The Battle to Keep Water Out of the Internal Market - a Test Case for Democracy in Europe (March 20, 2013)
A new European Directive is threatening to privatize Europe’s municipal water services by requiring even those municipalities with minimal use of the private sector to offer their contract to EU-wide bidding. This would allow large multinationals like Suez and Veolia to expand their operations. In addition, Troika resolutions on the financial crises in Greece and Portugal have resulted in several public water utilities being put on the market for privatization. Although the European Commission sees privatization as the way forward, the directive has faced much opposition from the public and civil society groups that want water services to be exempted from it. Recently, approximately 1.3 million Europeans petitioned to recognize water as a human right. Privatization would likely contradict this with putting profits back in the hands of companies that own and run water systems, rather than improving services for the people. (Corporate Europe Observatory)
In Africa, Corruption Dirties the Water (March 14, 2013)
The World Bank estimates that countries lose 20 – 40% of public finances that would otherwise be used for water supply due to corruption. In Africa, a continent where approximately 343 million people lack access to proper drinking water supply, rampant corruption at all levels prevents millions from obtaining access. Maria Jacobson of the Stockholm International Water Institute explains how the poor are the most affected as formal services providers operate on bribes while informal providers offer supply at inflated prices, thereby limiting the options available. While some suggest privatization as an alternative to inefficient public management, researchers like Karen Bakker discovered that privatization fails to act as a remedy for existing lack of service for the most marginalized people. Civil society groups have an important role to play in ensuring government accountability for public services. Furthermore, regulation by governments and donor agencies is also needed to prevent the rising cost of meeting the MDG targets on water and sanitation globally. (IRIN)
Remunicipalisation: Putting Water Back into Public Hands (March 6, 2013)
A report by the Transnational Institute highlights the failures of water privatization in cities worldwide and advocates for “Remunicipalization”. Buenos Aires and Paris, two case studies from the video, are good examples of public authorities reclaiming back water services from failed attempts at privatization. Privatization in both cities resulted in significant tariff increases and corporate profits with no subsequent improvements in services to the public. Following remunicipalization, both cities developed innovative programs, such as the worker cooperatives in Argentina connecting an additional 700,000 users from low income areas, and Paris’ water solidarity allocations and public-public partnerships with other cities. The report recognizes the challenges involved in remunicipalization but emphasizes the need for transparency and people-centered approach to urban water supply. (TNI)
Corporate Land Grabs Reveal a Hidden Agenda: Controlling the Water (January 24, 2013)
Reports on land grabbing reveal that investors target control of both the land and the water beneath. Today’s “water barons”- multi-billionaires, financial institutions and corporate multinationals- are increasingly investing in water resources globally. Over-extraction and large land purchases in the Ogallala Aquifer and Great Lakes region in the US are proof that water scarcity is a growing problem not just in the Global South. Furthermore, efforts to track the water footprint of companies and other water-related risks, such as the “water disclosure project,” could actually backfire by providing information to investors interested in water-grabbing. Thus, regulatory mechanisms at the national and international level are needed to control large-scale land (and water) investments threatening the lives and livelihoods of local communities dependent on these resources.(AlterNet)
The Privatization of Chile's Sea (January 18, 2013)
The Chilean fishing industry is monopolized by several fishing conglomerates, controlled by 7 families with strong ties to national policy-makers. The government recently extended the 2002 fishing law, while applies market based principles to create a quota system for the already collapsing fish stocks. Over the last 20 years, stocks like the Jack Mackerel have diminished from 30 million to just 3 million tons annually. Many in the Chilean parliament stress that the law will create a sustainable fishing industry. However, small scale fishermen strongly oppose it, saying it gives the large fishing companies an unfair advantage to exploit fish stocks over the coming 20 years. The situation highlights the marginalization of indigenous fishermen from decision making jeo
The Battle to Keep Water Out of the Internal Market - a Test Case for Democracy in Europe (March 20, 2013)A new European Directive is threatening to privatize Europe’s municipal water services by requiring even those municipalities with minimal use of the private sector to offer their contract to EU-wide bidding. This would allow large multinationals like Suez and Veolia to expand their operations. In addition, Troika resolutions on the financial crises in Greece and Portugal have resulted in several public water utilities being put on the market for privatization. Although the European Commission sees privatization as the way forward, the directive has faced much opposition from the public and civil society groups that want water services to be exempted from it. Recently, approximately 1.3 million Europeans petitioned to recognize water as a human right. Privatization would likely contradict this with putting profits back in the hands of companies that own and run water systems, rather than improving services for the people. (Corporate Europe Observatory)In Africa, Corruption Dirties the Water (March 14, 2013) The World Bank estimates that countries lose 20 – 40% of public finances that would otherwise be used for water supply due to corruption. In Africa, a continent where approximately 343 million people lack access to proper drinking water supply, rampant corruption at all levels prevents millions from obtaining access. Maria Jacobson of the Stockholm International Water Institute explains how the poor are the most affected as formal services providers operate on bribes while informal providers offer supply at inflated prices, thereby limiting the options available. While some suggest privatization as an alternative to inefficient public management, researchers like Karen Bakker discovered that privatization fails to act as a remedy for existing lack of service for the most marginalized people. Civil society groups have an important role to play in ensuring government accountability for public services. Furthermore, regulation by governments and donor agencies is also needed to prevent the rising cost of meeting the MDG targets on water and sanitation globally. (IRIN)Remunicipalisation: Putting Water Back into Public Hands (March 6, 2013)A report by the Transnational Institute highlights the failures of water privatization in cities worldwide and advocates for “Remunicipalization”. Buenos Aires and Paris, two case studies from the video, are good examples of public authorities reclaiming back water services from failed attempts at privatization. Privatization in both cities resulted in significant tariff increases and corporate profits with no subsequent improvements in services to the public. Following remunicipalization, both cities developed innovative programs, such as the worker cooperatives in Argentina connecting an additional 700,000 users from low income areas, and Paris’ water solidarity allocations and public-public partnerships with other cities. The report recognizes the challenges involved in remunicipalization but emphasizes the need for transparency and people-centered approach to urban water supply. (TNI)Corporate Land Grabs Reveal a Hidden Agenda: Controlling the Water (January 24, 2013)Reports on land grabbing reveal that investors target control of both the land and the water beneath. Today’s “water barons”- multi-billionaires, financial institutions and corporate multinationals- are increasingly investing in water resources globally. Over-extraction and large land purchases in the Ogallala Aquifer and Great Lakes region in the US are proof that water scarcity is a growing problem not just in the Global South. Furthermore, efforts to track the water footprint of companies and other water-related risks, such as the “water disclosure project,” could actually backfire by providing information to investors interested in water-grabbing. Thus, regulatory mechanisms at the national and international level are needed to control large-scale land (and water) investments threatening the lives and livelihoods of local communities dependent on these resources.(AlterNet)The Privatization of Chile's Sea (January 18, 2013)The Chilean fishing industry is monopolized by several fishing conglomerates, controlled by 7 families with strong ties to national policy-makers. The government recently extended the 2002 fishing law, while applies market based principles to create a quota system for the already collapsing fish stocks. Over the last 20 years, stocks like the Jack Mackerel have diminished from 30 million to just 3 million tons annually. Many in the Chilean parliament stress that the law will create a sustainable fishing industry. However, small scale fishermen strongly oppose it, saying it gives the large fishing companies an unfair advantage to exploit fish stocks over the coming 20 years. The situation highlights the marginalization of indigenous fishermen from decision making jeo
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