This is the title of a new report by Maude Barlow, and of a network to support new policy principles regarding the management of water as a commons.
1. The Report
“In every corner of the globe, communities (not just human, but flora and fauna as well) are in a pitched battle against thirst. Thank you for your interest in learning more about the principles of the water commons and in joining an international movement to support equitable, community-based water management.
One clear lesson emerges from the struggles of the world’s water warriors — water management remains a leaky endeavor unless it adheres to the principles of the commons — the gifts of society and nature that are shared by all, for generations to come. Effective water management must be based on such water commons principles as community control, democratic participation, ensuring the earth’s right to water, public water delivery and accessibility for all.”
2. The Network
“Our Water Commons was launched as a project of On the Commons, in partnership with the Council on Canadians and the Blue Mountain Center.
Our Water Commons seeks to support the growing global movement committed to protection, reclamation and promotion of the global water commons. This urgent task will be accomplished by supporting and building upon the remarkable range of existing global work being done on water – from keeping water public to enshrining the right to water in national and international law to promoting community-based water management models. Our Water Commons seeks to be a resource for your organization in promoting the water commons.
Our Water Commons is a young and evolving network. It was conceived at a conference held in May 2008 at the Blue Mountain Center in upstate New York with the support of On the Commons, the Blue Planet Project, the New Mexico Acequia Association, the Transnational Institute, the Rights Research Centre, Red Vida, the Heinrich Boll Foundation, the Institute for Policy Studies, Food and Water Watch, Tarun Bharat Sangh, Grassroots International, the Park Foundation, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, and many others.”