Maude Barlow 1st UN Water Adviser
Canadian activist Maude Barlow has been appointed as the United Nation’s first senior adviser on water issues, a role she hopes to use to establish water as a human right and to convince Canada to “change its shameful position” on the issue.
Barlow, chair of the citizens’ advocacy group Council of Canadians, will work with the current president of the UN General Assembly, Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to advance a more democratic and transparent method of policy making around water at the global level than now exists,” Barlow said in a press release. “Water is a commons, a public trust and a human right.”
Barlow said there’s “growing momentum” in the international community for water justice but will focus some of her attention on her home country.
“I also plan to take this opportunity to get the Canadian government to change its shameful position, and to finally join the international community in recognizing water as a human right,” said Barlow.
D’Escoto extolled on Barlow’s ability to “combine humanitarian vision with a practical approach to problem solving” and has expressed support for her crusade, calling water a “human right as basic as the air we breathe.”
Barlow holds six honorary doctorates and has written or co-written 16 books. She is also co-founder of the Blue Planet Project, a group that works to protect fresh water from trade and privatization around the world.
The United Nations estimates 42,000 people die every week from diseases related to bad water and poor sanitation.
Related Posts - Netanyahu gets nod to form new Israeli government Benjamin Netanyahu urged his top rivals on Friday to join his government after he was formally tapped to put together the country’s next coalition – a tricky alliance that would...
- Global Markets Shaken LONDON–Financial markets around the world had a rocky start Monday after European governments took steps to limit the damage from the growing global financial crisis. U.S. stocks appeared headed for...
- World Water Forum March 22 was first deemed World Water Day in 1993 by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) as an international day of observance and action to draw...
- Ways To Help Our Friends In Haiti's Tragedy Here is a compiled list of other ways to help from CTV News. Following is a list of links to Canadian organizations that have a track record of providing aid...
- Mexico Flu Sparks Worldwide Fear Mexican authorities have taken drastic measures to contain a new strain of the swine flu virus that has killed 81 and prompted fears of a global pandemic. People are being...
- 'Millions at Risk' as Deltas Sink By Richard Black- Environment correspondent, BBC News website Most of the world's major river deltas are sinking, increasing the flood risk faced by hundreds of millions of people, scientists report....
Related Websites - Copenhagen treaty was 'held to ransom' said Gordon Brown Copenhagen treaty was 'held to ransom', says Gordon Brown Gordon Brown calls for reform of UN climate talks after Copenhagen talks end in weak agreement Gordon Brown today said a new global treaty on climate change had been "held to ransom" by some countries opposed to a deal in......
- Pray for Pakistan Have you heard about the flooding in Pakistan? Often we see an incredible open-ness to the Gospel when Christians rise up in love and practical ways. Here's how you can help. It's from a Pastor friend of mine. As all of you know Flash floods in Pakistan caused by heavy monsoon rains......
- IAEA report on Iran, has fuel for 2 nuclear weapons [/caption] VIENNA (AP) — Iran has amassed more than two tons of enriched uranium, the U.N. atomic agency said Monday in a report that heightened Western concerns about the country developing the ability to produce a nuclear weapon. Two tons of uranium would be enough for two nuclear warheads, although......
- Apple shares slide as iPhone 4 concerns grow [/caption] LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Shares of Apple Inc slid more than 4 percent on Tuesday after a poor review for its iPhone 4 from an influential consumer guide underpinned mounting complaints about the hot-selling device's reception. Consumer Reports said on Monday it could not recommend the iPhone 4 --......
- Adult industry sees iPorn potential in new phone [/caption] NEW YORK – It's a maxim of technology: Invent the newest gadget and the porn industry will find a way to cash in. So when Apple Inc. launched the iPhone 4 and its FaceTime videoconference feature, it didn't take long for adult-entertainment companies to develop video-sex chat services and......
- California Salmon Population Dropped 88% in 5 Years California Salmon are disappearing. The number of King Salmon (aka the Chinook) returning to the Sacramento watershed was at a near record low low and an 88% drop from the population 5 years ago. Calif. salmon population declines. Regulators are still trying to understand the reasons for the shrinking number......
Short URL: http://www.internationalnetworknews.com/?p=512
Posted by John Malloy
on Oct 21 2008. Filed under Uncategorized.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
