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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Dear Friends, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>People and organizations around the world
are rejecting the CEO Water Mandate—and calling on UN Secretary General
Ban Ki-Moon to withdraw his support. Please join us by signing the letter
below on behalf of your organization.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>As opposition to the water industry has grown across the
globe, water corporations have responded aggressively—trying to position
themselves as stewards of the world’s water resources. One recent example
of this trend led by Coke, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Suez</st1:City></st1:place>
and Nestlé is the “CEO Water Mandate,” a voluntary initiative under
the UN’s Global Compact. The stated purpose of the CEO Water Mandate is
to make progress in six areas, including reducing water use in their direction
operations and supply chain, improving efforts in watershed management, taking
collective action, getting involved in public policy, community engagement, and
transparency.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>It is, however, a thinly veiled effort to co-opt the public
debate around people’s access to water, to give the growing water
industry credibility and support from the United Nations, and to advance
corporate control of water.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>We are asking that one person for each
organization sign-on to this letter. To do so, please email me at
plynn@stopcorporateabuse.org with your name and organizational affiliation by
March 19<sup>th</sup>.</span></font></b><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> A final copy of the letter with all
of the signators will be sent once the letter has been transmitted to the UN
General Secretary.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>We would like to publicly release this letter around March
22<sup>nd</sup>, the UN’s World Water Day. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>If you’d like more information on our campaign
challenging corporate control of water, check out <a
href="http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org/"
title="http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org/">www.stopcorporateabuse.org</a>, or
email me directly.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Patti Lynn</span></font></st1:PersonName><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Corporate Accountability International Campaigns Director<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Mr. Ban
Ki-Moon <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>General Secretary<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>United Nations<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Dear Mr. General Secretary,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>We, the undersigned civil society organizations, are deeply
involved in struggles for water justice taking place around the world. We
appreciate the public warnings you have made recently about the growing crisis
of global water shortages and how they are fueling, along with climate change,
many of the conflicts going on around the world today. However, we do not share
your enthusiastic support for the CEO Water Mandate, nor do we believe that a voluntary
corporate-driven initiative is a viable solution to the mounting worldwide
water crisis.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Under the United Nations’ Global Compact, the CEO
Water Mandate is presented as a prime example of environmental stewardship.
However, we are concerned that the real agenda of the CEO Water Mandate is to
facilitate greater control over water sources and services by for-profit
corporations. In our view, this is a prime example of
‘greenwashing’ on the part of major companies and the United Nations
should not be involved in legitimizing this process. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Furthermore, voluntary initiatives like those used by the UN
Global Compact in its collaboration with corporations have been shown to be
flawed. Not only are the principles narrowly conceived, but the companies typically
fail to put them into practice and they are also allowed to ‘opt
in’ or ‘opt out’ of the standards set. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Led by Coca Cola, which has a highly questionable track
record when it comes to water takings and water pollution, the companies which
have signed on to the CEO Water Mandate all have a vested interest in securing
control over water sources and services in times of increasing water scarcity. <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Suez</st1:City></st1:place> is the world’s
largest privatizer of water services and Nestle is the world’s leading
bottled water company. Pepsico and Groupe DANONE are also major players in the
global bottled water industry. Other signers include food giants like Unilever,
clothing manufacturers like Levi-Strauss, and chemical companies like Dow
Chemical, all of whom are greatly dependent on water sources for the production
of their products. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>To make matters worse, we understand that these same
corporations and their allies met on March 5<sup>th</sup> behind closed doors
at the United Nations in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">New York</st1:State></st1:place>
to map out their plan of action for the CEO Water Mandate. Given the failure to
safeguard against conflicts of interest and the lack of transparency of the
process, we have no other recourse but to reject your appeal that civil society
organizations join the CEO Water Mandate. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>We maintain that water is the essence of life on this
planet. As such, it is both a human right and an ecological trust. Local
communities must be recognized as the true guardians of their local watersheds.
Democratically elected governments must be responsible for ensuring community
participation and control over water sources and services. The United Nations
should be looking to local communities and representative governments, rather
than for-profit corporations, to set the global policy agenda and lead the
development of solutions to the world water crisis.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>For these reasons, we urge you, Mr. General Secretary, to
withdraw your support for the CEO Water Mandate because of its inherent
conflicts of interest and lack of transparency.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Alternatively, we would be prepared to work with you in
developing more transparent, accountable global institutions and
mechanisms to ensure access to water for people and the environment. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:
none'> </span></o:p></span></font></u></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>Signatures,<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>One individual per organization with
organizational affiliation<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Patti Lynn</span></font></st1:PersonName><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Campaigns Director</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Corporate Accountability International</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><a href="http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org/"
title="http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org/"><font size=2 face=Arial
title="http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org/"><span
title="http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org/"><span
title="http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org/"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>www.stopcorporateabuse.org</span></span></span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>ph: 617-695-2525</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>fax: 617-695-2626</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><a href="mailto:plynn@stopcorporateabuse.org"
title="mailto:plynn@stopcorporateabuse.org"><font size=2 face=Arial
title="mailto:plynn@stopcorporateabuse.org"><span
title="mailto:plynn@stopcorporateabuse.org"><span
title="mailto:plynn@stopcorporateabuse.org"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>plynn@stopcorporateabuse.org</span></span></span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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