Defending the Right to Water

Defending the Right to Water

YES! Magazine, Summer 2009: The New Economy

More than 20 countries have signed a declaration recognizing water as a basic human right. The declaration was presented as an alternative to a weaker statement on water access issued at the 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul in March.

The World Water Forum, held every three years, is led by The World Water Council, an association dominated by private water corporations. Activists and many governments have argued that such industry involvement undermines the credibility of the meetings and has led to water policies that promote corporate profit over human health and access.

Hundreds of activists protested outside the Istanbul forum, shouting “water for life, not for profit.”

Sixteen countries have also signed a second statement calling on the United Nations to assume leadership of the international water meeting. Maude Barlow, Senior Advisor on Water to the President of the United Nations General Assembly, has backed this proposal.

“This creates terrific momentum in the U.N. to responsibly steward our water commons, to ensure that water is not a commodity and that people and nature receive their fair share,” says Barlow.

Worldwide, more than 1 billion people lack access to clean drinking water, and scientists predict global warming will lead to more frequent and severe water shortages in years to come.

—Daniel Moss lives in Mexico and co-coordinates Our Water Commons, www.onthecommons.org/water.

Interested? Watch an interview with the director of Flow: How do a handful of corporations steal our water?