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World Water Forum: While the World Bank, governments, and big corporations (20,000 attendees) at the 4th World Water Forum in Mexico City discussed plans for privatizing water, an Alternative International Forum in Defense of Water was taking place. Free and open to the public, this people's forum met in city buildings, a union hall, and tents in public places. An encampment of around 800 members of the National Assembly in Defense of Land and Water and against Privatization—mostly indigenous peoples such as the Parota, whose land is being threatened by a dam and flooding—was held in the Monument to the Revolution.
Alternative Forum: The Alternative Forum received funding of about $50,000 ($500,000 pesos) from the Local Assembly of Mexico City. Space in public buildings such as museums was donated. My hosts, Arnold Ricalde (a former Green Party member of the government) and Joscelyn Proctor, were some of the key organizers of the Alternative Forum, especially the “Espejo de Agua” (Mirror of Water), a 5-day event which began with a Hopi-Aztec dance. There were workshops on water rights, a stage where educational skits, music and dance took place, a women's teepee, tables for NGO's, a children's area, and a “Green Room” for computers, media links, and film showings. Flower petals and colorful corn kernels combined to create complex and beautiful mandalas, which would be dismantled at the end. In a festive opening ceremony, some of the traditional grandmothers joined the younger women in a dance of blessing with copal and flowers.
Hopi Runners and Aztec Dancers: Hopi runners bearing sacred water from New Mexico arrived on Wednesday. They wore T-shirts that read “H2OPI RUNNERS.” On their backs was this message: “Water sustains all life. Her songs begin in the tiniest of rain drops, transform to flowing rivers, travel to majestic oceans, thundering clouds, and back to earth to begin again. When water is threatened, all living beings are threatened.” (Indigenous Declaration on Water, 7/8/01). In front of a giant statue of Tlaloc, the Mayan rain god, Aztec dancers greeted and blessed them and their water with sacred copal smoke. Masaru Emoto of Japan arrived and added his blessing to the water. Then for hours in the hot sum, the Aztec dancers in their huge colorful feather headdresses and rattles around their ankles danced to the four directions and the four elements. Conch shells were blown, sometimes in three-part harmony.
I spoke with one of the Hopi runners, Hendrickson Taluyumptewe, and learned that 40 runners up to the age of 72 had participated in a relay that took place over 15 days. Every evening they were able to educate the people in small towns about their issues and mission. Just recently, the Hopi succeeded in getting Peabody Coal in Black Mesa to close down their operation which had used hundreds of thousands of gallons of precious spring water just to transport coal in a slurry. “Our springs are drying up,” said Hendrickson. “”The water is running out on our lands. Whenever it rained as we were running, we sang our praise to the rain.” Later I met a group of Catholic sisters, and also an Israeli woman, who had taken on support roles for the Hopi Run.
March against Privatization: On the afternoon of March 16, I took part in a huge march of 500,000 calling for universal rights to water, and an end to water privatization. The spirit was so lively and contagious that I didn't realize we had walked 8 km. “Agua! Queremos agua! Agua! Tenemos sed, sed, sed,” went one chant. (Water! We want water! Water! We are thirsty, thirsty, thirsty!”) Tiny grandmothers (“abuelitas”) with their long hair in braids and wearing their traditionally embroidered garments marched along without a sign of fatigue, alongside trade unionists, youths, people on stilts and in costume, people drumming and chanting, mothers with their babies in strollers, and men carrying sticks of sugar cane. “No privatization” read many of the signs, and “Agua es vida” (“Water is Life.”) Our group had painted a banner proclaiming “Somos agua” and “Agua mi sangre.” (“We are water” and “Water my blood”).
In Mexico City, the water supply is a huge problem. Some parts of the service are already privatized. My hosts boil their tap water; ten million people (half the city's population) don't have access to clean water. The aging infrastructure, combined with settling as the aquifer on which this city sits, has caused both water and sewage pipes to break, leading to loss and contamination of drinking water. How ironic that prior to settlement by the Spanish, the city was a small island in a lake; the Spaniards drained the lake to expand the city. Now, Mexico City is an endless urban expanse of concrete and buildings, with no possibility for recharging groundwater. There is only on “alive” river, the Magdalena, my hosts told me; all the others were paved over r became part of the sewer system.
