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Water and sanitation

Clean water and sanitation – recently recognised by the United Nations as basic human rights – are critical to good health. They help prevent disease. Yet billions of people have no ready access to safe water. It is an essential service that governments must provide to protect their citizens and serve their common good. Read more here

After Yolanda: Government employees are also human beings

11 March 2014

Four months after Typhoon Haiyan, or Yolanda as it's known in the Phlippines, PSI affiliate in the Philippines, PSLINK, has put together a photo report of the effects Yolanda has had on the population and more specifically on the lives of public sector workers.

New campaign to save Greek water from privatization

04 March 2014
Save Greek Water

New TV and radio campaign follows presentation of first European Citizens' Initiative that obliges the European Commission to consider a pan-EU campaign calling on EU legislation to recognise water as a public good, not a commodity.

Climate change could lead to global conflict

04 March 2014
Flooding and people in boats

In a recent article in UK daily The Guardian, climate expert Nicholas Stern says that the record rainfall and storm surges that have brought flooding across the UK are a clear sign that we are already experiencing the impacts of climate change.

First European Citizens’ Initiative gets EU hearing: Water is a human right!

19 February 2014

On 17 February, the results of European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) “Water is a human right!” formed the subject of a public hearing in the European Parliament, and included a meeting with the the European Commission.

Assessing the performance of New York’s electricity utility Consolidated Edison after Hurricane Sandy

10 February 2014
UWUA

The Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) assessed the performance of New York’s electricity utility Consolidated Edison after Hurricane Sandy. The findings are very disturbing. In part because of these efforts, New York State Public Service Commission recently launched an operations audit of staffing levels of major energy utilities.

Pinocchio award presented to Veolia in Nagpur

04 February 2014
Pinocchio award

As a corollary to the main award ceremony held in Paris, five organizations, including PSI, organized an award presentation ceremony in Nagpur on 25 January 2014.
Every year, three French international associations give the Pinocchio award to multinational companies violating social and environmental rights. Veolia Water was selected for 2013's award for encouraging abuse and profits rather than the right to water in India especially in Nagpur.

Privatisation provides no dividends for the poor

16 January 2014
Pylons

Privatisation has become the final resort of governments that need funds but are afraid to tax the wealthy and prevent tax evasion by big businesses. This article by Professor Sharon Beder was published in the Brisbane Times on 10 January 2014.

Revolution of the Thirsty

07 January 2014
Rooftop sorting of garbage and recyclable materials in Manshiyet Nasir, Cairo. [Photo by Joseph Hill]

Egypt and the Privatization of Water

Video: Defending public water in Greece

21 December 2013

Public workers who deliver water services in Athens and Thessaloniki are working with community allies, including “Save Greek Water,” and EPSU - the European arm of Public Services International, to keep public water systems in public hands. The government is trying to privatise and sell off these vital services under austerity measures.

Organisations denounce Nestlé’s new human rights impact assessment

20 December 2013

Nestlé’s new human rights assessment, launched at the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights last week, is full of holes say labour and civil society organizations, including the Blue Planet Project, FIVAS, Food & Water Watch, and Public Services International.

Guyana: Inadequate funding and poor management affect quality of service

19 December 2013

Staff at the Mayor & City Council in Georgetown, Guyana are committed to providing quality services to the people who live in the city. But inadequate funding to the Ministry of the Local Government and the City Council, as well as poor management make this a difficult task.

Water justice movement meets in Barcelona

18 December 2013
group photo

PSI General Secretary Rosa Pavanelli and Deputy David Boys were in Barcelona at the beginning of December, for a meeting with water justice activists, trade unionists, researchers and water operators from 29 countries who had gathered to share analysis and strategies aimed at promoting democratic public water and sanitation services. The participants were linked through the Reclaiming Public Water Network, which met previously in 2011.

Water is a human right!

10 December 2013
water is a human right

10 December is human rights day. We celebrate and remember the struggle of many for human rights and dignity.  The European Citizens’ Initiative “Water is a human right!” is proud to be part of that struggle that unites many on our planet. It has engaged hundred thousands in Europe to demand that the European Commission takes steps to implement the right to water as adopted by the UN in 2010.

Innovative non-profit water partnerships in ACP countries

02 December 2013

PSI is calling upon affiliates to sign on to letter sent to the EU Commissioner for Development expressing concern about the future of EU support for innovative non-profit partnerships in the Water sector in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP).

European Groups applaud Bern for becoming first Blue Community in Europe

18 September 2013
Three people holding Blue Planet Project cerificates

Social justice, environmental, and labour organizations in Europe are applauding the city of Bern for taking a bold new step to protect water as a commons. Launched by the Blue Planet Project based in Canada, the Blue Communities certification requires municipal governments to pass legislation recognising water as a human right and pledging to promote and protect public water and sanitation services.