Israel's armed forces have destroyed vital water and sewage infrastructure in their bombing campaign of the besieged territory, writes Mohammed Omer. This constitutes a severe breach of the 1977 Protocol to the 1949 Geneva Conventions on the part of Israel and all those conceiving, planning, ordering and perpetrating the attacks.
… Gaza: Israel bombs water and sewage systems Mohammed Omer | 16th July 2014 News Middle East Water Health War Law Human Rights … Israel's armed forces have destroyed vital water and sewage infrastructure in their …
The military targeting of civilian infrastructure, especially of water supplies, is a war crime under the Geneva Conventions, writes Nafeez Ahmed. Yet this is precisely what NATO did in Libya, while blaming the damage on Gaddafi himself. Since then, the country's water infrastructure - and the suffering of its people - has only deteriorated further.
… War crime: NATO deliberately destroyed Libya's water infrastructure Nafeez Ahmed | 14th May 2015 News Libya Africa Water War Law libya-puddle-water-cut2.jpg The military targeting of …
As World Water Week kicks off in Stockholm today with a theme of 'Water for Development', the drought being deliberately inflicted on Palestinians is firmly off the agenda, writes Laith Shakir. While Israelis water their lawns, irrigate crops and swim in Olympic-sized pools, Palestinian communities a few kilometers away are literally dying of thirst.
… Laith Shakir | 23rd August 2015 News Water Middle East USA War Law Human Rights water-tanks-hebron-cut.jpg As World Water Week kicks off in Stockholm today with a …
Amid the growing call for those guilty of causing Flint, Michigan's water crisis to be prosecuted, Jane F. Barrett finds little prospect of criminal charges under the Safe Drinking Water Act. But federal, state and common laws offer prosecutors a range of potential charges, from malfeasance, misfeasance and nonfeasance to involuntary manslaughter.
… Flint water crisis - will anyone be prosecuted? Jane … of Maryland | 18th February 2016 Comment Water Pollution Health Regulation Law USA … for those guilty of causing Flint, Michigan's water crisis to be prosecuted, Jane F. Barrett …
To save a small amount of money residents of Flint, Michigan, have been forced to consume hazardous levels of lead in their drinking water, writes Farron Cousins. Just the moment for the Republican House Speaker to attack the Clean Water Act.
… Flint drinks lead-laden water; Republicans attack Clean Water Act Farron Cousins DesmogBlog.com | 22nd January 2016 News Water Politics USA Law Toxics Health …
Local people are furiously trying to stop a fracking company from drilling near a drinking water reservoir serving tens of thousands of homes, after Northern Ireland planners failed to block Infrastrata's claim for 'permitted development' rights.
… fracking company drilling near drinking water reservoir Oliver Tickell | 11th May 2016 News Fracking Water Law Pollution Protest Northern Ireland … company from drilling near a drinking water reservoir serving tens of thousands of …
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 …
Environmental injustice is deeply embedded in American attitudes, says Robert D. Bullard, and the lead pollution of Flint's water is but the latest example of an unconscious yet pervasive discrimination against poor and minority communities across the US. Only with strong, deliberate and effective leadership can the EPA and other regulators overcome their prejudices.
… Flint's water crisis is a blatant example of … | 28th January 2016 Comment Regulation Water Racism Law USA flint-mi-cut.jpg … D. Bullard, and the lead pollution of Flint's water is but the latest example of an …
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 …
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 …
New regulations that will allow fracking under national parks, water sources and nature sites won the approval of MPs today in a Commons vote, write Kyla Mandel & Oliver Tickell, even though four Tory MP's rebelled against the party whip. But the new rules won't apply in Wales and Scotland.
… go-ahead in England's national parks, SSSIs, water sources Kyla Mandel Oliver Tickell | … will allow fracking under national parks, water sources and nature sites won the … and other protected sites including groundwater protection zones as the government goes …
After eleven years of campaigning by local people suffering from water shortages, state authorities have closed Coca-Cola's bottling plant at Mehdiganj, Uttar Pradesh - inspiring campaigners at another three Coca Cola sites in India.
… | 19th June 2014 News Corporations India Water Pollution Law Food … of campaigning by local people suffering from water shortages, state authorities have closed … in Mehdiganj since 2003 as a result of water shortages - blamed on over-extraction by …
On the final day of the trial of Caroline Lucas and other anti-fracking protestors, we ask - what about human rights? Entirely neglected by the government in its desperate drive to frack, they ought to trump all other policy considerations.
… March 2014 Comment Fracking Law Fossil Fuels Water Pollution UK Politics … shale gas reserves. Health, air and water at risk On the one hand, supporters … including the potential contamination of water and soil from toxic chemicals used in …
For 16 years the Thai government has ignored the plight of a community where toxic lead mine waste is causing severe chronic poisoning - defying both a 2013 court order, and its international obligations. It's just one of many toxic sites across Thailand that need to be cleaned up - but the government's main concern is to encourage further industrialisation.