Thirst: At the Mexico City premiere of the film, “Thirst,” which depicts water rights struggles from Stockton, California to Cochabamba, Bolivia and India, filmmakers Alan Snitow and Deborah ____ joined a panel including Maude Barlow of Canada, author of “Blue Gold,” and Oscar Oliveira, a veteran of the massive Cochabamba uprising against Bechtel corporation's attempt to privatize their water. According to Maude Barlow, the two greatest threats of our time are the ecological crisis which is causing the destruction of the world's fresh water (by 2025, 2/3 of the world's population won't have enough to meet basic needs); and the dramatic injustice in access to water. “It's a mighty contest between the big trade institutions, big banks and corporations on the one hand, and grassroots groups on the other: indigenous peoples, farmers, women's groups—to reclaim the water being stolen from them.” There is a growing belief in the universal right to water, and it is a cornerstone for other rights as well; the UN did not include it because the shortages and struggles were not foreseen. It isn't enough just to elect progressives, warned Barlow, because the World Bank and WTO put enormous pressure on all governments to privatize. She thanked the film-makers for helping people to see that they are not alone, in their community, their country, or even the global South. Oscar Oliveira said that it's not enough to just say no to privatization; the people must be involved, must demand participation. They need information on all aspects of water management, he added. Closing on a hopeful note, he said, “The movement for water as a human right is a catalyst for other movements, giving rise to new coalitions across the political spectrum that never existed before.”
“Foro Internacional”: Thirty-seven countries were represented at the International Forum in Defense of Water. The World Bank has made privatization of water a condition for economic aid. The World Bank and the World Trade Organization claim they don't have to abide by human rights, or international laws. On the UN Committee on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights, only the US and Canada opposed the initiative for the Human Right to Water. At least 20 countries now have the right to water in their constitutions. UN General Observation 15 provides this statement: “The human right to water entitles everyone to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic uses. It must be sustainable, ensuring that the right can be realized for present and future generations.”
Danielle Mitterrand of France said she believed that the first 4 liters of water per day per person should be free, and that all nations' constitutions should include the right to water, with government enforcement.
In Johannesburg, South Africa, people are fighting the use of prepaid water meters, despite the fact that the South African Constitution says water is a basic right. “Four liters per day isn't enough to flush the toilet twice, let alone drinking, cooking, or bathing.” Children and babies suffer most from the lack of safe drinking water.
In Honduras, water is already privatized, resulting in prices like $7 a gallon in Tegucigalpa. The poor must choose between water and beans. Under privatization, water is more polluted with sewage and heavy metals.
It Italy, unions, NGO's and churches are joining to oppose ACEA, a multinational which aims to take over their water supply. They are encouraging other European parliaments to adopt the Declaration of Caracas, which states that water must be a common good and a guaranteed right for all humanity.
Brazil's speaker, representing a peasant organization, described their rainwater collection. Their goal is 1 million cisterns for 1 million households. They are also concerned with agricultural use of water, since it takes 1000 liters of water to grow l kilogram of soybeans, much more for cattle.
Ashfaq Khalfan of Kenya spoke of placing the onus on governments to show where the money is going. “The right to health assumes a right to water.” The World Bank subverts this right by not looking at issues of affordability. All governments need these resolutions.
“Water has its own life. We can't make it a commodity,” said Carlos Franco of Peru. He then described the success of their national campaign for rights to water. A National Campaign for the Human Right to Water took root in five cities. Half of Peru is in a water crisis; lagoons are disappearing, and the government wants to privatize water. In 2004, the first privatization contract was canceled due to organized protests. In 2005, one city gained a legal right to water, invoking the law that water must be managed by the public sector. On the World Day of Water, a national strike will be held calling for water as a constitutional right, using UN General Law 15 as an organizing tool.
