Mexicanas Famoa Follano

A referendum for water (Editorial El Tiempo)

A referendum for water
May 28, 2007. Editor of El Tiempo.

Advances in the country a referendum initiative aimed at enshrining in the Constitution something that seems obvious, but it is far from reality in the country: that access to water should be ensured without discrimination and even free to those unable to pay the minimum amount necessary to preserve his life.

Understanding this proposal is sufficient to note that according to the Ombudsman, 12 million Colombians have no access to drinking water and four million have difficulty obtaining it, even in unsanitary conditions. And what is worse, in 2025 69 percent of the population will suffer shortages of vital fluid, according to the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM).

The referendum was promoted by an alliance of 60 social organizations, unions, indigenous and environmental issues, including the CUT, the National Union of Public Service Users Ecofondo. In the first 20 days of the campaign were collected over 35,000 signatures and is expected to hit soon 136,000 required for the Registrar registers the initiative and to authorize the next step: collecting signatures 1'360 .000 (5 percent of the electorate) necessary for Congress to convene the referendum.

One of the concerns of the promoters is the privatization of water-authorized by law in 1993 - in many municipalities has resulted in significant increases in rates that has meaning without substantial improvements in service. Not to mention the scandals surrounding the concession contracts to private operators, such as Tibitoc, which involved the payment of more than 36,000 million pesos for water consumed by Bogotá, according to the District Comptroller. The proposal be submitted to a referendum seeks to preserve the provision of water and sewage service by public entities.

The initiative received a boost this week international country visit of Professor Pedro Arrojo Agudo, creator of the Foundation of the New Water Culture of the Iberian Peninsula, who will give lectures on the subject in Bogota and Medellin. His presence will help to stimulate debate on a key issue for the XXI century Colombia, on which is a notable absence of clear policies of the Government.

editorial@eltiempo.com.co

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Day workers and the protection of water

On 1 May Workers' Day was marked, among other things, a particular fact and that fills us with expectations about the future of our joint initiative to fight for water in Colombia, in Bogotá, and other cities, people from different sectors and social organizations held the first day of collecting signatures for a constitutional referendum proposal by water. On that day, accounting for consolidated all cities, gathered an estimated 20,000 signatures.

The day, besides being a first big push for the proper development of the initiative, leaving a series of reflections that would like to share in this edition of the blog. But, above all, we congratulate and salute all those who on 1 May, "put the shirt" for the protection of water in Colombia.

First Week of May 1 we infer that although they are joining efforts to raise awareness of issues of privatization and commodification of water in the country, some sectors have not been sensitized to the issue and sometimes not even know him. This becomes a lesson from the day and that helps us to rethink the strategy we developed for the effective linking of our countrymen in this difficult task. Do not forget that the referendum We have undertaken primarily as an educational tool for the mobilization of Colombians around the defense of water as a common good and to the extent that all sectors of the population are involved, the chances of victory and working together are reduced. Either way, it is worth noting that this does not mean that the journey has not been successful.

Second, some of the discussions that we began to acquire more advanced way to interact with people everyday, and warns that bringing them closer to people and post the issue in terms of entitlement (water right fundamental) do not have the same responsiveness when addresses the issue of privatization, for example related to tariffs, or defending our commons.

hope these brief notes contribute to further progress toward our goals and invite them again even participate actively in this blog and give their comments.