up AgriProtein to recycle human feces into animal feed via insects. Since 2010, AgriProtein has been working on developing technology that sees insects fed on streams of bio-waste, including slaughterhouse waste, and then processed into flakes which can be fed to pigs and sheep. According to Teun Veldkamp, a senior researcher at the Centre for Animal Nutrition at Wageningen University, insects are ideal because they can feed on any bio-waste. The collaboration, known as the BioCycle, is still in its infancy. Tests are ongoing to ensure that any feed produced from insects that have been fed on fecal waste is fit for human consumption further down food chain. Once the tests have been completed, the focus will be on how to turn into a sustainable business that can help locals to make money and improve community sanitation. The BioCycle’s program me manager, Marc Lewis, says local NGOs could help to roll out the technology into rural communities. “NGOs can provide the training around small-scale fly rearing practices,” says Lewis. “This will help farmers to better utilize waste for the benefit of animal rearing.” By building their capacity to provide support to smallholders, NGOs can help communities avoid the potential health problems of composting at home without any safeguards. They can also provide smallholders with market opportunities they might not otherwise have access to. CREATING A BUSINESS MODEL Another initiative to recycle human waste is Peepoople. It’s built around the Peepoo bag, a personal, single-use, self-sanitizing, fully biodegradable toilet that can be used in postdisaster situations and others where no other sanitation is available. It has a strong business model: local women can become micro-entrepreneurs by selling bags; customers receive a monetary incentive for each bag that is returned after use and the human waste collected is turned into a sanitized solution that is sold to farmers as a cheap fertilizer. Peepoople is also developing is a piece of machinery that will help farmers spread fertilizer – traditional methods involve spreading it by hand which is a barrier to acceptance of using humanwaste compost. “Normally, fecal waste is just a very difficult waste, but properly used, it becomes an asset,” says founder Anders Wilhelmson. “You get rid of a problem and gain a possibility.” READ MORE LIKE THIS: • ‘We need to talk about open defecation’ • Poo power: turning human waste into clean energy in Kenya’s slums • What do toilets have to do with nutrition? More than you might thinkIssue #157 Page 21 PRESS RELEASE FROM THE: INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT TOPS LIST OF GLOBAL RISKS IN 2015 TOP 5 GLOBAL RISKS IN TERMS OF LIKELIHOOD 1. Interstate conflict with regional consequences (geopolitical risk) 2. Extreme weather events (environmental risk) 3. Failure of national governance (geopolitical risk) 4. State collapse or crisis (geopolitical risk) 5. High structural unemployment or underemployment (economic risk) Top 5 Global Risks in Terms of Impact 1. Water crises (societal risk) 2. Rapid and massive spread of infectious diseases (societal risk) 3. Weapons of mass destruction (geopolitical risk) 4. Interstate conflict with regional consequences (geopolitical risk) 5. Failure of climate-change adaptation (environmental risk) RGHF’s Our Foundation Newsletter A project of Rotary Global History Fellowship Page 22 GLOBAL GRANTS Global grants support large international activities with sustainable, measurable outcomes in Rotary’s areas of focus. Grant sponsors form international partnerships that respond to real community needs. WHAT THEY SUPPORT Global grants can fund these activities: Humanitarian projects Scholarships for graduate-level academic studies Vocational training teams (VTT), which are groups of professionals who travel abroad either to teach local professionals about a particular field or to learn more about their own HOW TO USE THEM A key feature of global grants is partnership, between the district or club where the activity is carried out and a district or club in another country. Both sponsors must be qualified before they can submit an application. To be successful, your application must: Be sustainable and include plans for long-term success after the global grant funds have been spent Include measurable goals Align with one of our areas of focus Respond to real community needs Actively involve Rotarians and community members Meet the eligibility requirements in the grants terms and conditions NOTE: Applications are accepted throughout the year and reviewed as they are received. HOW GLOBAL GRANTS ARE FUNDED The minimum budget for a global grant activity is $30,000. The Foundation’s World Fund provides a minimum of $15,000 and maximum of $200,000. Clubs and districts contribute District Designated Funds (DDF) and/or cash contributions that the World Fund matches. DDF is matched at 100% and cash is matched at 50%. Issue #157 Page 23 ROTARY’s SIX AREAS OF FOCUS We have identified specific causes to target to maximize our local and global impact. At the same time, we understand that each community has its own unique needs and concerns. Through global grants and other resources, we help clubs focus their service efforts in the following areas. PROMOTING PEACE Today, 42 million people are displaced by armed conflict or persecution. Through our partnerships with several leading universities, Rotary Peace Fellows develop the skills to strengthen peace efforts, train local leaders to prevent and mediate conflict, and support longterm peace building in areas affected by conflict. We provide up to 100 peace fellowships per year at Rotary Peace Centers. FIGHTING DISEASE More than 100 million people are pushed into poverty each year because of medical costs. We aim to improve and expand access to low-cost and free health care in underdeveloped areas. Our members educate and mobilize communities to help prevent the spread of major diseases such as polio, HIV/AIDS, and malaria. Many of our projects ensure that medical training facilities are located where the workforce lives. PROVIDING CLEAN WATER More than 2.5 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation facilities. At least 3,000 children die each day from diarrheal diseases caused by unsafe water. Our projects give communities the ability to develop and maintain sustainable water and sanitation systems and support studies related to water and sanitation. SAVING MOTHERS AND CHILDREN At least 7 million children under the age of five die each year due to malnutrition, poor health care, and inadequate sanitation. To help reduce this rate, we provide immunizations and antibiotics to babies, improve access to essential medical services, and support trained health care providers for mothers and their children. Our projects ensure sustainability by empowering the local community to take ownership of health care training programs. SUPPORTING EDUCATION Sixty-seven million children worldwide have no access to education and more than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy. GROWING LOCAL ECONOMIES Nearly 1.4 billion employed people live on less than $1.25 a day. We carry out service projects that enhance economic and community development and develop opportunities for decent and productive work for young and old. We also help strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities.A monthly feature of the Rotary Global History Fellowship (RGHF) Jeetendra Sharma Editor in Chief Jeeturotary@gmail.com William “Bill” Pollard Associate Editor william.pollard@farmersbankva.com Edward “Eddie” Blender Publisher EBlender@aol.com Sign up for our free RGHF newsletters at http://www.historyfeatures.org and use http://www.historysearch.org to find Rotary's Global History RGHF’s OUR FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER MARCH 15, 2015, #157
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