[WATERFORALL] Alternative Water Conference to Provide Networking Arena for Grass

[Guest guest]

Tue, 15 Mar 2005 14:55:59 -0500

" Maj Fiil-Flynn " <mfiil

 

 

[WATERFORALL] Alternative Water Conference to Provide

Networking Arena for Grassroots Groups Across the Globe

 

 

 

 

News from Public Citizen's Water For All Campaign

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For Immediate Release: Contact: Wenonah

Hauter,

202-454-5150

March 15, 2004 Erica

Hartman, 202-454-5174

 

Alternative Water Conference to Provide Networking Arena for Grassroots

Groups Across the Globe

 

More Than 2,000 People to Gather in Geneva to Discuss Defending the

Global Water Commons

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the second annual grassroots-run

ministerial on global water issues opens this week in Geneva,

Switzerland, dubbed the 2nd Alternative World Water Forum, citizens'

groups from around the world are descending on the city to work

together

to create a strong network that will provide democracy, sustainability,

and unity to water management.

 

After another year of public disasters for the water industry,

such as Bolivia, Argentina, and The Philippines, citizens are more

determined than ever to protect water in the public trust.

 

" Each year brings more evidence to our claim that water cannot be

treated as a commodity, " said Wenonah Hauter, director of Public

Citizen's Water for All Campaign. " The war over water has been

launched and we are winning it. "

 

What's rapidly developing in El Alto, Bolivia, is case in point: In

recent weeks, angry Bolivians have taken to the streets to protest the

delayed departure of Suez subsidiary Aguas de Illimani. The city's

water contract was terminated by the Bolivian government after the

company raised water rates to unaffordable levels, imposed high

connection fees, and left many using untreated water from rivers and

streams. Despite the order to leave, the company is now negotiating

behind closed doors to keep itself in the loop. Determined citizens

are

barricading the streets, launching hunger protests, and are now facing

the threat of police violence.

 

" These water companies continue to say one thing and do

another, " said Hauter. " We're tired of hearing about so-called

`public-private partnerships' when we know there is no real

partnership with the people. "

 

The citizens' groups are basing this year's conference

around four principles:

 

* Every citizen must have the right to a sufficient, sustainable

quantity of water each day.

* Water must be treated as a common good.

* Public authorities and bodies must ensure that investment is

geared towards the right to potable water.

* Citizens must representatively and directly participate in

water

management.

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To to Water For All, send an email to

listserv with " Waterforall " in the

message.

 

To from Water For All, send an email to

listserv with " Un Waterforall " in the

message.

 

For more information on the Water For All Campaign please visit

http://www.citizen.org/cmep/