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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

Fountain events all over Europe

21 June 2012
The Trevi Fountain in Rome

At sparkling and bubbling fountains all over Europe, trade unionists and environmentalists collect signatures to reclaim water as a common good. This is part of the campaign Water as a Human Right.

Green economy could yield up to 60 million jobs

08 June 2012

The transformation to a greener economy could generate 15 to 60 million additional jobs over the next two decades. This could lift tens of millions of workers out of poverty, according to a new report released by the ILO.

Tags: 
Environment
Unemployment
Water and sanitation
Economic policy
Climate change

Canada ready to recognize water as a human right

04 June 2012
waterfall

After years of opposition, the Canadian government now says it will recognize the human right to water.

European Commission gives green light for water as a Human Right

16 May 2012
Boy drinking water

The European Commission has accepted and registered an initiative from the campaign “Water is a Human Right” .

South Africa produces water of highest quality

11 May 2012
Children drinking water

A recent water quality report indicates that the water in many municipalities in South Africa is of very high quality. The workers who collect, store, purify and deliver the water supply should be appreciated, says SAMWU.

7 out of 10 wants renationalization of water services

10 May 2012
Water tap

UK Opinion poll reveals that 70 per cent of population wants renationalization of water services.

Global unions hold silent protests. ADB’s inaction to pro-worker calls

04 May 2012
GUFs protest at the AGM of ADB

Members of the Global Union Federations (GUFs) led a silent protest Friday at the opening of the Governors’ Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) against the financial institution’s continued inaction to their calls to protect and promote workers’ rights in all its projects.

City of Brussels supports water as a Human Right

23 April 2012

On April 1st the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) sponsored a European Citizens Initiative calling for water to be implemented as a Human Right.

Public Services International and the Rio+20 Summit

12 April 2012
Logo for people's summit at rio+20

The Rio+20 Summit comes amidst the climate, food and economic crises we have been experiencing in recent years.

The crisis of capitalism is forcing corporations to seek new sources of profit, and to ensure that they don't lose the ones they already have. Their lobby has been preparing for the Rio +20 summit, defining the concept of Green Economy to serve corporate purposes. It is being used as a clever cover to justify the commodification and financialisation of natural resources, which are key ingredients for their profits.

Tags: 
Energy
Human rights
Privatisation
Public Funding/Taxation
Water and sanitation
Climate change

Implementing the Right to Water in the green economy

21 March 2012
Demonstration at the alternative water forum

Water Justice activists, including PSI unions, have successfully pushed the human right to water and sanitation (RTW) onto the global agenda. The UN General Assembly Resolution 64/292 of 2010 has set the standard for government obligations in ensuring universal access. Many national campaigns insist that governments adopt RTW and implement universal access to water and sanitation. Unions are working with a broad range of allies at global, regional, national and local levels.

The resounding message from people’s world water forum: Reclaim public water!

16 March 2012
Tap and water made from banknotes at the alternative water forum

Two international forums on water issues happened in Marseille, France the week of 12 March that – like reflecting pools, mirrored the different values of those attending.

The democracy of water is winning in Madrid as well

09 March 2012
Demonstrators in Madrid

After a year and a half of protests by trade unions and citizens, of demonstrations and debates throughout the Madrid community, on Sunday, March 4th a people’s consultation was held in the surrounding municipalities, organized by the Platform against the privatization of the Isabel II Canal (Privatizacion del Canal Isabel II), by the Movement M-15 (Indignados) and by several social and political groups.
(from the Alternative Water Forum website)

Private role in delivering water raises questions

09 March 2012
Report by Food and Water Action

When the European Commission launched an investigation early this year into possible price fixing by French water utilities, the move added ammunition to campaign groups that oppose privatisation of a vital public resource. A new report challenges the notion that corporations can deliver better service, leading to calls to roll-back liberalisation of water services in Europe and beyond.

Call to action for the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation

09 March 2012
drop of water

The 6th World Water Forum is held under the slogan "It’s time for solutions and commitments”. Yet the current draft Ministerial Declaration falls short of commitments on the right to safe drinking water and sanitation that virtually all United Nations Member States have already made. This is unacceptable.

American colleges shun bottled water

09 March 2012

Bottled water is coming under attack on college campuses. More than 90 schools, among them Brown University and Harvard University are banning the sale or restricting the use of plastic water bottles, unnerving the $22 billion retail packaged-water industry in the U.S. The University of Vermont is the latest to join the movement, announcing in January it would stop sales early next year.