Water is Life - Canada Works Against Water Rights at UN

Whooee! Well friends an' foes, I was just over to Jimmy Harris's Green Party blog where he's talkin' about another shameful black mark against Canada's international reputation. My ol' buddy Jim points to this article in the Trawna Star:

Canada foils UN water plan

Advocates devastated at failure of resolution to recognize water as a basic human right

Apr 02, 2008 04:30 AM

Linda Diebel
National Affairs Writer

Canada emerged as the pivotal nation behind recent manoeuvres to block the United Nations Human Rights Council from recognizing water as a basic human right, according to international observers.

The Geneva-based body wrapped up an intense three-week session late Friday without passing a German-Spanish resolution intended to enshrine its importance in a world where more than 2 billion people live in water-stressed regions.

It would have also set up an international watchdog to monitor the actions of individual countries.

After its 46 members accepted a consensus resolution – essentially for more study – Canadian representative Sarah Geh told the council: "Canada does not view this resolution as creating a human right to water under international human rights law."

In his final speech, disappointed German representative Reinhard Schweppe stressed action is urgent. Access to clean water and sanitation, is "a part of human dignity," he said, adding a child dies every 20 seconds due to water-borne diseases.

Advocates for water rights were devastated by the outcome.

From Oxford, Ashfaq Khalfan, co-ordinator of the U.K.-headquartered Right to Water Program, said he believes the resolution to make water a right would have passed without the resolute lobby efforts of the Canadian delegation.

"It's rather unfortunate Canada put itself in that position," he said in an interview.
(There's more...)

Yeow! Maude Barlow figgers the Merkins got their hands in this. Canada's on the UN Human Rights Council but the Merkins ain't so she sez we're just doin' their biddin' like the loyal water-carriers we are.

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness - them's rights that are promised to Merkins in their constitution. Since human life is impossible without water, I reckon Merkins could argue they gotta right to clean water. It's the rest of the world who Canada wants to deprive of that right.

The Green Party is the only federal Canadian party calling for the right to clean drinking water to be enshrined in law. Water is life. We shouldn't have to make such laws. We sure as hell shouldn't oughta be workin' against the right to life.

JimBobby