Canada, US oppose right to water

Canada and the United States are the only two countries to go on record at the United Nations as opposing the right to water. Canada is employing suspicious tactics to oppose a resolution by Germany and Spain, calling for water and sanitation to be recognized as a basic human right at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. It is to be voted on this week

Observers report that the Canadian delegation has been blocking the resolution since 2002 under both Liberal and Conservative governments, making "numerous objections". Canada and the United States are the only two countries to go on record at the United Nations in opposing the right to water. Canada is a member of the UNHRC until 2009, while the United States withdrew but is allowed observer status. Among the underlying issues: Canada's failure to meet the basic needs of native communities, future bulk water shipments to the US, and the enormous profits of private water corporations around the world.

The Council of Canadians calls on the government to stop its blocking tactics, clearly being waged as part of the secret SPP deal with the US. "More than a billion people are currently without access to clean water," says chairperson Maude Barlow, author of Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and the Coming Battle for the Right to Water. "It is shocking that Canada would work with the United States to oppose this fundamental right.".

See Blue Planet, the new 2008 films FLOW: for love of water, Blue Gold: Life for Sale and Youtube video; feature films The River Where We Live (Canada/Mali documentary 2006) and Faro, Goddess of the Waters (award-winning drama, Mali 2007); podcasts and international water news; radio/podcasts from esousa@canadians.org and videos by Maude Barlow. Tinariwen music CD Aman Iman: Water is Life. NFB 2006 documentary video Dead in the Water / ONF Hold-Up de l'Eau. Faro, Goddess of the Waters (award-winning drama, Mali 2007). The Globe and Mail 2001 investigation of Canada's Apartheid and later reports. KAIROS Canada on aboriginal and water rights, reports in English et en français. Wikipedia and HSRP and HSD for worldwide data about "human security".
En español ver Foro Social Mundial: agua derecho humana