Thirsting for Justice “Defending the Global Water Commons”

R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:10 AM Page 1

***LATIN AMERICA WEEK 2007 (programme inside) 15-21 APRIL***

THIRSTING FOR JUSTICE “DEFENDING THE GLOBAL WATER COMMONS”

Water wars: Exploring the 20th-century neo-liberal context and the struggle against water privitisation. Voices of resistance: From North and South, Latin America and Ireland. Global challenges Water and Gender. Water and Youth. Water and Debt. Water and Culture. Water and Environment...

Latin America Solidarity Centre 01 6760435 [email protected] www.lasc.ie LASC gratefully acknowledges funding from Irish Aid & TRÓCAIRE L.A.W. 1 R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:10 AM Page 2

LATIN AMERICA SOLIDARITY L.A.W. 2007 concentrates on the CENTRE (LASC) lessons that we here in Ireland can TABLE OF CONTENTS 5, Merrion Row, Dublin 2 learn from the Latin American Tel: + 353 1 6760435 struggles for access to water. How did Water Wars – The Neoliberal Background 3 Fax: + 353 1 6621784 some of our brothers and sisters in E-mail: [email protected] Latin America manage to regain Enclosing the Water Commons 5 Website: www.lasc.ie control of their water services in the face of neoliberalism? How did they Water struggles in Latin America 7 manage to throw some of the most EDITORIAL powerful water corporations in the The record of water privatization in developing countries 8 On behalf of LASC I’m delighted to world out of their cities? present you with the programme for These are success stories – or are they? Water struggles in Ireland Latin America Week 2007, ‘Thirsting We look forward to hearing what the for Justice: Defending the Global situation is in Bolivia after the Water Beating the water charges in Dublin 9 Water Commons’. Wars and after president Evo Morales Opposition to water charges in Northern Ireland 9 Latin America Week (L.A.W.) is an set up the Water Ministry, the first of annual festival of development its kind. And what the Water Water protest in Limerick 10 education, campaigning solidarity Referendum (organised by popular and cultural events, co-ordinated by demand) has really meant for the most Water privatization in SLIGO? 10 marginalised sectors of society in LASC but implemented by a host of Water facts 11 organisations and individuals around Uruguay. Or how the people of San the country. It focuses on a particular Cristobal de Las Casas are faring after Water: a global challenge – A view by Progressio Ireland 13 theme each year. the mass mobilisations that put a stop Voices from Bolivia Last year’s Latin America Week to water privatisation in their (L.A.W. 2006, ‘Draining Away Our community. Water Privatization in Bolivia and the Struggle of the People 14 Wealth: Ownership of Natural We have assembled here a collection of The voice of a Cochabamba Water Warrior 14 Resources’) kick-started Year One of articles to explain why we are working Water and solidarity: reflections on a community’s struggle on water privatisation, to give a a three-year period in which we for water 14 would work on this theme. Last year snapshot of the global water justice our intention was to introduce the movement as it stands in early 2007, The water justice movement theme, and to research potential and to give detailed background North and South, it’s our water dammit! 15 action points we could then focus information on the various struggles upon. Our Latin American guests around water about which our invited The Latin American Water Tribunal spoke of their experiences with speakers will tell us. Putting water polluters on trial 16 grassroots struggles around water, oil, The speakers we have invited will Sustainable access to safe drinking water: gas and illegal logging, which opened participate in workshops, conferences A Millennium Development Goal 16 a debate on privatisation, particularly and other events all around the island the privatisation of gas and water of Ireland. They have all taken risks to Mexico and Ireland: Lack of access to water in which are hugely contested here in speak out as leaders of their respective marginalised communities Ireland. movements, and are no less than heroes Selling the water commons from right under our noses: of the struggle for water justice, which In the course of our research and a Mexican reality 17 communications over the past year, it is no more than the latest phase of the became clear that the greatest 500-year struggle of Latin Americans to Water and Travellers: an Irish reality 17 potential for offering our solidarity to resist oppression and exploitation. You grassroots struggles for justice in can meet them in small development Water and Gender 18 education workshops during the Week, Latin America, as well as for learning Water and Youth: the facts 19 from Latin America how best to fight be inspired by their visionary activism, injustice at home, lay in water. and explore and contribute your own Water and Debt attitudes, views and information. Please Water is the most vital substance for Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink! 20 all forms of life. Its ownership is a see the list of events, at the centre of matter of vital importance for anyone this publication for a workshop near Water and Culture in Latin America 21 concerned with the planet and with you. Water, Neoliberalism and the Environment 22 human dignity. To restrict access to As an article in this programme states, water only to those who can pay ‘the global water justice movement is Use and abuse of water for gold mining in Cajamarca 22 represents the ultimate young, and it is critical to share commodification, and has aroused capacity, ideas, strategy and victories.’ Further reading 23 fierce public resistance. L.A.W. 2007 is a part of this global In Ireland too it is a burning issue. In movement, and launches Year Two of Northern Ireland the ‘We Won’t Pay’ our current strategic plan. campaign is attracting cross- Year Three involves taking action for community support, fighting the change, and we expect that a specific London government’s plan to privatise campaign will grow out of this year’s Northern Irish water. Privatisation of Latin America Week. We hope that you Latin America public water was defeated in the can participate, and help shape our Solidarity Centre Republic in the mid-1990’s, but is solidarity with Latin America for the believed to be re-entering via the ‘back years to come. 01 6760435 door’ of water charges for commercial Azucena Bermúdez [email protected] users (see within). LASC Coordinator www.lasc.ie R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:10 AM Page 3

WATER WARS – THE NEOLIBERAL BACKGROUND

By Aidan Cahill, LASC Chairperson ****** *Water war in Bolivia Photo by Muireann de Barra* Globally, water wars have only been a was the date Augusto Pinochet, backed by feature of the past decade. In this article US companies, the CIA and Henry we examine the 20th-century context of a Kissinger, overthrew the leftist 21st-century phenomenon. government of Salvador Allende in a The 21st century’s first great victory bloody coup. The Chicago Boys, a group Why would a against corporate power was won high in of neoliberal economists from the the South American Andes, when the University of Chicago, rushed to Chile to citizens of Cochabamba, Bolivia advise the new military government. democratically successfully resisted the privatisation of Nationalisations were reversed, public their drinking water services. Hundreds assets were sold off, and natural resources of thousands of ordinary working people and social security were privatised. elected battled police in the streets in early 2000, Foreign firms were courted, indulged and in what became known as the first Water guaranteed the right to repatriate profits. government War. (Incidentally, thirty years later the same Why would a democratically elected neoliberalism would be brought to Iraq, also by the gun, using the other government hand over public property, th hand over in the face of enormous public September 11 in 2001 as a pretext.) opposition, to a wasteful, predatory and In the decades since, international aid incompetent private sector? Why would donors – most importantly the World public it, beat, imprison and even kill its own Bank, the International Monetary Fund, citizens for expressing this opposition? and the development aid programmes of “ some rich countries – have insisted upon The story stretches back to the mid- property, in twentieth century when the dominant poor countries adopting ‘sound’ economic theory in those countries economic policies, meaning of course the face of sometimes known as ‘the West’ was based neoliberal ones, as a condition of vital on Keynesian economics, with its loans and aid. This is fortunately not true emphasis on taxation and redistribution of the Republic of Ireland’s official aid enormous of wealth from rich to poor, albeit within programme, Irish Aid, which has been a capitalist framework. Unions made singled out for praise in this regard. gains in the post World War Two decades Thanks to the Debt Crisis – generated in public in terms of salary and worker no small part by World Bank policy in protections, enough to threaten the 1970’s – governments in the Global opposition, to established financial interests. South have had no choice but to The doctrine of ‘neoliberalism’ – whose implement policy which is against the name harks back to the mid-nineteenth- interests of the majority of their citizens. a wasteful, century laissez-faire economics which led, ‘Free’ trade agreements, a pillar of amongst other things, to economic neoliberalism, have been forced upon stagnation and famine in both Latin them, ensuring a flow of resources from predatory and America and Ireland – was resurrected. It the poor to the rich at the minimum had been developed in the 1930’s but was cAKUost, as we saw in Latin America Week seen as unworkably right-wing in the (L.A.W.) 2003 on the Free trade Area of incompetent post-fascism era. the Americas. Neoliberal policy was researched, and The promise of neoliberalism is that, private sector? pushed at government level, in the USA while there may be some economic pain and Europe by conservative think-tanks in the short term – particularly for the and powerful lobby groups, financed to poor, who for example may have to put the tune of hundreds of millions of up with the deaths of their children if dollars by enormously wealthy they cannot afford to pay water charges – individuals and groups, and given its first in the long term the rising tide of th Yeconomic growth will ‘lift all boats’. outing on Sept. 11 , 1973, in Chile. That

Water that has been begged for does not quench the thirst. Ugandan Proverb ” L.A.W. 3 R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:10 AM Page 4

