Water is a ‘basic human right’
Mexico City
Enshrinement of access to potable water as a fundamental human right is a central topic of political debate as officials and experts from 141 nations wind up the World Water Forum here.
The president of the New Culture of Water Foundation, Pedro Arrojo, told EFE that thousands of activists had been out on the streets of the Mexican capital over the past few days demanding that water not be treated as just one more type of merchandise, but rather that it be guaranteed to all as a basic right. Last Thursday’s first day of the forum, which closes Wednesday, saw a big march called by non-governmental organizations to demand that the essential resource not be privatized.
Arrojo, who holds a doctorate in physical sciences and economic analysis from the University of Zaragoza in Spain, said that water “has very different functions and values, and distinct ethical levels of priority” over other resources.
The author of the book “The ethical challenge to the new culture of water” (Paidos, 2006) said that 1 percent of the water consumed by a human being is “life-water,” and this amounts to between 30 and 40 liters (7.9-10.6 gallons) per day that must be guaranteed and protected by international treaties if need be.
“First of all, it makes no sense to measure it economically. Human rights cannot be bought or sold or quoted on the stock market on Wall Street. That’s a category (of item) that must be guaranteed effectively (to all), not just as per economic efficiency,” he added.
Arrojo said that, in addition to the aspect of water as a right, there are other ideas surrounding the water issue, including that of “citizenship-water,” a concept applying to all water that comes out of the tap or supplies toilets “in all houses ... even (those of) poor families that live on the margins.”
The rights surrounding water are comparable to the right to health or education for each member of society, all of whom are allowed access to those as minimum public services “even if (people) don’t have money” to purchase them.
Arrojo supports the idea of applying “increasing price ranges” to water, whereby the greater the demand at a certain level of usage, the more a citizen has to pay for access to water on that level.
A pricing scheme of this kind would allow - Arrojo said - “motivating the citizen to make good use” of water and not waste it, thereby making it possible to use the water saved to subsidize those who have fewer resources.
Finally, the most costly water would be that of “business-water” which currently represents 70 percent of the water used by society.
Enshrinement of access to potable water as a fundamental human right is a central topic of political debate as officials and experts from 141 nations wind up the World Water Forum here.
The president of the New Culture of Water Foundation, Pedro Arrojo, told EFE that thousands of activists had been out on the streets of the Mexican capital over the past few days demanding that water not be treated as just one more type of merchandise, but rather that it be guaranteed to all as a basic right. Last Thursday’s first day of the forum, which closes Wednesday, saw a big march called by non-governmental organizations to demand that the essential resource not be privatized.
Arrojo, who holds a doctorate in physical sciences and economic analysis from the University of Zaragoza in Spain, said that water “has very different functions and values, and distinct ethical levels of priority” over other resources.
The author of the book “The ethical challenge to the new culture of water” (Paidos, 2006) said that 1 percent of the water consumed by a human being is “life-water,” and this amounts to between 30 and 40 liters (7.9-10.6 gallons) per day that must be guaranteed and protected by international treaties if need be.
“First of all, it makes no sense to measure it economically. Human rights cannot be bought or sold or quoted on the stock market on Wall Street. That’s a category (of item) that must be guaranteed effectively (to all), not just as per economic efficiency,” he added.
Arrojo said that, in addition to the aspect of water as a right, there are other ideas surrounding the water issue, including that of “citizenship-water,” a concept applying to all water that comes out of the tap or supplies toilets “in all houses ... even (those of) poor families that live on the margins.”
The rights surrounding water are comparable to the right to health or education for each member of society, all of whom are allowed access to those as minimum public services “even if (people) don’t have money” to purchase them.
Arrojo supports the idea of applying “increasing price ranges” to water, whereby the greater the demand at a certain level of usage, the more a citizen has to pay for access to water on that level.
A pricing scheme of this kind would allow - Arrojo said - “motivating the citizen to make good use” of water and not waste it, thereby making it possible to use the water saved to subsidize those who have fewer resources.
Finally, the most costly water would be that of “business-water” which currently represents 70 percent of the water used by society.
posted by Alice at
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
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