Lidy Nacpil of the Philippines described how failures in water delivery were used as a pretext for privatizing; water rates have doubled or even quadrupled in some areas since 1997. Water became contaminated due to failure to maintain the infrastructure. While the private companies made profits of 40%, there was a serious cholera outbreak. Some areas have prepaid water metering. The World Bank and IMF play a big role in this privatization.
In India, river segments were privatized, making water available only for large land-owners. Uganda has a constitution which calls for the government to provide water to all people. Women are active in rainwater harvesting and in peaceful “awareness demonstrations.” Although it was against their constitution, water was privatized in Uruguay.
Marc Franco, a powerful spokesman for the indigenous rights of the People of the Middle Water (Mount Shasta, California) described their struggle against projects to put a dam on Shasta River, flooding and destroying their land. “Would you fill the Vatican with water? Then why fill our lands with water?” They already lost 90% of their sacred sites and burial ground when the Shasta dam was built. The Winimun people used to be 14,000 strong in 1850; their numbers dropped to 135 in 1910 and now, 32. Their spiritual leaders received a message from the Creator, in 2004: “Show them we are here for the water and the fish.” Their warriors have taken a sacred vow to die for the rivers if necessary. Franco asks officials, “Are you committed to die for your dam?” Speaking of the new “gold rush,” he notes: “Water is being seen not as a relative or something flowing within us, but as a commodity.” His final plea: “In this war for water, where is the war crimes tribunal? The genocide of cultures and destruction of water are war crimes.”
Alicia Sanches, introducing herself as a “peasant from Tlaxcala,” described her village's struggle for drinking water, which before 1976 was only available with donkeys and buckets going up a steep hill. The people dug trenches for pipes by hand; now, they have 24-hour water pumped with electricity, under cooperative control. The community has bought more acreage and another pump, reforested 4 hectares, and set up a treatment plant for sewage. They are working on collection of rainwater; 600 households have ferro-cement cisterns to collect water in the rainy season. They are planning to use less electricity and let their water come via gravity. The women, who used to walk 2 km to the river each day, have been leaders in this movement. Now, they have finally convinced the men to join them. “We need to build coalitions, worldwide networks, in order to succeed in the battle against Coca Cola and other privatizers,” said Alicia.
Many other Mexican villages have water only 4 hours a week. Coca Cola is based in Tlaxcala, and is already privatizing water in other villages. The Masagua movement promotes a philosophy of nonviolence in defending water and natural resources. The Lerma River, which gives the Masagua people their water, has had most of its water diverted for Mexico City's needs, and the river's water has been polluted. There was an agreement with Mexico City to protect their water rights, but it has not been honored.
Susanna Cervantes of Mexico City described how toxic residues dumped by the U.S. had destroyed the soil and caused deformities; those who protested the dumping of this toxic waste were jailed. She also pointed out how industrial agriculture takes more water and pollutes more water than small scale farming. Agribusiness in Southern California, for example, growing watermelons and cotton in a desert, is a crazy waste of water.
In the last century, people thought that gold was the most valuable thing on earth. Sixty years ago, only 5% of the water was polluted, now 50% is. “Water is life, but now it's becoming death.” If so much water has been poisoned in this few years, how much longer can we live before all the water is poisoned? Recalling the story of “the Midas touch,” the moral is that greed turns what is valuable into death.
Barbara Harmony of the National Water Center in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, told how a citizens' group managed to stop construction of a sewage treatment plant, recommending the use of composting toilets.A citizens' group formed and met weekly for a year and a half, resulting in the book “We All Live Downstream” which recommends the treatment of waste without water pollution. Barbara believes that when we don't use water as a carrier of our waste, a shift in consciousness takes place, with far more appreciation and reverence for water becoming possible. As a result of waterworks art shows and canoe rides, the local preservation society decided to clean the springs, not just historic buildings; and a survey of 1000 water customers found 300 were willing to try compost toilets. “All life begins from water,” said Barbara. “Let us heal the water. Earth's waters are its living blood.” She added, “Water has given and given, now it's time to give thanks to the water.”