Despite the many disasters neoliberal policy has visibly created, it has been relentlessly promoted by those who “ *People marching in Bolivia to reclaim their water Photo by Muireann de Barra* identify with The British health insurer BUPA pulled out of the lucrative Irish market when it was no longer allowed freely to power, and has cherry-pick younger, healthier clients. It may take up to €100 million in risen to virtually accumulated profit out of this country’s economy with it. (See L.A.W. 2004, ‘The Commodification of unchallenged Health’, on www.lasc.ie) The controversial deal by corrupt dominance in former minister Ray Burke to exploit the Corrib gas field means the Shell- politics and led consortium will own all the gas extracted from it, and can sell it to Bord Gáis at full market rates. The economics Irish state will receive no royalties and no share of the gas. (See L.A.W. 2005 worldwide on the ownership of natural resources) “Cartoon from the ‘No Nos Despite the many disasters neoliberal Tientes’ journal, Guatemala. policy has visibly created, it has been The figure in the middle Even this scenario, far from desirable, has relentlessly promoted by those who not been borne out by experience. In most identify with power, and has risen to represents the President of virtually unchallenged dominance in regions of the world, economic growth and the country, offering improvements in health and literacy have politics and economics worldwide. It slowed to a snail’s pace since the is usually presented as inevitable, a telecommunications, Reagan/Thatcher years. Inequalities, force like gravity. But it is important to globally and locally, have spiralled upwards understand that this vast experiment broadcasting, rail and air in the neoliberal decades, most of all within we are all being forced to live under transport. ‘Hey buddy! And those countries which have applied has been created by people with a neoliberal policies with the greatest purpose. when do we start to sell the enthusiasm. While it has brought booms to Once you grasp this, you can also air , too?’ The Campresino countries” such as Ireland, naturally understand that what some people welcome to those who benefit, booms bring have created, other people can change. on the right thinks of milk, their own problems and leave economies Latin Americans have been at the beans and bread: Bloody vulnerable to a ‘bust’ when capital moves forefront of this change and we hope on. that in this year’s Latin America Week Hell! Now these idiots don’t Some particularly arrant examples of we will learn more about how we can even want us to breathe’” neoliberalism’s failures (or successes, viewed support, and learn from, them. from the viewpoint of the super-rich) are How neoliberalism causes water wars being played out at the moment in Ireland. will be examined more specifically in The West Link toll bridge, built for €38 the next article, ‘Enclosing the Water million, is being bought back by the Commons’. Government for €600 million, after having A longer version of this article can be raised €400 million for its owners in tolls. found on www.lasc.ie

Water is the only drink for a wise man. Henry David Thoreau »»» UISCE L.A.W. 4 R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:11 AM Page 5

ENCLOSING THE WATER COMMONS By Aidan Cahill, LASC Chariperson ******** The previous article, ‘Water Wars – The Neoliberal background’ explored *Photo by Marco Llanos* how free-market economic theory, often referred to by its critics as neoliberalism, views almost every sphere of human life as a tradable commodity and serves primarily the super-rich. Here we examine the specific significance of the privatisation of water.

Nobody can live more than a few days Cheered on by this type of rhetoric – and without fresh water. Only 2.5% of the by the water multinationals – water on this earth is fresh, and over two- governments rushed to privatise public Advocates of thirds of this is locked in the polar ice water utilities through the 1990’s. In some caps or glaciers. About 20% of the cases, freshwater lakes were privatised, world’s population now lives in ‘water- and it became illegal for citizens to drink privatisation stressed’ regions, where fresh water is from them. In Cochabamba, Bolivia in being depleted faster than it can be 2000 it was even illegal to trap rainwater argue that replaced. Water is becoming a scarce without permission from the water resource. company. The rain had been privatised. governments, Water is of huge symbolic significance in But the glowing future envisaged in the every human culture. Our bodies are neoliberal theory failed to materialise. 70% water. Neoliberalism’s attempt to Mass protests broke out, provoked by particularly in refashion our relationship with this water water rate increases of up to 500%. In has aroused huge resistance, has sparked some cases, cut-offs of those who could the global an instinctive welling-up of the human not afford to pay had resulted in disease spirit against injustice and for dignity. outbreaks, while even those who did pay Nowhere is this truer than in Latin received a poor service often including South, often America. contaminated water. Nonetheless, water costs money to treat These ‘water wars’ have resulted in the do not have and distribute, especially in rural areas. cancellation of contracts in some cases. “ Someone must pay. Advocates of Many other contracts were terminated by privatisation argue that governments, governments after private water operators the resources particularly in the global South, often failed to deliver on promised investment do not have the resources to invest in to expand water pipe networks to poor to invest in water systems or to maintain and areas. This was entirely predictable, since operate them adequately.As a result, private companies only invest where they many people are not connected to a pipe can make a profit, not where there is water systems network, and they can pay 10 times more greatest need. for the same amount of water. The argument that competition – one of or to maintain Therefore, the argument runs, money to neoliberalism’s sacred cows – would bring expand the network should be raised good service and reasonable prices is and operate from the private sector. The promise of seldom heard now. Even if it was correct, ‘cost-recovery’ from paying consumers it has seldom been tested because Suez, will make it attractive for companies to Vivendi/Veolia, Thames, SAUR and them invest, thus spreading the network and Anglian – the world’s largest water giving more people access to clean water. companies – are connected by a global Competition and private-sector efficiency web of joint ventures designed more to adequately will keep customer costs to an acceptable protect their interests than to stimulate level. ‘market conditions’.

» The cycle of life is intricately tied up with the cycle of water. Jacques Cousteau ” AGUA L.A.W. 5 R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:11 AM Page 6

it was even illegal to trap rainwater without permission from the water company. The rain had been privatised

The opponents of neoliberalism are starting “ to respond. At the World Water Forum in Mexico in 2006, an unprecedented 30,000 *‘People who are not connected to a people marched in defence of public water pipe network can pay 10 times more as part of a global commons, rather than a for the same amount of water’* commodity. There are grassroots groups of Critics of ‘water warriors’ all over the world, in varied but related struggles. Any veteran of Latin America Weeks past privatisation Water corporations have retrenched, toning will not fail to notice that most of the ”down their rhetoric – they now tend to issues we have covered in the past decade tend to favour avoid the term ‘privatisation’, preferring are tied in with water. This, too, instead to talk about ‘decentralisation’,‘civil influenced our decision to focus upon it publicly-funded society partnership’ and ‘sustainable as the natural resource of choice to begin development’. Despite this, water Year Two of our current three-year water systems, privatisation is very much alive, and – strategic plan. Year Three involves action despite its defeat in the Republic of Ireland for change, and we expect that a specific with the money in the mid 1990’s – will be tried again here campaign will grow out of this year’s long or short. It is currently being attempted Latin America Week. We hope that you in Northern Ireland. can participate, and help shape our being raised solidarity with Latin America for the We have assembled a collection of articles years to come. from an here to give a snapshot of the global water justice movement. They range from equitable tax personal eye witness accounts of water Alternatives to “ struggles from participants in Latin America and Ireland to analysis of the global water privatisation system, or from movement itself. The particular impacts of water injustice on women and girls, Critics of privatisation tend to favour cross- Travellers and youth are looked at, and the publicly-funded water systems, with the major relevant water corporations are money being raised from an equitable subsidisation examined individually. tax system, or from cross-subsidisation from high-volume users – mostly In last year’s Latin America Week, we industry – to low-volume users, mostly from high- studied the ownership of natural resources. domestic and the poor,with a set amount We invited speakers involved in grassroots sufficient for basic needs supplied free of volume users – struggles in Latin America and Ireland on charge. They call for reform of the issues surrounding gas, oil, water and democratically accountable, public water illegal logging. mostly industry utilities, and point out that while some These themes were worked upon in Year public water companies are inefficient – to low-volume One of our three-year strategic plan. It and give a poor service, a growing became clear that working upon the number are providing a good service to users, mostly ownership of water contained the most their users. Latin America and Ireland are potential for offering our solidarity to rich in examples of clean, affordable water domestic and grassroots struggles for justice in Latin being delivered to those in need. When America, as well as learning from Latin given sufficient support, public utilities the poor America how best to challenge the have demonstrated themselves to be neoliberalism seeping into all aspects of our transparent, accountable and efficient. society.