… while villagers remain exposed to lead in water, soil, vegetables, and fish. The report, ' Toxic Water, Tainted Justice ' by Human Rights … lead in the creek until test results from the water, soil, vegetables, and aquatic animals …
Brazil has suffered its biggest ever industrial disaster, write Ana Luisa Naghettini & Geraldo Lopes. Breached and overflowing dams have released a massive slug of toxic muds and tailings from iron mining into the country's fifth largest river system that provides drinking water for downstream cities, destroying ecosystems in rivers and vast areas of biologically fragile ocean.
… Geraldo Lopes | 19th November 2015 News Water Waste Pollution Brazil Ecocide Law … largest river system that provides drinking water for downstream cities, destroying … and Civil Defense (Sedec) announced that water treatment and distribuition is already …
A Spending Bill now under debate in Congress would cut over $100 million from renewable energy, grant extra funds for dumping nuclear waste and fossil fuel research, exempt 'mountain top removal' coal from regulation, and limit the EPA's power to enforce clean water laws.
… and limit the EPA's power to enforce clean water laws. The House Appropriations Committee … protection. The 2015 Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies … environmental protections. Restricting Clean Water Act In order to combat what committee …
International judges today condemned China's great 'water grab' of the South China Sea - not least for its destruction of over 100 sq.km of pristine coral reefs, dredged and ground up to build artificial islands, and the ransacking of their wildlife, from endangered sea turtles to giant clams.
… judges today condemned China's great 'water grab' of the South China Sea - not least … at China's 'occupation' of islands and waters that fall within its exclusive … at its Spratly Islands and surrounding waters equipped with cyanide to poison fish …
Doima, a small town in the Colombian highlands, is on the front line of battle against a giant government-backed gold mine that would fill a nearby valley hundreds of metres deep in over a billion tonnes of mine waste. Hal Rhoades met Mariana Goméz Soto, an activist in Doima's campaign to defeat the mine project.
… which feeds the rivers, Doima is very rich in water. Many people call Tolima (the region in … up saying 'no to mining!' and 'we prefer water to gold!' The company tried to meet with … pits. We also believe they want to use the water here. We have the rivers and underneath …
Montana legislators have brushed off the attempts of farmers, ranchers and landowners to effect 'zoning' regulations to protect them, their land, their water and their livestock from the toxic impacts of fracking. Now they say: 'See you in Court!'.
… to protect them, their land, their water and their livestock from the toxic … establish solid protections for land, air and water quality, giving landowners an essential … are few requirements for protecting our water or how far drilling must be set back …
Not satisfied with seizing Palestinian land and water, Israeli settlers in the West Bank have found a new way to enrich themselves at their neighbors' expense - by stealing their fertile soil and transporting it to their own farms and gardens.
… | 22nd April 2015 News Middle East Land Grabs Water Law … satisfied with seizing Palestinian land and water, Israeli settlers in the West Bank have … has also suffered the demolition of homes and water wells, and the deliberate destruction of …
There is a growing global movement to recognise the rights of rivers, writes Debadityo Sinha. But rights alone are not enough. We must love and respect rivers, and even think like rivers to understand the vital functions they perform within landscapes and ecosystems, and so discover where their 'best interests' truly lie. And then we must be willing to act: protecting rivers and restoring them to health and wholeness.
… river Debadityo Sinha | 22nd May 2017 Comment Water Natural World Law narmada-cut.jpg There … soil and carries the sediments along with its water and ultimately deposits them in its … which would mean unobstructed flow of 'water' and 'sediments'. The deposition of …
India's neoliberal government is attempting the mass seizure of indigenous lands, commons and forests in order to hand them over for corporate exploitation with mines, dams and plantations, writes Pushpa Achanta. But tribal communities are rising up to resist the takeover, which is not only morally reprehensible but violates India's own laws and international human rights obligations.
… Peoples organise to protect forests, waters and commons Pushpa Achanta Waging … 2015 News India Indigenous Peoples Forests Water Energy Law Human Rights Mining … The dam was approved by the Central Water Commission of India in 1976, but was …
After 20 years of oil spills, deforestation, waste dumping and ill health, farmers and indigenous people in the the Ecuadorian Amazon have been fighting the Chevron-Texaco corporation. But despite its three times conviction and a $9.5 billion damages award to the victims, the oil giant looks no closer to making good its damage.
… "If you put a stick in here, for example, water and oil come out. The is oil is just … from the drilling process, and any waste water - without any attempt at waterproofing or concern for the environment. …
Israeli military forces have resumed their harassment of Palestinian pastoralists in the occupied Jordan Valley, part of the West Bank, holding live-fire tank and infantry maneuvers on pastures and cropland close to local communities, accompanied by the forced expulsion of both people and livestock.
… five tractors used by the residents to carry water and livestock feed, and after Civil … is like my right hand - I use it to carry water and animal feed for the flocks and … 10 a.m. It was really tough. The food and water we'd taken with us weren't sufficient. …