SWNOVELXO Chapter 47: 009|Leaving no one behind(1)
On November 19th, the United Nations released a video on its official account titled "World Toilet Day: Leaving No One Behind."
This informative video features 42 influential figures from 36 countries and regions across various industries emphasising the crucial significance of public toilets for global social sustainable development. Among these influential individuals is Zhong Shao representing China, who, despite not being the sole representative from the entertainment industry, is the youngest among all the influential figures.
Currently, 4.2 billion people worldwide still lack access to managed and safe sanitation facilities, with approximately 673 million individuals practising open defecation. The United Nations has outlined Sustainable Development Goal No.6, aiming to achieve global sanitation coverage and eradicate the practice of open defecation. In addition, November 19th is designated as World Toilet Day annually to break taboos surrounding toilets, ensuring everyone's access to sanitation facilities becomes a top global development priority.
Environmental sanitation is closely linked to fundamental human dignity and women's safety concerns. Women should not be at risk of rape or assault due to a lack of private toilet facilities. Research indicates that without safe and sustainable sanitation facilities, people are often forced to use unreliable and incomplete toilets or resort to open defecation. Even in areas with sanitation facilities, overflowing sewage systems, improper waste disposal, and inadequate treatment can lead to untreated human waste entering the environment, spreading deadly and chronic diseases such as cholera and intestinal worms.
The theme for World Toilet Day this year is "Leave No One Behind", emphasising that toilets are more than just sanitation facilities. They can save lives, uphold dignity, and create opportunities. In addition to official speeches and resource sharing through social media platforms, the UN-Water has established an international task group to take action and encourage countries to engage in discussions related to World Toilet Day on social media.
Before the public toilet revolution, public toilets in China were commonly associated with being dirty and poorly maintained. The toilet revolution initiative was first implemented in national tourist attractions to improve the quality of public toilets and promote tourism development. Over a period of two years, a total of 68,000 public toilets were renovated. This reform was then recognised as a significant project for improving people's livelihoods and expanded from tourist attractions to all public restrooms nationwide, especially focusing on public restrooms in rural areas with poor conditions.
As per official requirements, public toilets should be provided in sufficient quantities, with the majority being kept clean, hygienic, tidy, and well-managed. In addition, leveraging technological advancements to offer personalised services, special facilities have been constructed in various tourist spots and cities to cater to individuals with specific needs.
However, is having a relatively clean toilet a sign of the success of the sanitation revolution?
Many internet users have raised doubts and even sparked heated discussions on topics unique to Chinese society, such as "mothers taking boys into female toilets to address physiological needs." This has also brought up the recent uproar over the "third restroom assault incident." The "Urban Area Survey Report on the Unisex Toilets" orchestrated by Zhong Shao, as the mastermind behind the scenes, has once again become a hot topic.
In light of this year's theme, internet users sharply summarised the most concerning issue for everyone: how to ensure that every citizen maintains basic dignity and personal safety while using public toilets.
At the same time, the fan community has ignited a significant focus and controversy. When a person has already reached a certain height, in a fan culture driven by youthfulness and data-driven popularity, being subjected to hateful comments and attacks becomes inevitable. This is not the fault of the individuals involved but rather a result of the complete collapse of benign competition after the excessive involvement of capital.
Initially, it was just Zhong Shao targeting fans in his comment section, the United Nations official comment section, and the Zhong Shao topic square, engaging in a slaughter with narrow-mindedness and vulgar language. This senseless fighting is not much different from the impression of public toilets before the reform, which has inevitably encouraged onlookers to indulge in striking their keyboards.
Many people support Zhong Shao, a celebrity with nearly 20 years of experience, winning Class A awards and having influence. How can he not stand on the United Nations stage and engage in discussions with other outstanding talents internationally? However, many others criticise him, questioning that even though he has been in the industry for a long time and received honours, as an actor, he is still young. With a population of 1.4 billion, do we not have more outstanding scientists and cultural figures?
Amidst the chaos, some have gradually noticed the title marked by Zhong Shao in the video, identifying himself as the "Founder of WAT" before his professional title as an "actor."
He stands there as a founder, not just an actor.
The curiosity surrounding the three letters "WAT" prompted an individual to search for keywords linking "WAT" and "Zhong Shao," attempting to establish a connection between the two.
Through meticulous investigation, the pseudonym of Zhong Shao was unveiled. Zhong Shao, identified as a Chinese-American, was registered as the legal representative of WAT in the relevant department under the name Simeon Zhong. Concurrent with changes in shareholders, Zhong Shao also took over as the legal representative of WAT. Despite being listed as a shareholder under an alias that went unnoticed by the public due to an unfamiliar surname, the significant events in WAT's history since its establishment were laid out on the internet, surprising even Zhong Shao's loyal fans.
The revelation of Zhong Shao's behind-the-scenes activities left many astonished, with the self-deprecating comment that "even the alias of Zhong, the actor, requires the United Nations to expose."