Thousands have lived without love, not one without water. W.H. Auden L.A.W. 6 ” WENE R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:11 AM Page 7

WATER STRUGGLES IN LATIN AMERICA ****** ECUADOR In October 2000, just months after the people of Bolivia threw Bechtel out of Cochabamba, this very same company signed a water privatization contract in *Honduras holds Guayaquil, Ecuador, a city of almost 2 National Conference in million inhabitants. After years of poor Defence of Water & Rivers (photo by Erasto service, water cut-offs, flooding, and Reyes, published in unsafe drinking water, the residents of http://www.foodandwater Guayaquil are getting organized to watch.org/water/waterpri *People’s Summit in Cordoba, Argentina condems Suez. demand their human rights – which vitization/latinamerica)* (photo from Comisión Popular par la Recuperación del include the right to clean and affordable Agua, published in: http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/ water. water/waterprivitization/latinamerica)* EL SALVADOR ARGENTINA El Salvador is a country in crisis. Ninety PERU Argentina has suffered for more than a percent of the country’s natural water is Reforms for the public decade while being used as the global contaminated, and half the population water sector designed by guinea pig for water privatization drinks untreated water. The people of El the international financial experiments. However, after years of Salvador are struggling to have their most institutions in the 1990s social turmoil surrounding these failed basic needs satisfied while the World caused water utilities to experiments (lack of investments in the Bank and the Inter-American collapse into economic *Unions lead protest against water maintenance, repairs and expansion of Development Bank continue pushing the and financial crisis, while workers and consumers privitization in Lima, water utilities, rate hikes, cut-offs for disastrous recipe of privatization. March 2004* suffered negative those who could not afford the service; HONDURAS Photo www.acorn.org economic, social and water contamination due to lack of In August 2003, thousands of protestors public health consequences. appropriate treatment, on-going disputes demonstrated against the policies imposed regarding contractual incompliance) Suez by the IMF, which included water and other major water corporations are privatization policies. Eighty percent of the PUERTO RICO going home. 6.5 million people in Honduras live in Puerto Rico has too often served as a poverty, although the country has guinea pig for corporate privatization BOLIVIA continued repaying debt to the IMF and to policies. French water corporations such Bolivia is one of Latin other creditors at the rate of $32 millions as Veolia and Suez both attempted to America’s poorest in 2002 and another $16.3 millions in privatize water systems on this island. countries, where one third 2003. These companies eventually pulled out of of the population has no MEXICO Puerto Rico, being faced with outraged The Fox administration is trying hard to consumers and the government access to clean water and *Water “service” provided seventy percent of the by Suez in El Alto, Bolivia push forward the water privatization unwillingness to pay the bill. people live below the Photo Muireann de Barra* agenda in Mexico. However, in a country poverty line. Yet the that has had 20 years of failed neo-liberal Bolivians are determined to reclaim their rights policies imposed by the national URUGUAY and their dignity. The movements to defend government, the IMF and the World Uruguay has gained a water, and all natural resources and public Bank, privatization is very unpopular. landmark victory in services, have grown stronger and bolder in Communities across the country are the struggle to defend recent years and they have even managed to end getting organized to defend their rivers, water as a public good Suez’s profit making activities in Bolivia. streams, aquifers and lakes. and a human right. In NICARAGUA 2005 a constitutional CHILE In Nicaragua, where serious problems in reform was approved Chile has been one of the most the water sanitation and supply sector are via popular privatization-friendly countries in Latin already limiting the access to clean water referendum. This America, privatizing its water sector in as a public resource, the World Bank, reform banned any *1,500,000 Uruguayans said YES. Picture: RealWorldRadio* the 1990s. However, with the new centre- International Monetary Fund (IMF) and privatization of water left president, Michelle Bachelet, elected the Inter-American Development Bank and defined water as a human right and a in January 2006, there could be a shift in (IDB) are promoting a water public natural resource. It remains now to the neo-liberal policies of privatization privatization policy that will make it even be seen how the government will proceed to that have governed Chile and allowed for more difficult for Nicaraguans of all implement this constitutional reform the distribution of its most precious classes, but mostly the poorest among resource to be controlled by corporations them, to have access to clean water at through its policies. for private profit. affordable rates. By means of water, we give life to everything. Koran, 21:30ÁGUA L.A.W. 7 R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:11 AM Page 8

L.A.W. 8 R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:11 AM Page 9

the introduction of a charge WATER STRUGGLES was seen as the stalking horse by which privatisation of the IN IRELAND ******* service would be introduced BEATING THE WATER CHARGES IN DUBLIN

By Gregor Kerr, member Workers Solidarity Movement and former Secretary of Federation of Dublin Anti Water Charge Campaigns

The mid 1990s saw a titanic battle When the charges were initially mooted,“Campaigners looked to what had already between Dublin communities and opposition came for two reasons. Firstly, happened in Britain in terms of the privatisation the local authorities over attempts ordinary workers were fed up with the of a service that was seen as a basic right and by the Councils to impose a water inequities in the taxation system. While determined not to allow things” to go in the same charge. People power, a mass big business and the wealthy availed of direction. refusal to pay and strong tax breaks and evaded paying their share As communities in Northern Ireland gear up for community resistance were of the tax bill, it was seen that yet again the battle against water charges, they can take successful in forcing the Councils working class people were being asked to heart from the successful campaign in the South a to back down. For example, when foot the bill. decade ago. That campaign proved that people the Council cut off people’s water Secondly, and just as importantly, the power and a mass refusal to pay were tactics that for non-payment, plumbers introduction of a charge was seen as the the authorities were unable to defeat. would clandestinely reconnect stalking horse by which privatisation of An account of the anti-water charge campaign can them. the service would be introduced. be found at http://www.wsm.ie/news_viewer/1690A OPPOSITION TO WATER CHARGES IN NORTHERN IRELAND

By Gary Mulcahy, Secretary, We Won’t Pay Campaign In April, the water service will be transferred into a Go-Co or No other issue in recent memory has Government-owned company called done more to unite Catholic and Northern Ireland Water Ltd. (NIWL). A Protestant communities in Northern Go-Co is described by the Government Ireland than the British Government’s as ‘an intermediate step towards plans to introduce water charges. privatisation’. The plan is to introduce This April over 700,000 water bills will water charges to secure a reliable secure be delivered to homes in the North. source of revenue to NIWL so it can The average charge will initially be in then be given away to private companies the region of £314 per year, but in an who are out to make as much profit as attempt to soften their impact on they wish. people the Government has decided to The We Won’t Pay Campaign has phase the introduction of the charges succeeded in defeating the Government’s over two years. In 2009 a price review arguments and has built almost will see further increases. universal opposition to their plans. A Householders in Northern Ireland mass boycott of the charges would make already pay for water and sewerage it impossible for the Government to The aim of the We Won’t Pay Campaign is to services through the rates system and proceed with full-scale privatisation. organise people in the communities to stand general taxation. The combined Movements against the poll tax in together in solidarity and refuse to pay the increase in rates and the introduction Britain and water charges in the south of charges. Over 80,000 people have so far of water charges will mean increases in Ireland have shown that mass non- signed the campaigns non-payment pledge, expenditure in excess of £1,000 every payment, through a membership-based but this is the mere tip of the iceberg. year for tens of thousands of families. campaign democratically organised in The We Won’t Pay Campaign is confident we According to official Government the communities, can defeat unjust taxes can force the British Government or statistics over 500,000 people are and charges. The local politicians cannot Northern Ireland Assembly to scrap water currently living below the poverty line. be trusted. Even though they claim to charges. If you are interested in joining the The introduction of water charges will oppose water charges, in the previous campaign then contact us at 028 90 311778 push many more into poverty and will Assembly the four ruling parties agreed or visit our website at financially cripple entire communities. to introduceUM water charges. www.wewontpaycampaign.com No other issue in recent memory has done more to unite Catholic and Protestant communities in Northern Ireland than the British Government’s plans to introduce water charges “Throughout the history of literature, the guy who poisons the well has been the worst of all villains. Anonymous ” L.A.W. 9 R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:11 AM Page 10

Water privatization in Sligo?

HE introduction of water metering and charging saw for the first time in Sligo a private company, in this case the multi-national Twater company Veolia (see Veolia box in “Water Wars – Why?” article) placed between the citizen and a fresh clean water supply. So far, the vast majority of citizens receive their water through a publicly owned and managed system. While it appears that Veolia’s involvement in water supply in Sligo at present is confined to meter reading and billing, members of Community-Alliance Sligo are worried that this role will grow over time and will lead to the full privatisation of water in the future. There is also discontent in the small businesses sector in Sligo. The County Council recently increased the cost of water services to €5.68 per 1,000 gallons. Water charges in Sligo have increased by 162% between 2002 and 2006. Padraig O’Grady, regional director, IBEC North West, fears that the cost of these charges and the expense of the water metering process for businesses in Sligo are putting jobs at risk. He pointed out that many companies in Sligo are indigenous family owned businesses employing less than twenty people and as such are unable to absorb further cost increases. For further information, please see: http://www.sligococo.ie/Services/WaterServices/Downloads/TheFile,1750,en.pdf

Water protest in Limerick The residents of Pallaskenry and Kildimo, West Limerick, are protesting against the planned replacement of the community water source, which started in June 2006. The Limerick County Council wants to replace the present water supply, which is currently sourced from a local lake named Bleach Lough, with the water from the River Deel, which locals say is badly polluted. The long running dispute over the Pallaskenry and Kildimo water supply is due to move to Brussels at the end of February. The Petitions Committee of the European Parliament has invited representatives from the group that wants to retain the supply from Bleach Lough, to make their case before the Committee. This comes after written submissions were accepted last summer. *Protest in Limerick Indymedia©* For more information please see: http://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.net/papers/categories.php?op=newindex&catid=16

Water is a moving, wandering thing, and must of necessity continue to be common by the law of nature. William Blackstone

