Ideas change everything

Let's talk crap. Seriously.

1,848,316 plays|

Rose George |

TED2013

• February 2013

It's 2013, yet 2.5 billion people in the world have no access to a basic sanitary toilet. And when there's no loo, where do you poo? In the street, probably near your water and food sources -- causing untold death and disease from contamination. Get ready for a blunt, funny, powerful talk from journalist Rose George about a once-unmentionable problem.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

It's 2013, yet 2.5 billion people in the world have no access to a basic sanitary toilet. And when there's no loo, where do you poo? In the street, probably near your water and food sources -- causing untold death and disease from contamination. Get ready for a blunt, funny, powerful talk from journalist Rose George about a once-unmentionable problem.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

Read our curation guidelines.

Join the movement to help improve the world's crap crisis.

About the speaker

Curious journalist

See speaker profile

Rose George looks deeply into topics that are unseen but fundamental, whether that's sewers or latrines or massive container ships or pirate hostages or menstrual hygiene.

Learn more

The Big Necessity

Rose George | Holt Paperbacks (2009)

Rose George - *The Big Necessity*

The future of poop

The journalist discusses the ongoing battle against poor sanitation — and the global health situation no one wants to talk about.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

Read our curation guidelines.

Join the movement to help improve the world's crap crisis.