Privatization Of Water Is A Human Right

Mexico’s water supply has been dwindling since the 1980s, when Mexico’s population more than doubled. The current problem is that the water provided to the Mexican public is not clean, as 70% of Mexico’s water bodies are contaminated. The general population is forced to try and make do with the water that they are provided with or find a private supplier who might supply cleaner water at a much higher price. The government has gone on to propose that water distribution be moved to the private sector, since the reforms needed to fix the water infrastructure would be too much for the central government. This would potentially allow for cleaner and cheaper water that what is currently provided by the Mexican government. This reform has been attempted in countries across the world, with little prevail.

"Water For All" is a mission statement of an MIT project claims that clean water is paramount to a successful society and that there are consequences to inaction toward this problem. The article first provides a description of why water is important and who it affects next, it explains where water is and how it is used and lastly, it analyzes a solution and the consequences if a successful solution is not provided. The author gives data on the people who are affected by the lack of drinkable water in order to convince the reader that this is a large problem. The language in this article is simple yet informative widening the audience to anyone who can help aid the program or anyone who can spread the word about the program.

In research, we reviewed national laws and the constitutions of countries across the world, to determine how successful governments were in both acknowledging a human right to water, and enforcing it. Our findings varied, and rather than creating a comprehensive list of water laws by country, I will refer you to The Water Law and Standards Website — a joint

There is a water crisis which faces many parts of the world and it is a threat to survival of human beings since humans are primarily dependent on water. Shortage in drinking water is beginning to show its effects in first world countries, but is a current major problem facing lesser developed countries which have not taken drastic steps to harvest water and purify it to make it safe for human consumption. In developed countries the population growth has strained available water resources and stretched the ability of governments and private firms to provide safe drinking water to the vast majority of the population. Seventy one percent of

The quality of water however falls solely on humans, who are the number one hazards to the precious water we have become so addicted to. The obligation for safe, clean, drinkable water is an individual responsible; if you die or fall victim to dehydration the blame falls on the suffering individuals. That being written, no person should have the right to revoke water from anyone. If an organization has taken it upon themselves to treat, facilitate, and distribute water in return for some compensation then any persons may purchase this service so long as the required payments are being

Whether water is a human commodity or basic human right has become a large problem around the world while dealing with the availability of clean drinking water in developing societies. If water is either recognized to be a right or a commodity, many complications come to these developing countries in several social and political aspects. A human right is a freedom and a right that belongs to everyone in the world. Water as a human right gives everyone the right to water as

In the book “Blue Future”, world-renowned water activist Maude Barlow, inspires readers as she explores her vast experiences and knowledge to outline a key set of principles that offer a solution to what she pleas to be “the defining issue of our time” (Barlow, 2013, p. 4), the fight for water equality. Principle One: Water Is a Human Right, drives the concept that water should be delivered to all, while pressing into the higher powers that act as barriers to the recognition of this vital concept. Principle Two: Water Is a Common Heritage, disputes the ethics behind privatization of water and reinforces the notion that this vital resource is to be viewed as a public good, which should not be bought nor sold. Principle Three: Water Has Rights Too, explores the environmental aspects of water supply, pushing for changes in current laws and practices that put the earths water sources at risk. Principle Four: Water Can Teach Us How to Live Together, urges the global community to join together in order to address a common issue of water insecurity, in addition to adapting our currents ways, allowing us to “live more lightly on the earth” (Barlow, 2013, p. 207).

The world revolves around water. Without it, organisms would cease to exist. With that being said, humans depend on it on a daily basis. In the documentary “Thirst”, it covers the controversy of water privatization in Bolivia, India, and Stockton. All of these regions are opposed to water privatization by the powerful corporations that operate in the area. The people living in these places believe that water privatization negatively affects their control of their water, because it a human right. On the other hand, the multinational corporations believe that water is an economic resource that should be bought and sold, for profit. I believe that water should not have the ability to be privatized.