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1 The surface of our plane is 70% water. WATER FACTS • Total water: 1,386 million km3. • Salt water: 1,351 million km3, 97.5%. ************ • Fresh water: 35 million km3, 2.5% Every 8 seconds a (30.5% available, 69.5% unavailable). child dies from Salt water: 97.5% “contaminated water Fresh water: 2.5% ~ 40% The increase in global water use ~ It is estimated that only 55% of the expected by 2020 (United Nations water that is available is used; 45% is Environment Programme, GEO- wasted through evaporation during ”Global Environment Outlook 3, Past, irrigation, leakages, and inefficient Present and Future Perspectives) distribution ~ The average amount of water used by ~ Twice as much water was used 60.000 Thai villagers per day: 6,500 worldwide in 2000 as in 1960 cubic meters. The average amount of ~ 60% of the worlds rivers have been Our bodies water used by one golf course in dammed are 70% Thailand per day: 6,500 cubic meters water. ~ The degree of consumption of this BOTTLED WATER scarce resource mirrors the gross ~ Average consumption of bottled water inequalities of today’s world: per person per year 2002 or latest • An Australian uses on average a available: 1,000 litres a day Asia: 7 litres • A USA citizen uses 300-400 litres East Europe: 20 litres • A European uses 100-200 litres • A Sub-Saharan African 10-20 litres West Europe: 101 litres ~ As the world’s population increased USA: 75 litres three-fold in the 20th century, water consumption increased seven-fold due ~ Sales of bottled water in the USA leapt to increased need for industry and by 11% in one year between 2000 and ∞ commercialised agriculture: 2001. ~ The World Bank estimates the global trade in water to be US$1,000 trillion USE OF WATER in 2001 ~ Without water we would die within • It takes 400,000 litres ~ Americans empty 2.5 million plastic three days to manufacture a car water bottles an hour. Each one takes ~ Every 8 seconds a child dies from m 500 years to decompose. contaminated water ~ 125 of all cases of food poisoning in ~ City dwellers in the Majority World Britain are caused by bottled water may pay up to 50 times as much for water as city dwellers in Europe and ACCESS TO WATER America ~ One billion.The number of people ~ 25 million people die each year from worldwide who do not have any water contaminated water. That’s equivalent within a 15 minute walk of their home to the entire population of Canada. c ~ 1.4 billion.The estimated number of • 42,500 litres to people worldwide who lack access to produce a kilo of beef clean drinking water. ~ A leaky faucet that 2.4 billion.The estimated number of loses a drop per ~ people who lack access to sanitation. second loses 16 Most are in Africa and Asia. bathtubs full a $30 billion.The projected cost per month, and 10,000 ~ year of bringing universal access to litres a year. water by 2015 to those living in • 52 million gallons to move a ship poverty through the Panama Canal

1 From Black, Maggie, The no-nonsense guide to water,New Internationalist Publications, 2004, UK. Roddick, Anita: TroubledF Water,Anita Roddick Books,AMANZI 2004,UK. Clarke, Robin and King, Jannet: The Water Atlas,The New Press, 2004, UK. L.A.W. 11 R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:11 AM Page 12

****Access to water per % of world population****

Europe Asia North and Central America 8% 13% 100-200 50-100 litres 36% 60% litres

15% 8% 300-400 litres Africa

11% 13% 10-20 South America litres Australia and Oceania % of world’s water 50-100 26% 6% % of world’s population litres 5% 1%

Average water consumption per day 1,000 litres

Competing water uses:

Industrial Use Agricultural Use 22% 70%

Domestic Use 8%

» As the world’s population grows from 6 to 8 billion over the next 20 years, the average amount of water available to each person will decline by one third

SALES OF GROUPS AND WATER DIVISIONS, 2001

Water division Water sales (euros m) Worldwide costumers (millions) Ondeo 10,088 115 Veólia (formerly Vivendi) 13,640 110 Thames 2,746 37 SAUR 2,494 36 Anglian 936 5 Cascal 181 6.7 IWL 100 10 Suez 42359 115 H2O, Guardian special supplement, August 2003 Suez number from: http://www.psiru.org/reports/2002-08-W-MNCs.doc

You could not step twice into the same rivers; for other waters are ever flowing on to you. Heraclitus of Ephesus

L.A.W. 12 R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:11 AM Page 13

WATER: A GLOBAL CHALLENGE - A VIEW BY PROGRESSIO IRELAND

By Peadar Kirby. *******

This growing shortage of water has occurred not so much *© 2004 Copyright Water For People.* One of the great paradoxes of our age This may bring badly needed investment because of is that, in a world of such technical into these systems but almost always “ advances and superabundance, more does so at the cost to the poor who any absolute and more of humanity is facing the cannot afford to pay the higher prices most basic shortage of all – water. these companies charge. Furthermore, This growing shortage of water has treating water as a marketable shortage occurred not so much because of any commodity offends many people’s deeply absolute shortage but more because of held values as water is widely seen as a but more the ways in which people in the richer common resource for all. parts of the world consume it. Added A second approach, often in opposition to because of to this is a major problem of the privatisation, treats water as a human pollution of water supplies: in right. While this is an advance, it faces a developing countries 90 per cent of major problem. This is that it avoids the the ways in used domestic water and 70 per cent of challenge of ensuring that it is available to industrial waste water are recycled back people – simply defining it as a right may which into the water supply without in fact lead people to use the courts as a treatment. way of trying to force governments to This shortage is a reflection of the supply them with water. This route is people in scandalous inequalities that costly and not at all assured of success. characterise today’s world. This is Unfortunately, these approaches have the richer illustrated in the figures for who uses tended to distract attention from the most water: an Australian uses on sustained investment that is required parts of the average 1,000 litres a day, a North throughout the world to develop efficient American uses 300-400 litres, a systems of water distribution, European 100-200 litres and a Sub- eliminating wastage and avoiding world Saharan African 10-20 litres. pollution. But it would also require a What, then, are the solutions? Two change in consumption patterns, consume it dominant approaches characterise particularly in the most developed parts of today’s agenda. The first is privatisation the world where most water is used. as countries sell their water distribution Addressing these challenges is going to systems to private companies. ATLloom ever larger on the global agenda. The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears, or the sea ” L.A.W. 13 R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:11 AM Page 14

*Water*Water protestprotest inin Bolivia.Bolivia. Photo Photo byby MarcoMarco Llanos*Llanos*

VOICES FROM BOLIVIA Water Privatization in Bolivia and the Struggle of the People. By Marco Llanos

In Bolivia, important milestones have been This analysis was carried****** out jointly with The government prolonged the negotiations and reached in the struggle for the right to some of the members of the Federation of launched a media campaign against local leaders. We water. The first was reached in the city of Neighbourhood Associations (FEJUVE recorded and filmed the government’s proposals. Cochabamba in the year 2000. The second 2004-2006) and local leaders and residents The analysis was finalized and it concluded that the struggle began to be organised in mid-2004 of the 4th District. The company was made contract contained a number of irregularities as well in the city of El Alto. up mostly of the Suez trans-national. as clauses which were not fulfilled. In March, people I am involved in the ‘Development of Local One of the problems was to obtain the of El Alto mobilised in order to expel Aguas del Power’, a project of the UNITAS (Bolivian ‘Concession Contract’. Not even the Agency Illimani. Health Workers Trade Unions’ Association) for the Supervision of Basic Sanitation, A photographer, Juan Carlos Candia, joined our network. My work consists of supporting which is the fiscal arm of the State, was group. Juan Carlos, Alfredo Cahuaya, Carlos Revilla the development of popular organisations willing to give us this information. and myself, closely followed the mobilisations. In by helping them access information so that Protests were organised and FEJUVE issued this context we decided to publish Protesta Alteña they can demand their rights. an ultimatum to the government (El Alto Protest), a bulletin that was distributed at In September 2004, the tariffs and services demanding the revision of the contract with the protests and which contained the demands o the of the private Company Aguas del Illimani Aguas del Illimani. The deadline was people and data on the irregularities of Aguas del which supplied El Alto were analysed. December 20th 2004. Illimani.