At the close of the Foro Internacional, participants worked out a Joint Declaration of Movements in Defense of Water, of which this is a paraphrase:
“All our problems are the same, we all need to work together in the spirit of Caracas and form a world movement which declares that water is a common good, a right of humanity, not a commodity. We reject “public-private partnerships” and all other forms of privatization, which have failed to provide water to people all over the planet. Nonprofit, public institutions must manage all aspects of water access, in order to secure future generations' right to water. We need sustainable management of ecosystems and preservation of natural environments. Water basins are natural units for public management. Defense of water means health of ecosystems, and responsible wastewater treatment systems.
“We oppose the 4th World Water Forum, which is run by the World Bank, transnational corporations, and the IDB. They ignore the needs of the people, seeking new ways to merchandise water. We call for public democratic management of water, with a minimum of 50 liters provided free per person daily, regardless of economic and social status. We reject any double standard, cutting off water for lack of payment; we reject any legislation which opens the way for privatization; we reject dams, mining, and bottling of water. We reject demands for payment by big predatory corporations. We suggest sharing technical knowledge, training, and public-community cooperation models; creating meetings for international cooperation; fostering a world plan, networks, and mobilizations for water. We value the role of women, indigenous peoples and youth. Women are frequently the most directly involved in the use, management, and protection of water. We can learn from indigenous communities, ancestral approaches and knowledge.”
Strategies for the future will include:
1) Integrate a world movement to defend water
- Demand regulated frameworks
- Launch campaigns against transnationals
- Strengthen international courts
- Identify struggles of confrontation
- Promote a national coalition, funding research
and consultation
- Strategize to maintain strength of the global
movement
2) Manage water resources
- Fight policies that degrade and pollute water
- Promote ecological approaches, surveillance,
conservation of spring and groundwater
- Promote participation of civic organizations.
- Sanction polluters
3) Cope with pollution
- Promote a legal framework to compel repair of
ecosystems
- Promote clean technologies to clean water and
sewage
- Promote educational campaigns about water
4) Cultural and spiritual value of water
- Learn from indigenous communities
- Respect cultural diversity, ancestral knowledge
- Educational campaigns to promote value of water
- Respect and recognize the role of women and promote gender equity
5) Democratic and social control
- Fight neoliberal and antidemocratic policies on all levels
- Mobilize popular organizations to democratize
- Form a global watch, surveillance
- Strengthen policies for democratic management
“El derecho humano al agua es posible,” (“The human right to water is possible”) was a slogan which, for me, echoed “Another world is possible.”
Tribunal: In a People's Tribunal held on Monday, March 20, fourteen cases were brought to a Citizen Court. Although it was non-binding, the news media attended. Only two of the accused companies came. The Parota people were there opposing the dam which the Mexican government intends to build on the Papayago River, forcing 20,000 people to be evacuated from their traditional lands for a hydro-electric power plant and water reservoir. The Masagua people asked for a fairer share of water from the Ferma River, which is being drawn off to slake the thirst of Mexico City. Other groups came to oppose the mining industries which are polluting their water with heavy metals. There was also a group protesting the placement of a toxic waste dump in Sierra Blanca.
Equinox: We celebrated the Spring Equinox at an Otomi traditional gathering, in which I was touched to see many circles of healing: the children were in the innermost ring, with adults standing behind them and placing a hand on each child's head. The next ring of people placed their hands on the heads of those standing in front of them. Everyone honored the directions and the elements, especially water. An elder spoke of the necessity to care for water. Although I didn't understand enough of the Spanish, it was one of the most moving ceremonies I have attended.
I returned from Mexico City aware that the global movement for water rights is strong and growing!
Cathy Holt
"One kind word can warm three winter months."
- Japanese Proverb
www.thekindnesscampaign.org
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