Top stories from DAWNS Digest
It’s Official: November 19 is “World Toilet Day”
Add it to the list: The UN General Assembly officially designated November 19 as World Toilet Day as part of a growing recognition of the critical role that sanitation plays in health and development. “According to the U.N., six billion of the world’s seven billion people have mobile phones — but only 4.5 billion have access to toilets or latrines. The General Assembly resolution approved by consensus Wednesday urges the U.N.’s 193 member states to promote behavioral changes and adopt policies to increase access to sanitation and end open defecation, a key cause of diarrhea.” (AP http://yhoo.it/19iK1nf)
Myanmar: 73 More Political Prisoners Freed
The transformation of Myanmar is ongoing. “Myanmar’s government is releasing another 73 political prisoners and more could be freed in coming months to honor a commitment made by the president during a recent trip to Europe, a member of a government body looking into the process said on Tuesday. [The president] has freed hundreds of political detainees and promised in a speech in Britain last week to free all those still in prison by the end of this year.” (Reuters http://reut.rs/13e7Y7L)