The voice of a Cochabamba Water Warrior *Bolivian Water Warriors Photo Muireann de Barra* By Banderas feel proud to be a water warrior; because of the lives dedicated to the struggle to defend The water war is the most important our water, and because of the injustices experience that might have happened to our carried out by the government and by the community. We fought against a corrupt transnational Bechtel. government, against a transnational My mouth and eyebrows started bleeding and corporation and above all, against imperialism. I said to them ‘You might take away my life We defended what is ours: the water company and my freedom but you will never – ever - SEMAPA1,which is of the people and for the take away the soul of my revolutionary heart!’ people and it is under the control of the They stopped hitting me and they cleaned my workers. face. During the conflicts of February and April The water war has been an historical moment 2000, we clashed with the police and the for the world at large because for the first time military in order to defend our water. There ever in Cochabamba, in Bolivia and in the They would have wanted were two dead and hundreds wounded. whole world has a transnational corporation only one thing: for me to beg An anecdote: when the policemen grabbed me, been thrown out of a community. they started hitting me. As they saw that I was The blood keeps running but the people keep ‘don’t hit me anymore! laughing heartily, they hit me harder. living and most importantly, they keep They would have wanted only one thing: for fighting. Only people can save the people. The the next world war will not struggle has just started though, because the “ me to beg ‘don’t hit me anymore!‘. Or for me be over oil or gold, but” over to ask them for forgiveness. I did not do it next world war will not be over oil or gold, though, because of my dignity and because I but over water. water *Women Water in the Bolivian protesters as powerful War* *Photo Muireann de Barra* 2 “ Water and solidarity: By Muireann de Barra ” reflections on a community’s struggle for water. My first visit to Barrio Curiously, this Barrio is overlooked During my frequent visits to Solidaridad was made in Spring by a private water treatment plant- Barrio Solidaridad,over a 2005. From Bolivia’s capital, La source of the 2005 water war- which two-year period, I witnessed Paz, the highway climbs the steep pitted mobilised citizens against the families consume water hillsides to the congested hub of multinational water company, Aguas from shallow trenches of El Alto. This indigenous city is del Illimani and its majority stake- turgid water and untreated perched at 4,500m and is home holder Suez.The eventual ouster of water leaking from the In Spring 2006, I observed the empowering results of a to 800,000 people living on US$1 Suez was celebrated in January 2007 plant– all within view of private donation from Canadian water activist, Maude per day. Rougher, unpaved roads with the promise of a reversal to Aguas del Illimani ‘s security Barlowe to Barrio Solidaridad- a gesture which Aguas lead to a small community of public control by Evo Morales’ and management personnel. del Illimani attempted to claim responsibility for in the some 30 families, who since their Water Ministry.Prior to the popular I also witnessed the silent local press. With this financial support, the entire collective occupation of the land protests, residents were charged funeral procession of a community pitched in to lay water pipes beneath their in 2000, have developed El Alto’s US$450 for a water connection- the family burying their child, simple adobe homes. It’s now Spring 2007 and families youngest community- Barrio equivalent of nine months salary of whose death was caused by in Barrio Solidaridad wait to hear water racing through Solidaridad or Solidarity Quarter. the average household. contaminated water. the earth’s new veins and quench their long thirst.

1 Municipal Water Company, Cochabamba, Bolivia 2 Muireann de Barra is co-creator of Wa“ter Rising,a documentary film work in progress about Bolivia’s water struggles. A short pilot by Muireann de Barra and Aisling Crudden (2005) will be screened during LAW. L.A.W. 14 ” R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:11 AM Page 15

THE WATER JUSTICE MOVEMENT NORTH AND SOUTH, ‘IT’S OUR WATER DAMMIT!’

1 By Holly Wren Spaulding ,Sweetwater Alliance, USA ******

corporations and capitalisms’ to truly address exploitation of the earth is brought into bright focus. Following Nestlé’s diversion the challenges of local groundwater for its booming bottled water business, my own politics of water in this became that much more personal. The battles are local, stakes are high, and century, it must every day there seems to be a new front. Without a doubt, I’ve taken courage from the water warriors of Latin America in *Photo courtesy of www.waterissweet.org* remain a their varied, but related struggles. We all know the story of Cochabamba, Bolivia, the private sector to fix failed policy, aged commons; the and the fearless resistance they gave infrastructure, and the vexing social Bechtel when suddenly water rates rose problems that come with both. Much rights of by 200% following privatization of the work remains to be done before we can water system in early 2000. Declaring “it’s safely say that citizens of the north and people, the land our water dammit!” those women, men south understand what is at stake when and small children who took to the neoliberalism refashions our relationship and all other streets for water captivated so many of to the water which sustains us. For this us, showing us how it must be done: with reason, some of the best water work is “ guts. Every water struggle since that not about protest or movement building, species, shall prophetic victory in 2001 has been in as much as the continued, appropriate some way, an homage to those tide- use of the resource for community not be usurped turning defenders of water. building and self-help. This principle is exemplified by people who persist in Now there are grassroots groups practicing traditional methods of water by market throughout Latin America, united by the management, whether by harvesting Red-Vida Network. In the U.S. and rainwater in arid regions of Honduras, or ideologues and Canada, The Water Allies are the sister maintaining the communal irrigation network. We all believe that to truly ditches—acequias -in northern New profiteers address the challenges of water in this Mexico, thus supporting subsistence century, it must remain a commons; the farming appropriate to the landscape. rights of people, the land and all other The acuteness of our growing demand species, shall not be usurped by market Being a young movement, it has been for safe, affordable drinking water brings ideologues and profiteers. critical to share capacity, ideas, strategies people’s needs face to face with corporate To make our position clear, we have and victories. In the global north we are greed. As our population grows, and as organized alternative conferences to learning from our compañeros to the existing water supplies are diverted, counter the corporate agenda of the south that we must be bold, tireless, and contaminated or privatized, ordinary World Water Forum, which in 2006 was undeterred by the power structures that people throughout the world are getting hosted in Mexico City. In these settings, aim to take control of the water that organized. As such, a movement for water large demonstrations and very often, civil rightfully belongs to all of us. justice is a relatively recent phenomenon. disobedience are tactics we use to make Bit by bit the movement swells and like This is true where I live—in the Great our voices heard as much to each other, the hydrological cycle, everything is Lakes along the border of Canada and the as to the powerbrokers. connected. Fighting the enclosure of our U”.S. — and in the global south where my The water industry is a multi-billion water commons must be a priority. For counterparts fight to retain water as a dollar business, and we are up against an those of us in the North, and in the ‘Belly commons in their own home places. incredible PR machine, political of the Beast’ as I am, a powerful form of In the water struggle, everything we’d connections, and the predisposition of solidarity is to defend the right to water learned about the ruthlessness of many national governments to defer to where we are, in the places we call home.

1 Holly Wren Spaulding is a writer, teacher and community activist based in Northern Michigan. She co-founded Sweetwater Alliance (www.waterissweet.org)a grassroots citizen movement dedicated to the defence and liberation of essential resources and services from corporate control. Organized around the principle that the commons must be protected for the benefit of all, members have been especially active in efforts to prevent Nestle Corporation from mining groundwater in Michigan.

We never know the worth of water till the well is dry. FrSHOUEIance

L.A.W. 15 R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:11 AM Page 16

THE LATIN AMERICAN WATER TRIBUNAL PUTS “WATER POLLUTERS ON TRIAL”

The Latin American Water Tribunal (LAWT) A panel of eight legal and water experts from Brazil, is an international and autonomous body, set Cuba, France, Guatemala and Mexico is putting water up to evaluate cases of environmental polluting governments and private companies from 10 damages to water resources. The water Latin American countries on trial. Crimes they are tribunal was first established in the Central accused of are: polluting rivers and lakes, building American region in 1998 and expanded to harmful dams, providing overpriced and bad water cover whole Latin America in 20041. management systems, etc. Their verdicts might have Supported by European non-governmental moral force only, but are intended to raise awareness of the unjust water management by governments and organisations (NGOs), it was created to transnational companies. confront the “crisis of legality and the diminished effectiveness of laws on issues The idea of a water tribunal is not a recent one. The first related to water resources,” according to water tribunal goes back to the 1980s, when a hearing *Photo courtesy of http://agua.ecoportal.net* Javier Bogantes, director of the non- was held in the Dutch city of Rotterdam to adjudge the Sources: governmental Latin American Water damage caused by pollution in the Rhine river basin. http://www.tragua.com/ Tribunal, based in Costa Rica. Since 1998, the Water Tribunal has investigated 30 http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=32515 The initiative aims to facilitate the creation of cases and it is currently working on 13 water “lawsuits” control mechanisms to defend the continent’s in Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, water resources. It is an ethical tribunal and its Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Peru. resolutions are not legally binding, but they act The Latin American Water Tribunal stands for as guidelines for the resolution of water- vigilance, coordination and agreement for the related conflicts in the region. protection of the water resources in Latin America. 1 http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=32515

