The UN took an historic vote on July 28 when it passed a resolution introduced by Bolivia on the Human Right to Water and Sanitation. Thanks to all who left messages for the Ambassador and/or signed the Credo petition. The resolution got 122 votes in favor, 41 abstentions including the US, and did not get any no votes. The U.S. did not succeed in watering down the resolution, but joined 40 other countries (list below), including Great Britain and Canada, in abstaining. Continue reading UPDATE: VICTORY! UN Voting 7/28 on Right to Water
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Staff Writer Poland Spring and the water district that serves Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Wells are close to striking a deal that would allow the company to draw water from one of the district’s underground springs, although a fledgling group of opponents hopes to delay the process. Continue reading Activist Alert: Nestle Again Goes after Spring Water in Wells The state may ban some uses of a controversial plastic additive as its first “priority chemical” under a new toxic chemical control law. Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection is recommending that bisphenol-A, or BPA, be banned from use in reusable food and beverage containers such as baby bottles and water bottles sold in the state. Continue reading Maine may limit use of BPA Statement of Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah HauterWashington, D.C.-”Yesterday, the Supreme Court of New Jersey overwhelmingly agreed that the people of Trenton should have a say in how public water resources are managed with its 5-1 ruling to allow a referendum regarding the potential sale of a portion of Trenton’s water system to a private company. A local citizen’s group has been engaged in a two-year battle with American Water to allow the citizens of Trenton to exercise their rights to directly participate in the decision to sell off a major component of their publically-owned water system. “Food & Water Watch applauds the Supreme Court of New Jersey’s validation of the public’s will to have a say in the ways in which their essential water resources are governed and managed. To have denied the referendum would have undermined fundamental principals in state law that guarantee that water resources are managed for the benefit of the public. “This is a victory for the people of Trenton and a setback for any corporations who may be planning to preempt public participation by shifting the debate from the ballot box to the courtroom.” “We call on the City of Trenton to swiftly resume the referendum process that was halted last year.” Contact: Kate Fried, Food & Water Watch (202) 683-2500, kfried(at)foodandwaterwatch(dot)org Monday 22 March 2010 Tara Lohan | AlterNet It took six years for residents of tiny McCloud, California, to give Nestle Waters North America its walking papers. The water bottler had hoped to build a 1 million square-foot facility in the town of less than 2,000 and was given a backroom 50-year contract (renewable for an additional 50 years) to annually take 1,250 gallons per minute of delicious spring water from the town, hunkered in the shadow of Mount Shasta, and unlimited groundwater. But after years of opposition from community and environmental groups, Nestle scrapped its plans and left with its tail between its legs. Continue reading Are Greedy Water Bottlers Siphoning Your City’s Drinking Water? Free-trade case targets 2008 move by Newfoundland and LabradorBy NICOLAS VAN PRAET, Canwest News ServiceFebruary 26, 2010
Insolvent pulp-and-paper giant AbitibiBowater Inc. has launched a $500-million free-trade challenge to fight what it contends is the illegal expropriation of its assets in Newfoundland and Labrador. It would be one of the largest such claims brought against the federal government. Continue reading Abitibi launches $500-million challenge Days before the federal budget is to be tabled, AbitibiBowater has announced it is filing a NAFTA Chapter 11 challenge against Canada for $500 million. |
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Defending Water For Life in Maine | Coordinator: Emily Posner |
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