Coalition Protests Corporate Water Conference With Street Theater and Press Conference
2008-12-02
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Coalition Protests Corporate Water Conference With
Street Theater and Press Conference
San Francisco, CA— On December 3, a coalition of public interest organizations and affected individuals will protest a large corporate water conference in San Francisco entitled “Corporate Water Footprinting: Towards a Sustainable Water Strategy.” The organizations will highlight water abuses perpetrated by the conference’s corporate sponsors with street theatre followed by a press conference.
“A conference geared towards sustainable use of water is indeed welcome, but having the largest water abusers in charge is not,” said Maude Barlow, chairwoman of the Council of Canadians and Senior Water Advisor to the United Nations. “We call on the United Nations and all concerned governments to come together in a global water summit to advance positive solutions towards a just and sustainable water future.”
Members of Food and Water Watch, International Campaign Against Coca-Cola, the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, the Indigenous Environmental Network, Movement Generation, and others will convene at 12:00 at Justin Herman Plaza to hold a mock trial of some of the largest conference sponsors including Coca-Cola, Dean Foods, and Nestle Waters. A press conference will follow.
“More than a billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and climate change is further depleting freshwater resources,” said Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch. “Given the absence of perspectives from those without access to water, this conference appears aimed more at polishing the images of some of the world’s biggest water abusers rather than addressing the very real global water crisis.”
“Providing access to water cannot be ensured through privatization and must not be subject to the whims of the market. Over 3 billion people live on less than US $2.50 a day and the commodification of water literally means that a substantial part of the world – particularly the poor and the marginalized – will be unable to afford water,” said Amit Srivastava of the International Campaign Against Coca-Cola, who will also be speaking.
Also speaking at the conference will be Caleen Sisk-Franco, Chief of Winnemem Wintu Tribe and representative of Indigenous Environmental Network, who will talk about how water mining near Mt. Shasta is threatening their future water supply.
In addition to the December 3 action, on December 2, the same organizations will be hosting a forum at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts (2868 Mission Street, San Francisco) from 7 pm to 9:30 pm., entitled “Challenging Corporate Control of Water: No to Privatization, Yes to Community Control of Water.
Food & Water Watch is a national consumer advocacy organization based in Washington, DC. Visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org.
International Campaign Against Coca-Cola mobilizes international pressure on the Coca-Cola company for its abuses in India and globally. Visit www.IndiaResource.org.
Indigenous Environmental Network is a network of Indigenous Peoples in North America working towards sustainable livelihoods and environmental justice. Visit www.ienearth.org.
Blue Planet Project is an international civil society movement begun by The Council of Canadians to protect the world’s fresh water from the growing threats of trade and privatization. Visit www.blueplanetproject.net