Their verdicts might have moral force only, but are intended to raise awareness of the unjust water management by governments and transnational companies ““SUSTAINABLE ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING WATER” ” A MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOAL. *Photo courtesy of www.swissinfo.org* In September 2000, all 191 United Nations millennium targets lose any credibility when we member countries agreed a set of goals: to bring think of the little progress made. According to sustainable development and the elimination of Dóchas3 “at current rates of progress, 1 billion poverty to the top of the international people will still have no access to clean water and community’s agenda. The 8 Millennium […] 83 countries will miss the goal altogether”4 Development Goals (MDGs) are based on by 2015. To get this figure back on track and agreements and resolutions reached in world achieve the MDG on drinking water it is necessary conferences organised by the United Nations in to have a one third increase in efforts5. the 1990s and they are commonly accepted as a In most world regions the international target to framework for measuring “development” progress. provide ‘sustainable access to safe drinking water’ is The goals set benchmarks for measuring results, far off track. “A child dies every 15 seconds from for both developing countries and rich countries. water-related diseases. These diseases are very easily See the Millennium Report under: Goal 7 focuses on ensuring environmental prevented. If this was going on in a small town in http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/ sustainability and sets as target for the world the UK or anywhere else in the developed world the Ireland’s first MDG report: community “to reduce by half the proportion of international community would be horrified and http://www.dochas.ie/resources01_irecon.ht m people without sustainable access to safe drinking they’d be doing something about it” says Stephen water”.According to UNICEF and WHO1 Joint Turner, Water Aid’s Director of Public Policy and European Commission’s first MDGs report - November Monitoring Programme report, The Millennium Education6.Was the agreement just lip service? 2004 http://www.dochas.ie/documents/EC_on_MDGs.pdf 2 Development Goals’ water and sanitation target 1.1 The Irish government declared ‘environment’ as billion people live without access to clean water one of four cross-cutting issues which are and a further 2.6 billion live without adequate mainstreamed throughout Ireland’s development at current rates of progress, 1 billion sanitation. programme. It is up to us to monitor the effort people will still have no access to clean The world’s leaders solemnly declared they would Ireland and the world community puts into take action to change these catastrophic living providing clean water and sanitation in developing water and […] 83 countries will miss conditions. But their commitments to the countries. “the goal altogether by 2015 1 World Health Organisation 2 http://www.wssinfo.org/en/welcome.html 3 Irish Association of Non Governmental Development Organisation 4 http://www.dochas.ie/resources01_graph.htm 5 http://www.wateraid.org/international/about_us/newsroom/4914.asp 6 http://www.wateraid.org/international/about_us/newsroom/4914.asp ” L.A.W. 16 R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:11 AM Page 17

LACK OF ACCESS TO WATER IN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES: IRELAND AND MEXICO SELLING THE WATER COMMONS FROM RIGHT UNDER OUR NOSES – A MEXICAN REALITY By Ramor Ryan

10 years ago the barrio where I live was a Currently, the local municipal ************ swamp on the outskirts of San Cristobal government controls the water supply. de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, populated “And the local water authorities are by a herd of scrawny cows. Migrants and running down the service in the barrios refugees from the countryside arrived en in order to open the way for masse – like any rapidly urbanizing centre privatisation,” explains Cacho. in the Developing World - and now it’s a “Meanwhile they are selling off teeming barrio of cement, home to concessions to private interests to exploit thousands of mostly indigenous families. the water” Prosperity has come to some: a few cars in In the ultimate irony, Coca Cola ‘won’ a the street, some fancy houses, and progress concession to build a factory on top of to all in the form of electricity, TV cable San Cristobal’s aquifer. Exploiting the and internet. But nevertheless, despite this water resources at a monthly rate of 3.5 small prosperity there is one vital element million litres, Coca Cola pays the consistently lacking in the peoples’ lives: municipality a measly $500 annually. water. Sometimes it comes for an hour a (Incidentally, the director of the National day; sometimes it doesn’t come all week. Water Commission, Señor Jactes, was ex- *Photo Water for People* Why is there no water? The tropical state director of Coca Cola.) of Chiapas is known as Mexico’s water And its becomes clear from the abundant bank, with the greatest mean average litter strewn around this poor barrio – The campaign against privatisation in rainfall annually. Its huge dammed rivers predominantly plastic soda and water Chiapas is gaining ground, led by the export hydroelectric power to other states. bottles – that the water is directly being example of the Zapatista and other “The water crisis is a result of the way it is taken from the aquifer, bottled, and sold indigenous communities to hold the consumed,” explains local water activist to the people at a profit for Coca Cola. water resources as part of the Cacho, part of the strong barrio anti- At base, the struggle over the water is a community patrimony. “In the most privatisation movement. “The problem is clash of two visions: those who see it as democratic way the people have said the excessive consumption of water and an economic good to be sold on the the water is public property”,says the unequal access among the different market to the highest bidder, and those writer Eduardo Galeano. “And this is a sectors of the population. There is no who view it as part of the common good, way of saying to the owners of the water rationing or shortage for the to be distributed equally amongst the world, the gentlemen of the market- we business and tourist centre of town.” people who use it. are not for sale!” WATER AND TRAVELLERS The problem is the - AN IRISH REALITYBy Martha Fabregat unequal access among the different Travellers have always been part of basic facilities like water and some Irish Society, but the reality is that communities in the south, the so called sectors of the the majority of Travellers have not “third world countries”.The UN has population. There is benefited from the economic growth proclaimed the years 2005 to 2015 as that Irish society has experienced in the decade of water for life and yet, no water rationing the past 20 years. Many Travellers are according to the last survey in 2006, still at the end of the line, queuing to there are 101 Traveller families without “or shortage for the get a tap of clean water! Travellers access to water in Ireland. This is a business and tourist and Traveller organizations have clear violation of Travellers’ human been pointing out the similarities rights, and one of the best-hidden centre of town between Travellers living without issues Irish society and politics.

“If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water”. LORAN EISELY, The Immense Journey, 1957 ”L.A.W. 17 R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:11 AM Page 18

GENDER AND WATER By Maeve Taylor, Banulacht *****

“ORE than half of the 1.2 sometimes have to choose between that directly affect women and girls, billion people who do not eating and being able to rely on having are the equal right to education and Mhave access to water are water for daily chores. to political participation. Time women and girls. Research by The Convention on the Elimination of invested on securing water excludes UNIFEM1 highlights that in most All Forms of Discrimination Against them from participating in decision- countries of the South women are Women (1979) established that rural making processes, education, income responsible for water management at women’s health depends on adequate generation, politics, leisure and the domestic and community level; and non-discriminatory access to recreation, advocating against women and girls use more than 8 water. Other rights not usually poverty and improving their quality hours a day travelling from 10 to 15 associated with the right to water, but of life. ” km. to transport between 20 and 15 litres of water in each trip. Men’s role Participation of women in the Water War, Cochabamba, Bolivia tends to be related more with agricultural work, selling water for “The participation at the “water wars” helped us to believe in ourselves”.We are not domestic consumption and with the fighting for something that makes no sense; we are fighting for the truth; we are storage of water. This gender inequality fighting for access to water for all, and one day, this will be recognised…” has implications in women’s daily life: “Even though we (women) participated at the water struggles in Cochabamba we carrying water not only has impacts on were not considered to be part of the commission representing the Coordinadora women’s physical health, but is a huge de Defensa del Agua y la Vida (the Coordinating Organisation for the Defence of burden in terms of women’s time. Water and Life)… only men were involved in its organisation. When water is scarce, polluted, or “Now I don’t want to continue to stay at home; I want to participate, because I have unaffordable, women suffer most the same rights… because of this it is important to get organised, to train and to acutely.As economic providers, gain strength to participate and learn more. caregivers, and household managers, “Our people of Bolivia have learned the importance of gender equality as a result of women are responsible for ensuring the right of access to water” that their families have water for daily Testimonies from the Workshop in 2001 y Fundación Solón and Water Centre at the living. Where privatisation means that University of Mayor de San Simón (Bolivia) water is subject to user fees, women

1 United Nations Development Fund for Women

“All the water that will ever be is, right now”, National Geographic, October 1993

L.A.W. 18 R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:11 AM Page 19

FACTS ABOUT WATER AND YOUTH ******************

*Source: http://www.unicef.org/wes/files/TACROCWWFFactsheet.doc* *Girl getting water in Nicaragua*

More than 2.6 billion people – forty per cent of the world’s population – lack basic sanitation facilities, and over one 1st International Meeting Water and Youth billion people still use unsafe drinking water sources. In When we talk about defending the right to water, we can’t Latin America 60 million people still lack access to safe forget the new initiatives that young people around the world water and 134 million lack access to basic sanitation are bringing together. This is the case of the First International services. Children constitute almost half of those excluded, Meeting for Water and Youth that takes place in Buenos Aires living in a reality which contributes to a deterioration of the 12th and 14th of April, where hundreds of young people their health status, thus impinging on their rights to survival around the world meet to launch projects linked to water, and development. whether they be to guarantee the right to access to safe water, What does that means for youth and children? promote integrated management of basins, affect public policy, to promote a new water culture, etc. 1.The toll on children is especially high. About 4,500 children die each day worldwide from unsafe water and lack After the meeting, the participants have the great challenge of of basic sanitation facilities. Countless others suffer from bringing to their communities lessons, tools, ideas, inspirations poor health, diminished productivity and missed and commitment to work together for the right to water. opportunities for education. For further information, please visit http://waterandyouth.org/ 2.The young and the old are particularly vulnerable. Over 90 per cent of deaths from diarrhoeal diseases due to unsafe water and sanitation in the developing world occur in children below 5 years old. Young Links: from Ballyfermot to Brazil 3.The poor are especially hard hit. A child born in Europe By Sally Flynn. or the United States is 520 times less likely to die from In July 2006 four groups of young people from different parts diarrhoeal disease than an infant in sub-Saharan Africa, of the world travelled to Iguape in Brazil to participate in a where only 36 per cent of the population can access hygienic Youth Exchange programme funded through Leargas1. On this sanitation. trip, lifelong friends were made and the kindness and 4.Women and girls are the “water haulers” of the world. hospitality experienced was like nothing we experienced On average, women and girls in developing countries walk 6 before. During the exchange we visited a community facing kilometres a day, carrying 20 litres of water, greatly reducing issues in terms of water and a large company wanting to build the time they have for other productive work or for girls to a dam in place of the community which would cause attend school. thousands of people to leave their homes. This particular community was opposing this development in fear that people 5.Waterborne illnesses & lack of access to clean water keep could actually die during the process of the Dam being built. children out of school. Children suffering from trichuriasis We are looking forward to our friends from Brazil visiting (a water-borne disease) were in classes only half as much as Ireland in August 2007 to inform us of developments in terms their uninfected peers. And when schools lack toilets, girls of this issue. will often not attend. Lot’s of children and youth can’t attend school, because they have to collect water for their 1 Ireland’s National Agency for the management of transnational family. programmes in the areas of Youth Work, Primary and Secondary Source: http://www.unicef.org/ WAI Education, Vocational Education and Training, and LifeLong Learning. “If you gave me several million years, there would be nothing that did not grow in beauty if it were surrounded by water”, JAN ERIK VOLD, What All The World Knows, 1970 L.A.W. 19 R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:11 AM Page 20

