And God said … Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place … and it was so … and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1: 9-10.

And God said …And God said …

““Let the waters under the sky Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one be gathered together into one place … and it was so … and place … and it was so … and God saw that it was good.”God saw that it was good.”

Genesis 1: 9-10Genesis 1: 9-10

The Privatization of The Privatization of WaterWater

Should there really Should there really be a price to life?be a price to life?

The Privatization The Privatization of Waterof Water

Then why should we stand by as Then why should we stand by as people try to make money from people try to make money from

what already belongs to us all by what already belongs to us all by right?right?

Facts About WaterFacts About Water

Each and every life of the 6.5 billion Each and every life of the 6.5 billion people on Earth relies on water.people on Earth relies on water.

A UN study states that nearly A UN study states that nearly 70%70% of the of the world’s population is without clean water.world’s population is without clean water.

Nearly Nearly 6,0006,000 children die every day due to a children die every day due to a lack of clean water. That is equal to one child lack of clean water. That is equal to one child every fifteen seconds.every fifteen seconds.

Even though over 2/3 of the planet’s surface Even though over 2/3 of the planet’s surface is covered by water, only is covered by water, only 0.008 %0.008 % of it is of it is suitable for human consumption.suitable for human consumption.

The ProblemThe ProblemTheThe govegovernments of many developing countries rnments of many developing countries are selling their state-owned water companies, are selling their state-owned water companies, hoping to reduce their increasing financial debts.hoping to reduce their increasing financial debts.

The media leads many to believe that we The media leads many to believe that we “deserve the best,” and bottled water is “deserve the best,” and bottled water is presented as an improvement over tap presented as an improvement over tap water.water.We stand by while these things happen. If We stand by while these things happen. If we took a stand against it, we could we took a stand against it, we could improve the lives of many. improve the lives of many.

Is Commercially Bottled Is Commercially Bottled Water A Good Idea?Water A Good Idea?

Corporations have convinced many people Corporations have convinced many people of the “wisdom” of the “wisdom” of consuming aof consuming a “better”“better” form of water - in boform of water - in bottles.ttles.

The water coThe water containedntained in thesein these bbottles, ottles, however, may not be ahowever, may not be any “better”. Inny “better”. In fafact, ct, many bottling companies jumany bottling companies justst sell filteredsell filtered tap tap waterwater taken from municip taken from municipalal water sources!water sources!

Moreover, cMoreover, consuming onsuming “safer”“safer” wwater taken ater taken from someplace else does little to from someplace else does little to provoke people to try to keep their own provoke people to try to keep their own local sources of water clean.local sources of water clean.

Are Soft-Plastic Water Are Soft-Plastic Water Bottles Bottles

A Good Idea?A Good Idea? Studies Studies have shown that the plahave shown that the plastic used stic used

in such botin such bottlestles can release toxinscan release toxins into the into the water thwater theyey contain and into landcontain and into landfillfill sites sites wherewhere ththey often end up. This reey often end up. This represents a presents a potential potential increase in theincrease in the risk of risk of cancer. cancer.

Some meSome mediadia sources would havesources would have people people believe that our believe that our tap water is unsafe, ortap water is unsafe, or at at least not up to the least not up to the standards we deserve.standards we deserve. This advice, however, This advice, however, is based more on is based more on theirtheir desire to sell to us their product desire to sell to us their product rather than on reliable research.rather than on reliable research.

Are Soft-Plastic Water Are Soft-Plastic Water Bottles Bottles

A Good Idea?A Good Idea?

Studies also have shown that unless properly Studies also have shown that unless properly sterilized, the repeated re-use of soft-plastic sterilized, the repeated re-use of soft-plastic bottles can present a health risk through the bottles can present a health risk through the transmission of potentially harmful bacteria transmission of potentially harmful bacteria that could breed in the bottles. that could breed in the bottles.

What about the Poor?What about the Poor?

Some people will argue that putting a price Some people will argue that putting a price on water will increase people’s respect for on water will increase people’s respect for it, thus reducing pollution and waste.it, thus reducing pollution and waste.

On the other hand, charging for water only On the other hand, charging for water only hurts the poor, those who can least afford hurts the poor, those who can least afford to pay for it.to pay for it.

This is increasingly creating a two-tiered This is increasingly creating a two-tiered world, made up of those who have access world, made up of those who have access to clean drinking water and those who do to clean drinking water and those who do not.not.Could we be Could we be stealingstealing clean water from clean water from the poor to satisfy our own selfish the poor to satisfy our own selfish desires?desires?

““Water belongs to Water belongs to everyone and to no one.”everyone and to no one.” Water is Water is notnot a product like a chocolate bar a product like a chocolate bar

or a soda. It is here for everyone’s use.or a soda. It is here for everyone’s use.

Adding a price greatly reduces the Adding a price greatly reduces the number of people who can access number of people who can access potable water.potable water.Within the General Agreement on Within the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), officials are Tariffs and Trade (GATT), officials are debating the issue of whether or not debating the issue of whether or not water is a commodity. This should water is a commodity. This should not be an issue; water not be an issue; water isis a vital a vital resource, like the air we breathe, to resource, like the air we breathe, to be freely shared among all.be freely shared among all.

