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have been a few developments in water recently that merit the attention of
Jubilee Research readers. 1. Suez/Ondeo announced it will pull out of its 25 year concession contract in Manila, Philippines. When this contrat was awarded in 1997, it was the world's largest privatisation and hailed as the way of the future for the reform of public services and the best way to extend services to the poor. Five years later, the shine is off the jewel, the dream is over, and the company will give up its contract in 60 days. The public water operator in Manila, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), will now have to take over the system. 2. The Department of Water and Forestry of South Africa is now stating that water should not come under the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), as opposed to what the European Union is advocating. DWAF also declared that donor governments and institutions should not impose privatisation of water systems as a condition of access to loans (this was agreed at the Bonn Freshwater Conference in December 2001). 3. The United Nations Committee on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights (ECOSOC) has declared formally for the first time. "Water should be treated as a social and cultural good, and not primarily as an economic commodity..." This is a very important declaration which will increase the pressure on governments to dedicate sufficient financial and political resources to implement the right to water for all. 4. Vivendi Universal has finally sold most of its shares in Vivendi Environment, which is responsible for water, energy, waste and transport activities. The new owners are large French banks. UPCOMING MEETINGS ON WATER World Social Forum PSI will participate in the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre from 22 to 28 January 2003. Among our activities, we will focus on water. Our programme has two main directions: 1. Resisting privatisation and commodification of water services, and 2. Strengthening Public Water Systems. We wlecome expressions of interest from other organisations that wish to join us in our activities. We will conduct public sessions as well as engage in planning sessions with organisations willing to coordinate work on water. World Water Forum PSI will also participate in the 3rd World Water Forum in Kyoto, Japan, 17-22 March 2003. We will have a one-day union panel on 18 March, and we will be active in many of the other sessions. Again, we welcome expressions of interest in groups that wish to participate with PSI in our activities. If wish more information on any of these issues, please feel free to contact me. David Boys Utilities and Pensions Officer Public Services International 45 avenue Voltaire, BP 9 F-01211 Ferney-Voltaire Cedex France http://www.world-psi.org Tel: +33 4 50 40 11 65 mobile: +33 6 07 09 26 47 Fax: +33 4 50 40 73 20 e-mail: David.Boys@world-psi.org |
