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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

Victory in Italy as court blocks privatisation

27 July 2012
Model of the earth with slogans in Italian

On 20th July, the Italian Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional Article 4 of the Decree Law 138 of August 13, 2011, by which, the Berlusconi government re-introduced the privatisation of local public services. At that time, the government had ignored the results of the referendum of 12 and 13 June 2011 in which Italians had rejected privatisation. The ruling also blocks all subsequent amendments, including those of the Monti government.

Delhi to privatise water supply, city to pay nine times more than Mumbai

09 July 2012
hands under a water tap against a blue sky

On 3 July Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit confirmed that the state government has decided to privatise water treatment plants in the national capital, following its earlier privatisation of power distribution. The Planning Commission has given its approval to the proposal.

Spain: Action day against cuts in public sector

27 June 2012
Rally in Spain

Severe budget cuts are undermining and theatening our welfare state, says Spanish trade unions. Today, June 28., they call for action all over the country.

Pakistan: Demands of 140.000 workers accepted

27 June 2012
Men at power station Pakistan

No privatisation of power may be carried out by the Government of Pakistan. This is one of the demands from the Pakistani union of electricity workers that has now been accepted.

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.