In Water Industry, Public Vs. Private Debate Heats Up (InternationalRivers)

Feb.25, 2009 in Water Industry

(Feb. 24, 2009, International Rivers)

This March, Istanbul Turkey will host the 5^th World Water Forum, the world’s largest international event on water issues. The World Water Forum is organized every three years, and brings together representatives from around the world to discuss policies of water. However, the forum is dominated by state officials and private companies; essentially those who have created many of the water problems. They will now sit down and discuss “solutions” that often focus on opening up water sources and investments, advocate the privatization of water, and do not adequately consider environmental outcomes.

Thus, groups and social movements from around the globe will launch the “Another Water Management is Possible” campaign in order to build an Alternative Water Forum, which counters the neo-liberal approach of the World Water Forum and those who see water as a source for profit. This campaign maintains that water is public property, and that management and control of water resources must be democratic, public, participatory and equitable.

We at International Rivers will be lending our support to the campaign and invite others to join in. The Alternative Water Forum will hold cultural events, seminars, workshops and press conferences. Furthermore, the second day of the Alternative forum, March 21, will be dedicated as a Day of Action Against Dams, as part of the International Day of Action Against Dams and For Rivers, Water and Life. For more information, contact contact@alternatifsuforumu.org or visit the Alternative Water Forum website.

(Original Article Here)