the World WATER AND DEBT Bank and the WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE International AND NOT A DROP TO DRINK! ****** Monetary Anne Reilly of Debt and Development The country of Bolivia is a painful Fund (IMF) Coalition Ireland examines how the illustration of this problem. Over recent World Bank and the Debt Crisis has years, Bolivian communities have undergone have made contributed to turning off the public an accelerated process of privatisation loans and debt water supply in Bolivia. relating to many public services such as gas, At least 1.1 billion people do not have electricity, telecommunications and water. cancellation access to a supply of clean water and Resistance from the people of Bolivia to the 2.3 billion do not have access to impact of water privatisation in their lives conditional to adequate sanitation. has been very strong. The so-called ‘Water Five thousand people die every day Wars’ of Cochabamba in the year 2000 “the because they lack clean water or ended a 30 year private water contract adequate sanitation – WHY? between the Bolivian government and the privatisation of huge US engineering Bechtel Corporation. In many countries around the world, water and the World Bank and the International More recently, the people of the city of El Monetary Fund (IMF) have made Alto in Bolivia have risen up against the other basic loans and debt cancellation privatisation$ of their water system, which conditional to the privatisation of the World Bank made a condition of a loan services water and other basic services. to their government.

Resistance in 100% DEBT CANCELLATION AT WHAT COST? - WATER PRIVATISATION El Alto In 1997, a private***** company, Aguas del Illimani – belonging to a consortium led by the French giant Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux de France – was granted a 30 year contract to supply water to the city of El Alto by the Bolivian ” government, as a result of a World Bank loan condition. Citizens of El Alto saw the price of water increase by 35%, while connection costs for water and sewage rose to more than US$445. This is more than six months salary for people on the national minimum wage. The result of the privatisation deal was that tens of thousands of families were excluded from receiving water. The people of El Alto fought back, demanding the termination of the water contract. The government of the time promised to take action but back- There are other dangerous implications The recent election of the new tracked once the water company of World Bank and IMF control as indigenous Bolivian president, Evo threatened to bring a multi-million well. For example, in an effort to avoid Morales is giving some cause for hope. dollar law suit against the Bolivian World Bank and IMF conditions, Morales has promised to create a more government. successive Bolivian governments have independent Bolivia. Time will tell if chosen to take loans from other, more his work results in building an So who is really in charge in Bolivia? expensive, domestic lenders instead. economy that truly serves the needs of What happened at El Alto shows the This has resulted in an increased level the people of Bolivia. massive influence of the World Bank of domestic debts which the people of on the lives of Bolivians. Bolivia are now being forced to repay. www.debtireland.org

“Water has no taste, no color, no odor; it cannot be defined, art relished while ever mysterious. Not necessary to life, but rather life itself. It fills us with a gratification that exceeds the delight of the senses”, ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPERY (1900-1944), Wind, Sand, and Stars, 1939 L.A.W. 20 R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:11 AM Page 21

WATER AND CULTURE IN LATIN AMERICA

By Rachel Dempsey

Culture is at the heart of the********** battle for the peaks of their mountain home as an water in Latin America. As ‘culture’ indicator of the serious sickness that frames the way we make sense of the threatens Mother Earth, caused by the world around us, it is central to the way Western man or younger brothers’ *Photo by Eve Tulbert* we conceive and make use of, vital failure to appreciate and respect this From “La Asamblea de Los Dioses de Agua” elements such as water. Thus the fight subtle balance. (The Meeting of the Water Gods), a community- based performance piece by Teatro Trono in the against water privatization in Latin The centrality and sacredness of water is El Alto barrio of La Paz, Bolivia. America has also been a reassertion and reflected in rituals, stories, rites and http://www.communityarts.net/readingroom/arch expression of centuries old cultural artistic expression from all over the ivefiles/2004/05/just_a_little_d.php values around water. region. In Inka mythology for example, Latin American culture is hugely Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, children influenced by indigenous American and of the Sun, emerged from the deep, African worldviews. Both of these, unlike shimmering waters of Lake Titicaca to the serious sickness that scientific thought, do not necessarily found their empire. threatens Mother Earth, separate the rational from the spiritual. The Bolivian community theatre ‘Teatro People, plants and animals and elements Trono’ tackles the question “water for caused by the Western man such as water are interconnected by webs profit” or “water as spirit of life” or younger brothers’ failure of relations and obligations that are both through a dramatic mythology of water, “ to appreciate and respect this ecological and social. a community-based performance piece These values have fuelled and inspired called “La Asamblea de Los Dioses de subtle balance the movement against water privatization Agua” (The Meeting of the Water Gods). in Latin America. In January 2000, the To a large extent, the future of water popular protests in Cochabamba, Bolivia depends on whose world view, or were not only directed against the act of culture, predominates. While science water privatization, but against its logic. To a large extent, the” and technology can help harness and To sell water is seen as not only illogical; distribute water to many, it is the future of water depends it is also something that will upset the holistic approach which will ensure harmony and balance vital for life itself. sustainability and prevent water scarcity on whose world view, or The Kogi in Northern Colombia, for from lining the pockets of a wealthy culture, predominates example, use the lack of frozen water at minority. “

Ownership of water has been contentious for time immemorial. The idea that water should be freely available to all, it, is encapsulated in this myth of the Juruna indigenous group.” The origin of the Amazon But they were tempted by this story The two other brothers kept on running, all and a while later they went back. the water now spilling from the barrels. The Juruna Indians lived close to the When Juriti was not looking, they That is how the Amazon river started. In forest where there was no river. A bird broke the barrels so that the water that big new river they found the fish and called Juriti owned the drinking water, flowed out. When Juriti realised what their brother, Rubiatá, already dead. But, which she kept in three barrels. One day, had happened, she got very mad. The when they cut out his legs and blew air into the children of chief Cinaã were thirsty. children were afraid and jumped back, them, Rubiatá became human again. The They went to Juriti and asked her for but for one of the brothers, Rubiatá, it children went back home after their water. was too late. A big fish flowing out of adventure, and triumphantly told their But Juriti wouldn’t give them any. ‘Go one of the barrels swallowed him. father: ‘We broke the barrels and from now back to your father’, she said, ‘after all, he Although it was a big fish, Rubiatá’s on we will have water and we will drink for is the Pagé, the big chief. Why doesn’t he legs stuck out of its mouth. the rest of our lives.’ get water for his own children?’ Meanwhile the other brothers started http://www.wateryear2003.org/en/ev.php- The children went home crying from to run away carrying the open barrels. URL_ID=6419&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&U thirst and told their father what had The water that spilled from the barrels RL_SECTION=201.html happened. ‘Don’t ever go to Juriti again,’ turned into rivers and water falls. The Extracted from Water Stories,© IRC said the chief to his children, ‘Her water big fish with two legs still sticking out International Water and Sanitation Centre, barrels areEAU full of fish. It’s too dangerous.’ of its mouth formed the Xingú river. 2003

“The crisis of our diminishing water resources is just as severe (if less obviously immediate) as any wartime crisis we have ever faced. Our survival is just as much at stake as it was at the time of Pearl Harbor, or the Argonne, or Gettysburg, or Saratoga”, JIM WRIGHT, U.S. Representative, The Coming Water Famine, 1966 L.A.W. 21 R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:11 AM Page 22

