PHA-Exch> Blue October 2007 Wrap-up (right to water)

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Jeff Conant <jeff at hesperian.org>

*From: *"Anil Naidoo" <anaidoo at canadians.org>

We were again very successful with 36 countries now having taken part,
sometimes with numerous events in each country put on by different groups.
In other countries coalitions formed just for Blue October!

Some highlights include (sorry not all events could be listed);

In *Norway* a coalition of sixteen groups held extensive activities
including an event where members of parliament were challenged to carry 15
liters of water in an original Indian water barrel. Something that girls all
over India and around the world do every day but proved very difficult for
the politicians in their suits.
*http://www.blaoktober.no/*<http://www.blaoktober.no/>

In *South Africa *they mobilised a 'roadshow' in the Vaal to support the
constitutional court case against pre-paid water meters which was filed
against Johannesburg Water and will be heard from the 3rd to the 5th of
December in the High Court.

In *Colombia*, October was full of educational activities with teachers,
students, farmers, and indigenous groups in an effort to collect signatures
for a national referendum that will insert the right to water in the
national constitution. Groups involved in the campaign have created a mural
of water photographs that will accompany campaigners as they travel
throughout the country.

In *El Salvador *there was a march to the National Assembly to demand the
government recognize the right to water.

In *India* they held a fourteen days long awareness campaign (Yatra) "Jago!
Dilli Jago" a move to protect the "Yamuna river", which finished on 7th Nov.
2007 at India gate.

In *Canada* Maude Barlow launched her new book, Blue Covenant: The Global
Water Crisis and the Coming Battle for the Right to Water. We also met with
the UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing who then delivered a strong
message to the Canadian government asking them to support the human right to
water.

In *Mexico* there were almost too many events to list with a Consultoria,
forums, workshops, submissions before the Latin American Water Tribunal and
much more. Events took place all around the country.

In *Ghana* activists organized community meetings to fight water tariffs
increases. The Public Utility Regulatory Commission has received a proposal
from the Utility companies to increase tariffs by 60-100% in October and
this is being strongly resisted.

In *Nepal* they have recently blocked the bid of Severn Trent Water
International to privatize Kathmandu's water system. Now, for Blue October,
activists organised a series of community consultation meetings to develop a
pro-poor community participation strategy to ensure safe drinking water,
something Severn Trent would never have done.

In *Paraguay* they also did numerous events including two public "Audiencias
en Defensa del Río Paraguay", many media events and Citizen Mobilizations.

In *Peru* the water worker's union held events around the country designed
to fortify the local and regional alliances with the social movements, local
organizations, environmentalists, university youth, NGO's and all concerned
with citizen rights.

In the *United States *groups called on the U.S. Congress to establish a
federal trust fund for water in order to safeguard water for future
generations and they celebrated the 35th anniversary of the U.S. Clean Water
Act.

As usual, our biggest challenge is getting people to send in pictures and
accounts of all the great things they have done for Blue October.

So if you did something and want it recorded on the website - *
www.blueoctobercampaign.org* - please send an e-mail to svani at canadians.orgor
claucampero at yahoo.com

In solidarity and on behalf of the full committee,

Anil Naidoo

Blue Planet Project
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