In 1992, the UN established March 22 as World Water Day. Since then, millions of people worldwide have celebrated the day with a strong message that water belongs to the planet and its inhabitants.
The World Water Council, established in 1996, hosts a World Water Forum every three years, on and around World Water Day. At the 2003 Forum, Water Warriors demonstrated against the profiteering attitude of the Council and its plans for privatization. Water is vital to people's health and livelihoods. In Canada, there is no national strategy to address urgent water issues and no federal leadership to conserve and protect our water. The Federal Water Policy is more than 20 years old and badly outdated. There is a growing list of crises facing our fresh water, including contamination, shortages and pressure to export water to the US through pipelines and diversions. Communities across the country are in desperate need of money to pay for water pipes and filtration systems, which are now the responsibility of municipal governments. These governments are now looking to private investors to rebuild infrastructure through public-private partnerships (P3s). Water is a public health and safety concern and is best managed, regulated and financed by public systems that are accountable to the community. When for-profit interests control drinking water, quality decreases and cost increases.
In preparation for the upcoming World Water Forum in Mexico (March 16-22), campaigners from around the globe are demanding that water be taken out of free trade agreements and are pushing for the campaign against water privatization to be strengthened. Water activists are also calling for the abolition of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), which ruled this year that the US multinational Bechtel could sue Bolivia for its ousting during the popular revolt against the privatization of water services in the city of Cochabamba. www.democracyctr.org/waterwar
World Water Day 2006 provides many opportunities for continuing to counter international and local water privatization initiatives. See www.canadians.org for some interesting diversion and privatization facts. Some Canadians will be heading to Mexico City, while those staying at home are encouraged to participate in their own communities. For events in your community, visit www.blueplanetproject.net.
The Vancouver chapter of the Council of Canadians sponsors a free World Water Day event, Wednesday, March 22, 7 pm. The event includes a film screening of Thirst and a panel discussion about local and international water issues. Unitarian Church, 949 West 49th (at Oak), 604-263-1005.


Hadas Levy is a programmer for the upcoming screening of Reflections on Water taking place during Vancouver's World Peace Forum in June. E-mail levhadas@yahoo.com.