According to (" UN-Water”) 783 million people do not have access to clean drinking water. The majority of people living in America have plenty of access to clean drinking water and often take that opportunity for granted . The lack of water in undeveloped countries can have a major effect on the economy. Countries that Have clean drinking water means being able to shower, cook, drink, water that can also be used for agriculture. Undeveloped countries with unclean water do not have these benefits

Everybody needs water. But this resource is scarce (UN, 2014). However, there is a controversy about whether water should be treated as human right or not. In the human rights discussion, the term “public good” is important because resources of this kind must be made accessible to everyone in sufficient quantity and quality (basic supply). Moreover, it is essential to human life and health. But according to the economic definition, this scarce resource does not meet all of the economic criteria of a public good (in which no one could be excluded from its consumption) (Arce, C., & Maume, A. 2005). Traditionally, water has been considered a free good, and charges for its use have been related to the costs of treatment prior to use, distribution and pollution abatement. In reviewing the literature from the 1970 's and the 1980 's, the scholars identified two ideas of efficiency and externalities to support the argument that the value of water needs to be increased. Regarding efficiency, Environment Canada (1983) noted from the angle of economic principles that when a good is undervalued it tends to be overused. The best example of the implications of this for natural resource management was described by Hardin (1968) regarding the 'tragedy of the commons". Hardin noted that in Britain, a common pasture was overgrazed because each herdsman thought about his interest and gradually increased the number of grazing animals. As a result the common pasture was destroyed. Tate (1984)

Water scarcity is a major issue the world now faces because of the prolonged global warming that the Earth has been enduring. Global warming has been causing a dramatic change in the Earth’s atmosphere, water supply, as well the ecosystem. It has caused glaciers, that hold a great deal of the world’s freshwater supply, as ice, to melt into the surrounding oceans because of the Sun’s heat warming the waters, and melting the glaciers. This has caused a problem for countries that rely on those sources. Not only the warming of the Earth, but also the multitude of pollutants that currently affect water supplies such as fecal matter, lead, and garbage, harm the available drinking water and render it useless. Due to the fact that certain countries are more polluted than others, just by default, their water supply has a greater chance of contamination. Therefore, the most ethical thing to do would be divide up remaining water equally amongst all countries. However, America and other first world countries will get privilege over the water because of their resources, wealth, and power.

These are the injustices that are happening all over the world and we need to prevent these companies from taking advantage of us and our water supplies just to fatten their pockets. We need to project our political voices and let these companies know that these behaviors will not be tolerated. Among the people who are raising their political voices against water ownership is Maude Barlow, senior advisor on water issues for the General Assembly of the UN, who argued that, " high water rates, cut-offs to the poor, reduced services, broken promises and pollution have been the legacy of

Life springs up around water sources. It is no coincidence that some of the greatest civilizations have been build need fertile bodies of water. Known life relies on water to sustain that life. So it is no surprise when a debate arose in 2013 around comments made by Nestlé Chairman Peter Brabeck regarding privatization of water and the fundamental human right to survive from dehydration and illness from non-portal water consumption. Although the context of Brabeck’s comment was taken out of context, issues surrounding the access companies like Nestlé have been given to bottle their water when people do not have access to clean water and droughts are threatening crop production. Adding a price tag is not the answer. The market, both these companies and their consumers have a major role to play in the management of water; a role that requires a change in mindset of privilege many citizen of the United States, and other countries that do not see the direct effects that serious clean water issue have on people that do not have it.

Water is a human right, not a commodity. It is the essence of life, sustaining every living being on the planet. Without it we would have no plants, no animals, no people. However, while water consumption doubles every twenty years our water sources are being depleted, polluted and exploited by multinational corporations. Water privatization has been promoted by corporations and international lending institutions as the solution to the global water crises but the only one’s who benefit from water privatization are investors and international banks. The essential dilemma of privatization is that the profit interests of private water utilities ultimately jeopardizes the safeguarding of the human right to water. Access to clean, sufficient

Access to clean water is a basic human right and yet people around the world don’t have that right and they struggle to survive without it. The many uses of clean and potable water include water for drinking to cooking other daily purpose. It is reported that over 1.1 billion people lack access to an improved water resource and three million individuals, and majority of them children, suffer and die from water-related disease. The need to improve water quality and providing clean water should be major project for developed countries like the US and so called “well developed countries”.