The Council of Canadians has organized a conference, Water for People and Nature: An International Forum on Conservation and Human Rights that will take place this July 5-8 in Vancouver. CUPE will be playing an active role in this important event and I would urge you to consider attending.
Water resources around the world are under incredible pressure. Pollution, depletion and privatization are putting more and more of this shared and precious resource in jeopardy. CUPE members, especially those of you on the front lines, working in our public water systems, know how important it is to get actively involved in the fight against privatization. Water for People and Nature will produce a platform to ensure that water conservation and every persons fundamental right to clean, safe water become the focus of strategies for water in this century.
The conference will bring together water experts, activists and municipal leaders and water workers from around the world for three days of discussion and debate. Workshops will allow participants the opportunity to discuss the central issues facing water today and contribute to developing a plan to achieve environmental and social justice.
To facilitate this process, simultaneous interpretation will be available in English, French, and Spanish for both the plenaries and workshops.
CUPE will be facilitating a session entitled Preventing Privatization. We will also be organizing a caucus of CUPE members attending the conference to discuss CUPEs Action Plan to defend, expand and improve Canadas public water systems. If you are attending the conference, please plan to join us at 10:00 am on Thursday, July 5 (we will be in touch to let you know the exact location of the meeting).
The conference agenda is available here for your convenience. I hope that as many CUPE members as possible will be able to attend this important conference.