The privatisation of global water services means billion-dollar profits for corporations and pollution, disconnection and soaring prices for consumers
… The privatisation of water Jon Luoma | 1st March 2004 News Water Pollution Corporations Privatisation Bottled Water Human Rights Violations Fresh Water …
California's drought is a harbinger of things to come around the world, writes Maude Barlow. Because of global warming, yes - but also because the Golden State is an exemplar of the 'water as property for corporate profit' neoliberal paradigm that's taking over the world. It's now essential to assert water as a Commons - to be both justly shared, and fiercely protected!
… drought Maude Barlow | 1st July 2015 News Water Commons Corporations Health water-bottles-cut.jpg California's drought is … the Golden State is an exemplar of the 'water as property for corporate profit' …
Following a series of disastrous failures in India, one of Coca-Cola's most important markets, the company is desperate to rebuild its reputation by claiming 'water neutrality'. But the idea is absurd, writes Amit Srivastava, and does nothing to benefit the communities that suffer from the depleted aquifers it pumps from.
… mind the greenwash - Coca Cola can never be 'water neutral' Amit Srivastava | 25th August 2015 Comment Water India Corporations Society … to rebuild its reputation by claiming 'water neutrality'. But the idea is absurd, …
In California, water no longer runs to the sea - it runs towards money, writes Will Parrish. Most of the state's water is already controlled by agribusiness elites. Now, backed by politicians, they are planning to grab the little that's left, leaving nature and indigenous communities high and dry.
… River - California agro-barons' last huge water grab Will Parrish | 17th June 2014 News Water USA Indigenous Peoples Farming … In California, water no longer runs to the sea - it runs …
Private water companies have never been more aggressive in their sabotaging of efforts to 'make water public', writes Satoko Kishimoto, with legal threats and challenges launched under 'free trade' agreements. But as citizens worldwide reject corporate water profiteering, the trend of water re-municipalisation has gathered unstoppable momentum.
… Our public water future - closing out the corporate … Satoko Kishimoto | 17th April 2015 News Water Corporations Commons Trade … aggressive global companies running public water supply in cities around the world. But …
The US and other governments are pushing a failed model of water privatization, writes Victoria Collier - but water is a human right, not just a commodity to be traded for profit or monopolized by corporations, and citizens and communities worldwide are fighting back, from Detroit to Cochabamba, from Berlin to Malaysia, to reclaim their water commons.
… Citizens worldwide mobilize against corporate water grabs Victoria Collier | 15th February 2015 News Water Corporations Commons water-is-life-cut.jpg The US and other …
A critical appraisal of the mining industry’s contributions to the global water crisis, on World Water Day 2019 and in the wake of recent disasters.
… Undermining the watercycle Hannibal Rhoades Sara Campanales | 22nd March 2019 News Mining Water World Water Day Health … mining industry’s contributions to the global water crisis, on World Water Day 2019 and in …
Dead fish found after cyclones and storms forced Rio Tinto's QMM mine in Madagascar to dump water causes alarm.
… Dead fish found as mine dumps water Yvonne Orengo | 25th March 2022 | News … Rio Tinto's QMM mine in Madagascar to dump water causes alarm. Two mine tailings dam … a million cubic metres of mine process water from 8 March 2022 to prevent a complete …
Across Europe water is going public - no silly, going into the public sector! Except in England, writes David Hall, where politicians (except the Greens) adhere rigidly to the failed, expensive model of corporate water supply ...
… UK must step up on access to water David Hall | 17th March 2014 Comment Water Corporations UK Europe France EU burst-water-main.png Across Europe water is going …
California has responded to the drought by rationing water, with $500 fines for domestic 'water wasters', writes Evan Blake. But agribusiness and water-intensive industries like fracking remain untouched by the restrictions, even though they consume over 90% of the state's water.
… drought: agribusiness, fracking untouched by water rationing Evan Blake | 5th April 2015 News Water USA Corporations Farming Oil Gas … has responded to the drought by rationing water, with $500 fines for domestic 'water …
Using sophisticated financial engineering, Thames Water is making its customers pay almost the whole cost of its £4.2 billion London sewage tunnel. Is it time England ditched corporate ownership of its utilities and adopted Wales's 'non-profit' model?
… Soaking the customer - Thames Water's £4 billion sewage money grab John … Allen Michael Pryke | 4th July 2014 Comment Water UK Finance Corporations … sophisticated financial engineering, Thames Water is making its customers pay almost the …
The impending renewal of the license for a uranium mine in Nebraska has ignited a years long resistance among those - most of them women - for whom good health and safe, clean water in the Ogallala aquifer is as important as life itself, writes Suree Towfighnia. But for others, jobs and money come first. Now the Nuclear Regulatory Commission must reach its decision.
… Water first! Lakota women and ranchers lead … 2015 News Mining Indigenous Peoples USA Water Pollution Nuclear Health … women - for whom good health and safe, clean water in the Ogallala aquifer is as important …
Disastrous water pollution from gold mines in El Salvador has united government and people to oppose new metal mines, writes Lynn Holland. In Central America's most water scarce country, the imperative is to keep lakes, rivers and streams clean and wholesome. But there may be a heavy price to pay, with a Canadian mining company pressing a $300 million 'compensation' claim.