Should we trust private Should we trust private corporations to take care corporations to take care

of our water?of our water? The business of water currently generates The business of water currently generates

200 billion dollars a year200 billion dollars a year..

Companies see water as “(o)ne of the Companies see water as “(o)ne of the world’s great business opportunities. It world’s great business opportunities. It promises to be to the 21st century what promises to be to the 21st century what oil was to the 20th.” – oil was to the 20th.” – Fortune MagazineFortune Magazine . .

Profits tend to be given to shareholdeProfits tend to be given to shareholders rs instead of being re-invested into instead of being re-invested into imprimproving oving water systems.water systems.

Why shouldn’t we trust Why shouldn’t we trust businesses to take care businesses to take care

of our water?of our water? Privatization of such a vital resource reduces Privatization of such a vital resource reduces

democratic accountability; democratic accountability; only only shareholders shareholders would have any say in a company’s affairs.would have any say in a company’s affairs.

The fact is, business activity is targeted at The fact is, business activity is targeted at making money and does not necessarily making money and does not necessarily have the welfare of the people foremost in have the welfare of the people foremost in mind.mind.Citizens’ involvement in water managemenCitizens’ involvement in water management t decisions is greatly reduced.decisions is greatly reduced.

Where Do We Stand?Where Do We Stand?

Canada contains roughly Canada contains roughly 20%20% of all of of all of the world’s fresh water.the world’s fresh water.

Each Canadian uses, on average, Each Canadian uses, on average, approximately approximately 300 litres300 litres of water per of water per day. This would fill about two day. This would fill about two bathtubs!bathtubs!This contrasts with This contrasts with 20 litres20 litres per day per day used by the average citizen in used by the average citizen in developing countries.developing countries.

We have the power for social change. We have the power for social change. Will we use that power? Why not Will we use that power? Why not start now?start now?

Make the Governments Make the Governments ResponsibleResponsible

If a government hands over responsibility If a government hands over responsibility for water to corporations, they must for water to corporations, they must ensure that the needs of the people are ensure that the needs of the people are met and their rights fully respected.met and their rights fully respected.Because government regulations have too Because government regulations have too often failed to insure this, over a billion often failed to insure this, over a billion people’s access to clean water has been people’s access to clean water has been compromised.compromised. We need to demand that governments We need to demand that governments take action, doing everything within their take action, doing everything within their power to make sure that corporate power to make sure that corporate practices respect both the needs of the practices respect both the needs of the people and the environment.people and the environment.

What Can What Can You You Do?Do?

Refuse to purcRefuse to purchasehase bottled wbottled water and use it ater and use it only when theronly when theree are noare no suitasuitable alternatives.ble alternatives.

Use alternate Use alternate sources, likesources, like ffountains, or ountains, or prepare ahead prepare ahead by filling yourby filling your own glass or own glass or mug from your mug from your own tap.own tap.

Get involved. Send letters and sign petitions Get involved. Send letters and sign petitions to voice your opinion to government and to voice your opinion to government and corporate officials. corporate officials.

Support the efforts of one of the many Support the efforts of one of the many international organizations working for this international organizations working for this cause.cause.

More Things More Things YouYou Can Do Can Do ……

By speaking up now, you will be helping the By speaking up now, you will be helping the cause, encouraging consumers, corporations cause, encouraging consumers, corporations and the government to use their powers and and the government to use their powers and influence to prevent the coming of an age influence to prevent the coming of an age where the lack of water will be the root where the lack of water will be the root cause of even more suffering, especially cause of even more suffering, especially among the poor.among the poor.

Talk about the issue with your own family and friends and educate them to change their water usage habits.

Talk to local business owners and large corporations, expressing your concerns and supporting those who do change.

Still Still More More Ideas …Ideas … Reduce the amount of water you use in Reduce the amount of water you use in

your daily routines.your daily routines.

Promote the use of reusable glasses or mugs Promote the use of reusable glasses or mugs in your school among students and faculty, in your school among students and faculty, and work toward the elimination of bottled and work toward the elimination of bottled water in your vending machines and water in your vending machines and cafeterias.cafeterias.Plan ahead and provide water in pitchers Plan ahead and provide water in pitchers where there is a meeting or any where there is a meeting or any gathering of people.gathering of people.

Thank You For Caring Thank You For Caring About This Important About This Important

Global IssueGlobal Issue

“…“…of all the social and natural of all the social and natural resource crises we humans face, the resource crises we humans face, the water crisis lives at the heart of our water crisis lives at the heart of our survival and that of our planet Earth.”survival and that of our planet Earth.”

The United NationsThe United NationsWorld Water Development Report, 2003World Water Development Report, 2003

““But let justice roll down But let justice roll down like waters, and like waters, and

righteousness like an righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”ever-flowing stream.”

Amos 5: 24Amos 5: 24

PowerPoint Presentation PowerPoint Presentation brought to you by …brought to you by …

The Committee for Social The Committee for Social Justice of the Algonquin Justice of the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic and Lakeshore Catholic District School BoardDistrict School Board

Based on a design by: Greg Watkinson, Grade 11

St. Paul Catholic Secondary School,

Trenton, Ontario

2006