Confronting water injustices

There will be a seminar in London on the 18th of March discussing the importance of this precious liquid for the strengthening of Latin American democracies. Water is a vital resource that could help to put an end to poverty.

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According to the Regional Office of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) for Latin America and the Caribbean, in the region there are “120 million urban residents who lack access to adequate water, while 150 million do not have adequate sanitation”.

The FAO highlights the need for countries to adopt methods and specific policies for adequate management and use of this vital life resource.

It is estimated that if things continue as they are, by 2027 “one third of the world’s inhabitants will suffer from a serious water shortage”.

This is a warning that coincides with the theme for World Water Day, “co-operation around water”. According to the United Nations, there is a need to adopt methods to guarantee the provision of this vital resource for all citizens.

Moreover, it is considered that the provision of water is crucial to fight against one of the current major problems, poverty.

Owing to the importance of implementing sustainable, efficient and equitable management of the planet’s water resources, there will be a seminar in London entitled “Confronting Water Injustices: Experiences from Latin America”.

Throughout the day various experts will attempt to clarify how problems with water provision can attribute to problems with strengthening social and democratic development in South and Central America.

Among the speakers, Esteban Castro, professor from the University of Newcastle, will analyse how inequalities in water provision complicate the peace process in open socio-political conflicts in different territories.

Also participating, on behalf of UCL-Institute of the Americas, will be Adriana Allen and Étienne von Bertrab. Allen will discuss existing programmes available to citizens to access water resources in urban areas.

Meanwhile, Bertrab will focus his discussion on clarifying political injustices committed in Mexico over water distribution and, the mutual institutions that have sprung up to guarantee the use of the resource for everyone.

The session will take place on the 18th of March at UCL-Institute of the Americas, 51 Gordon Square in London.

For more information go to the website: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/americas/ia-events/water-injustice

(Translated by Claire Donneky – Email: claire.donneky@ukgateway.net)