… For the love of water: El Salvador's mining ban may cost $300m … Lynn Holland | 10th October 2015 News Mining Water El Salvador Central America Canada Law … Disastrous water pollution from gold mines in El Salvador …
Communities in southern Madagascar impacted by water pollution are still waiting for basic public health information from mining giant Rio Tinto.
… in southern Madagascar impacted by water pollution are still waiting for basic … buffer zone and contamination of local waterways by its subsidiary Qit Minerals … Rights to information, to safe drinking water and a healthy environment underpin Rio …
Four years ago today the world's biggest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl took place at Fukushima, Japan. Total clean-up costs are estimated around $0.5 trillion, writes Jim Green - but work to defuse the dangers has barely begun, the site is flooded with radioactive water making its way to the sea, and underpaid and illegally contracted workers are suffering a rising toll of death and injury.
… Energy Japan Pollution Corporations fukushima-water-sampling-cut.jpg Four years ago today … begun, the site is flooded with radioactive water making its way to the sea, and underpaid … with the increasing amount of contaminated water posing a short-term challenge that must …
The Turow open-pit lignite mine is drying up water sources on both sides of the Polish-Czech border. In light of plans to expand mining at Turow, Czechs are now rebelling against putting up with damages from a foreign mine they get no benefits from CLAUDIA CIOBANU reports
… Czechs angry at severe water loss caused by Polish mining Claudia … The Turow open-pit lignite mine is drying up water sources on both sides of the … uses an estimated 200 million cubic meters of water a year - has been drying up ground and …
Rio Tinto's QMM ilmenite mine in Madagascar has breached a legal buffer zone, exposing local people to “unacceptably high” environmental risks, a new study by the Andrew Lees Trust has found. YVONNE ORENGO and STEVEN EMERMAN report
… Fears of radionuclide-enriched water pollution as Madagascar mining breaches … where people fish, collect reeds and other water products. The Andrew Lees Trust reports … and seasonal flooding, and a volatile water table. The extraction of ilmenite leaves …
First the Pepsi-Cola bottling company in south India caused outrage by depleting groundwater. Next it was found to be operating without valid permits.Then as protests grew the company won a High Court order giving it police protection. Now locals are vowing to keep the plant shut for good.
… protection The Ecologist | 20th May 2015 News Water India Corporations Law … south India caused outrage by depleting groundwater. Next it was found to be operating … - and will receive - police protection for water being trucked in to the disputed plant …
OceanaGold is demanding $300 million in compensation from impoverished El Salvador after a mining permit was refused to safeguard a clean drinking water source that millions of people depend on, writes Pete Dolack. The sum does not even represent losses - but profits the company claims it would have made.
… $300 million attack on El Salvador's water Pete Dolack | 5th October 2014 News … was refused to safeguard a clean drinking water source that millions of people depend … to the right of El Salvador to clean drinking water - and an unappealable World Bank secret …
The curse of Uranium has fallen once again on the Black Hills of South Dakota, ancestral home to the Lakota Indians - now fighting a massive mining project that threatens land, rivers and groundwater. But this time, writes Ben Whitford, the Lakota are not alone ...
… Protect our sacred water! Ben Whitford | 3rd March 2014 News Mining Ecocide Indigenous Peoples USA Water Nuclear Power bh-protect-water.png The curse of Uranium has fallen once …
Maude Barlow, Chair of the Council for Canadians, has dedicated her life to fighting injustice, and so-called 'free trade' deals in particular. In this interview with Nick Dearden, Maude explained how CETA, the Canada-EU trade and investment agreement, is every bit as dangerous as TTIP, but has somehow escaped the same level of media and campaign focus - and what we can do about it.
… to take European governments to court and to water down regulations. Already, thanks to … who knows when this might start applying to water too. We've fought it off until now, but … future. So imagine, Canada exporting limited water supplies to California to maintain …
The latest country to be hooked under 'free trade' agreements is Colombia, writes Pete Dolack, sued for tens of billions of dollars by US and Canadian gold mining companies for valuing its national parks and the high-altitude Andean wetlands that provide 70% of the nation's water above the profits of foreign corporations. Free trade or clean water? You can't have both.
… Colombia: there's no place for clean water under 'free trade' Pete Dolack | 14th … 2016 News Colombia Mining Trade US Canada Water Conservation Corporations … wetlands that provide 70% of the nation's water above the profits of foreign …
Now it's Argentina's turn to be sued in a secret 'free trade' court run by the World Bank, writes Nick Dearden. After bringing a profiteering water company that was missing all its service and quality targets back into public ownership, the country has been ordered to pay $405 million 'compensation'.
… Nick Dearden | 17th April 2015 Comment Trade Water Corporations Law Argentina argentina-water-protest-cut.jpg Now it's Argentina's … Nick Dearden. After bringing a profiteering water company that was missing all its service …