In that meeting, the WTO secretariat representative said that they see a
link between the WTO and the Johannesburg Summit, on the issue of water.
Since the Summit will agree "to increase by 2015 access to clean water" (as
per the Millennium Development Goal) by encouraging partnerships with the
private sector, they believe that the "GATS regime can bring predictability for
investors (read multinationals) and the WTO can thus fulfil an essential
role in providing access to clean water"!!
WSSD offers a great opportunity to us to communicate to world leaders that
there are Many Alternatives! Let us tell our governments what we think:
That water is part of the commons, not a commodity; that access to safe water to meet basic needs is a fundamental right and a civic responsibility; that we do not want water in WTO, not as a good, nor as a service!
If you need some back ground readings on GATS before endorsing the
accompanying call, please visit: http://www.gatswatch.org
A CIVIL SOCIETY CALL TO GOVERNMENTS AT THE WSSD
KEEP WATER AND WATER SERVICES OUT OF THE WTO
We call upon all governments to keep water and water services out of the
WTO and all other regional and international trade negotiations and
investment agreements.
link between the WTO and the Johannesburg Summit, on the issue of water.
Since the Summit will agree "to increase by 2015 access to clean water" (as
per the Millennium Development Goal) by encouraging partnerships with the
private sector, they believe that the "GATS regime can bring predictability for
investors (read multinationals) and the WTO can thus fulfil an essential
role in providing access to clean water"!!
WSSD offers a great opportunity to us to communicate to world leaders that
there are Many Alternatives! Let us tell our governments what we think:
That water is part of the commons, not a commodity; that access to safe water to meet basic needs is a fundamental right and a civic responsibility; that we do not want water in WTO, not as a good, nor as a service!
If you need some back ground readings on GATS before endorsing the
accompanying call, please visit: http://www.gatswatch.org
A CIVIL SOCIETY CALL TO GOVERNMENTS AT THE WSSD
KEEP WATER AND WATER SERVICES OUT OF THE WTO
We call upon all governments to keep water and water services out of the
WTO and all other regional and international trade negotiations and
investment agreements.