The remarkable milestones of WAT left everyone amazed, as it silently but steadfastly supported a diverse group of individuals, both few in number yet significant. Furthermore, it was unexpected to discover the close ties between WAT and the recent groundbreaking case of the first cured AIDS patient in the country. Testimonials from beneficiaries assisted or rescued by WAT on their respective social media platforms confirmed the uncovered details shared by netizens, piecing together numerous fragmented accounts.
They epitomised the essence of WAT - "WE ALL TOGETHER."
Chen Le was among them.
@BeHappyLele: I am the victim of the "The Unisex Toilet Incident." Before my second reconstructive surgery, Zhong Shao personally brought a bouquet of calla lilies to my bedside and said, "Hello, I'm Zhong Shao. Wishing you a speedy recovery and peace with your loved ones." Now that I've learned he is the legal representative of WAT, all my doubts have been resolved. Someone who spares no effort to advocate for a group's welfare is truly admirable.
From this point onward, endless rainbow flags stand wherever Zhong Shao's name appears. These flags represent a certain group, a collective of netizens, and everyday individuals. Among them, many are heterosexual, many know little about the LGBTQ+ community, and many are still grappling with self-acceptance. Yet, this doesn't stop them from being moved by Zhong Shao and his organization, WAT.
What Zhong Shao has achieved through WAT far surpasses any internet noise or chaos.
At the same time, Zhong Shao's sexual orientation has become a topic of discussion.
After reposting a video from the United Nations during the day, Zhong Shao pinned a comment to the top of his post that night:
"Honoured and grateful for the attention. Please do not probe too deeply. — Simeon"
With just a few understated words, he addressed the matter as Simeon Zhong.
Beneath Zhong Shao's public brilliance lies Simeon Zhong. The public may focus on the actor Zhong Shao, but they should refrain from interfering with or speculating about Simeon Zhong's private life.
The curiosity surrounding WAT didn't disappear entirely after this comment, but it was slightly alleviated.
Yu Cheng directly reshared Zhong Shao's post and added the comment: "A small restroom, a big society."
Earlier, when Zhong Shao received an invitation from the United Nations and decided to accept an interview with New York magazine Confession, Yu Cheng had asked him, "Are you ready for your alias to be revealed?"
Zhong Shao replied, "I don't want the public to know about my connection with WAT, but after all these years, it has become a part of my life and my identity. If any issue or groundbreaking result from WAT needs a push to reach mainstream media, using Zhong Shao's persona to achieve what Simeon wants to accomplish isn't unacceptable."
At the same time, Yu Cheng's loyal fans began speculating in private forums: "Is the Yucheng Fang listed among WAT's recent shareholder updates really our Zen-like actor?"
They have been following Yu Cheng since his competition days, started piecing together timelines. In the early days of talent shows, the "brotherhood" displayed onstage was spectacular and emotional, unmatched even today. Yu Cheng's real surname is rarely known to the public due to well-maintained privacy.
Connecting the dots, fans speculated: the behind-the-scenes footage from Same Or Not, the joint posts on Weibo, and candid photos taken by passersby all hint at an unusually close bond between Zhong Shao and Yu Cheng.
Fans joked, "So where's the agreed-upon persona, gentlemen?"
While fans were still processing "Zhong Shao and Simeon," the 16th Langting International Theater Festival officially announced its lineup for the "Youth Competition" and this year's judges. Zhong Shao was listed as one of the theatre judges.
The Langting International Theater Festival, initially named the Langting Drama Festival, was founded by renowned theatre masters. Located in Langting, a historic town with over 2,000 years of cultural heritage, the festival has evolved into a comprehensive event. Its sections include invited productions, youth competitions, a theatre carnival, and town dialogues. Now, it is not only one of China's most prestigious theatre festivals but also an internationally celebrated cultural event.
Two days after the announcement, a new issue of Confession was published. The magazine featured an in-depth interview with Simeon Zhong, meticulously translated and shared by fans on domestic social media, sparking another wave of discussion.
Confession is a widely respected magazine, founded in 1961, that covers news, essays, fiction, literary criticism, satire, and cartoons. It is known for its rigorous fact-checking and cultural insights. The column "The Talk of Confession" shares diverse stories across different social and cultural strata, blending detailed narratives with thoughtful reflection.
This issue's highlight was Simeon Zhong's first public recount of his journey with WAT. He shared the reasons he took over WAT and the support from his family, reflected on WAT's impact on his life and worldview, detailed his emotional journey after WAT's first project and its groundbreaking achievement—the "Taotao Case," China's first cured AIDS case, also revealed WAT's future goals and aspirations.
At the end of the interview, Zhong Shao said: "In the fractured political, cultural, and historical landscape of contemporary Chinese society, transitioning from the unseen to being seen and eventually accepted requires immense social forces. By chance, I happen to have a sliver of such capability. The rise of the internet has made these efforts less daunting than before. Though I grew up in the U.S., my roots are firmly in China. I understand that my contributions and those of WAT are merely a drop in the ocean, but I remain hopeful for the red flag I deeply believe in."
This world has always been chaotic and noisy, filled with wandering and hesitant individuals. Yet, none of this can extinguish the burning desires within our hearts. Together, we walk forward, believing that the voices of prayers will eventually be heard and the embrace of hope will one day become a reality.