WATER, NEOLIBERALISM AND THE ENVIRONMENT The struggles of the 21st century show that water “is essential for life, crucial for In much of the world polluted water, improper relieving poverty, hunger and disease and *********** waste disposal, and poor water management cause critical for economic development” (UN serious public health problems.Such water-related Department of Technical Cooperation for diseases as malaria, cholera, typhoid, and Development). It is one of the most vital schistosomiasis harm or kill millions of people every issues facing future human use of the year. Overuse and pollution of water supplies also are environment. Climate change, taking a heavy toll on the natural environment and deforestation, protection of biodiversity pose increasing risks for many species of life. *©[email protected]* and desertification, are all connected to Years of rapid population growth and increasing water resource management. water consumption for agriculture, industry, and Water is the key to sustainable municipalities have strained the world’s freshwater In much of the development. Caught between growing resources. In some areas the demand for water demands for freshwater on one hand and already exceeds nature’s supply, and a growing world polluted limited and increasingly polluted water number of countries are expected to face water water, improper supplies on the other, many developing shortages in the near future. We can avoid the countries face difficult choices. coming crisis if appropriate policies and strategies “ waste disposal, Populations continue to grow rapidly. Yet are formulated and acted on soon. Whether water is there is no more water on earth now than used for agriculture, industry, or municipalities, and poor water there was 2000 years ago, when the there is much room for conservation and better population was less than 3% of its management. Effective strategies must consider not management current size. Rising demands for water only managing the water supply better but also for irrigated agriculture, domestic managing demand better. cause serious consumption, and industry are forcing Source: ‘Neoliberalism and the environment in Latin public health hard competition over the allocation of America’ (Diana M. Liverman and Silvina Vilas) and scarce water resources among both areas ‘The Human Right to Water: Necessity for Action and problems and types of use. Discourse’ (Dr. D Roy Laifungbam) USE AND ABUSE OF ” WATER FOR GOLD MINING

IN CAJAMARCA By Nilton Deza1,President of ECOVIDA Not only fish and amphibians have 1) that the “activities of the World Bank The acidity, thus formed, extracts toxic disappeared from the Cajarmarcan negatively affect local communities, metals and incorporates them into the rivers, in the Peruvian Andes, because the poor, the atmosphere and rivers, killing all life and rendering of toxic waste from the Yanacocha individual rights” and them useless to the country people. *Choropampa residents rally to Mine. Also agriculture and livestock, 2) that “the international agreements Even the price of drinking water has demand compensation and clean-up activities of this poor area of the related to the rights of indigenous increased for this reason. following a mercury spill.* country, are being depleted. Even the peoples must be recognised and For more information see: Credit: Guarango Cine y Video water for human consumption is respected.” http://www.mineralresourcesforum.org Curtesy of http://www.nodirtygold.org threatened. Despite this, channels for irrigation, /incidents/Cajamarca Ecovida Globalisation and the emergence of lakes and streams have disappeared in (www.ecovida.org) works on new economies have increased the the area surrounding Yanacocha,a mine sustainable development of channels for irrigation, price of metals to unprecedented levels. owned by Newmount (American), communities which are close to mines, lakes and streams have In addition, the transnationals cast Buenaventura (Peruvian) and the World environmental monitoring, environmental education and produces “disappeared in the area their eyes to Latin American economies Bank. Without water, indigenous searching for cheap resources. One communities are dead communities. For news bulletins and flora and fauna surrounding Yanacocha ounce of extracted gold costs US$100 them, water is health, food, drink. It is inventories. in Cajamarca, while its world price is life. 1 US$665, at 2007 prices. The gases that are emitted when Nilton Deza was a keynote speaker in Latin American Week 2004 when he spoke about the health effects of mining activities in Cajamarca, Peru and the struggle to hold mining” The latest evaluation of the extracting removing gold form sulphuric acid, multinationals for damage to environment and health. He is an academic, director of Ecovida industries of the World Bank Group, which causes damage to the environment and community activist representing the community of Choropampa, affected by mercury revealed: which survives for millennia. poisoning in Cajamarca, Peru in 2000.

“High quality water is more than the dream of the conservationists, more than a political slogan; high quality water, in the right quantity at the right place at the right time, is essential to health, recreation, and economic growth”, EDMUND S. MUSKIE, U.S. Senator, speech, 1 March 1966 L.A.W. 22 TUNA R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:11 AM Page 23

FURTHER READING************** 1. Books available from LASC’s library and Bookshop AA. VV., Reclaiming Public Water, CEO Barlow M., Clarke T., Blue gold,The New Press Black Maggie, The No-Nonsense Guide to Water,New Internationalist- Verso Olivera Oscar, Cochabamba! The Water War in Bolivia,South End Press Vandana Shiva, Water Wars,South End Press AA.VV., Testing the Water, CIIR Progressio Robin Clarke, The Water Atlas,The New Press Black, Maggie, The no-nonsense guide to water,New Internationalist Publications, 2004, UK. Roddick, Anita: Troubled Water,Anita Roddick Books, 2004,UK. Clarke, Robin and King, Jannet: The Water Atlas,The New Press, 2004, UK.

2. Websites: http://www.worldwatercouncil.org/ http://www.waternotforsale.org/ http://www.waterjustice.org http://www.tni-archives.org/detail_page.phtml?page=altreg-docs_water http://www.worldwatercontract.org/public/journal/index.php?newLang=en http://www.choike.org/nuevo_eng/informes/1035.html#Water%20corporations http://www.wdm.org.uk/campaigns/water/ http://www.tapwaterawards.org/ http://www.wateraid.org/uk/default.asp http://www.worldwaterwars.com/ http://www.citizen.org/cmep/Water/cmep_Water/wbimf/articles.cfm?ID=7807 http://www.cedha.org.ar/en/initiatives/right_to_water/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2882349.stm http://www.comda.org.mx/ http://www.unizar.es/fnca/euwater/index2.php?x=2&idioma=en http://www.gwpforum.org http://americas.irc-online.org/am/2885 http://www.corporateeurope.org/madridseminar.html http://www.i-s-w.org/es/index.html http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/tncs/2003/0204water.htm http://www.nicanet.org/let_the_rivers_run.php http://www.stopsuez.org/page.aspx?navid=1653 http://www.waterandyouth.org/english/index.htm http://www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/student/2005/plan_action.asp http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/ http://www.undp.org/water/crosscutting/genderguide/index.html http://www.un.org/events/water/ http://www.gwpforum.org/servlet/PSP?iNodeID=2903 http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/ecology/water/index.asp http://www.wewontpaycampaign.com/ http://archives.tcm.ie/westernpeople/2004/09/01/story21289.asp http://www.tragua.com/ http://laredvida.org/modules/news/ http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/ www.stopcorporateabuse.org http://www.wdm.org.uk/ www.monitoringglobalisation.org www.isf.es http://www.ecofondo.org.co/ http://www.accionecologica.org/webae/index.php

L.A.W. 23 R9490 L.A.W. Magazine 30/4/07 8:11 AM Page 24

The Latin America Solidarity Centre (LASC), founded in 1996, is an initiative for development education, campaigning solidarity and cultural action, linking Ireland and Latin America. LASC VISION LASC is committed to stand together with the popular movements that struggle for social LASC believes in a Latin America and an Ireland justice. Our actions must be led by them, based on equality, social justice and an equal responding to needs identified by individuals and expression of cultural, social, political and economic communities, especially ones that experience rights for all human beings. poverty and marginalisation. LASC MISSION Development Education LASC’s mission is to expose and challenge the LASC realises that development education is current economic, social and cultural injustices in essential for effective campaigning and awareness Latin America and Ireland, through public awareness raising. Through participatory methodologies, raising, education, information exchanges and LASC provides the tools for analysis of the campaigns in solidarity with the people of Latin development issues raised, and encourages America who resist oppression and struggle to create learners to participate in finding solutions to a fair and inclusive society. them, including the possibility of participating in LASC WORK LASC campaigns. Campaigning Solidarity Cultural Action LASC is primarily a campaigning organisation aimed LASC values cultural diversity and engages in at organising solidarity in Ireland with the people of activities and actions which raise real awareness of Latin America and the Caribbean in their struggle Latin American cultures. LASC wishes to reflect for independent development and control of their the true multi-faceted nature of human resources. With its campaigning work, LASC hopes experience in Latin America and celebrates the to bring about changes in the attitudes, policies and expression of the resilience and survival of its practices of individuals and institutions. peoples. *********JOIN LASC!********* MEMBERSHIP PER CALENDAR YEAR: Waged €25 Unwaged €10 Name: ...... Address: ...... Ph. No: ...... E-mail: ...... If you would like to be notified of LASC’s events, please tick the box below to subscribe to our weekly electronic bulletin PAYMENT METHODS: 1. Cheque / postal order. Please send us a crossed cheque payable to the Latin America Solidarity Centre at the address below. Please do not send cash. 2. Standing Order. We would prefer payment by Standing Order as it would give us an indication of future ✁ income with which to plan our activities. Also, payment by cheque through the Post has lead to loss in the past. STANDING ORDER FORM To the manager of (name and address of bank) ______Please pay LASC, Bank of Ireland, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2. Account no 75989044 ; Branch sort code 90-00-84 The sum of (in writing) ______Annually /quarterly / monthly (please cross off as appropriate) starting on // and thereafter every year /quarter / month (please cross off as appropriate) until further notice debiting my account number (your account number) Your signature______Please return to: LASC, 5 Merrion Row, Dublin 2