From : Social Solidarity Clinic of Peristeri, Chrysolora 1 , Peristeri – Athens

to : SAVEGREEKWATER

Peristeri, 11/1/2014

The Social Solidarity clinic of Peristeri decided to issue & support the following resolution for  the non privatization of water  in Greece :

– Access to water and sanitation is a human right recognized by the United Nations (resolution of 108 plenary meeting July 28, 2010 , Press Release: United Nations General Assembly A/RES/64/292 Distr.: General 3 August 2010 64th meeting 48 09-47935)

– Considering the access to clean drinking water, adequate irrigation water and sanitation for citizens  a basic and fundamental human right, and sharing European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) position against the privatization of water resources, we strongly oppose the attempt of privatization of water companies ( EYATH, EYDAP or any other municipal water services. )

– The operators of water services and water & sanitation companies should be excluded from the policy of privatization of public entities and continue to remain under public and social control in order to ensure the protection of water resources and the environment, and water as a common good.

– We express our deep concerns on how the basic living & health conditions of citizens will be secured since we do not consider that privatization of water & sanitation services is a procedure in favor of the public interest.

Source: Official ECI Website

[box] Following the announced privatizations of water services, yesterday the screens went black on all television, radio, internet and satellite programs on public television. It is a sad development in our effort to inform our fellow citizens in relation to the risks of privatization since we were waiting the broadcasting of  a documentary by G. Avgeropoulos, in the preparation of which we participated. This development is dangerous for another delicate matter which falls in our dealing with a broader sense of the commons. We consider unthinkable that the archive of ERT, the ark of our modern cultural history will become a commodity to be sold or bought, an act which signifies the ultimate enclosure  beyond that of our natural commons such as water, of our collective intellect and our cultural heritage.[/box]

[/vc_column_text] [/vc_column] [/vc_row]

[box] INKA, the oldest consumers union in Greece published a press release against the privatization of water services and the commercialization of our natural resource. We hope that soon other consumer unions will publish similar announcements .[/box]

[/vc_column_text] [/vc_column] [/vc_row] [vc_row el_position=”last”] [vc_column] [vc_column_text el_position=”first last”]

[/vc_column_text] [/vc_column] [/vc_row]

[box] It could be seen as a classic case of French solidarity or just an example of a disobedient worker, but an employee at Veolia in France has been sacked for refusing to cut off the water supply to poor families.[/box]

[/vc_column_text] [/vc_column] [/vc_row] [vc_row el_position=”last”] [vc_column] [vc_column_text el_position=”first last”]

By Ben McPartland ([email protected]) source

The head-strong worker was fired by his bosses at Veolia Eau (Veolia Water) in the town of Avignon this month after reportedly having refused to cut off the water at homes belonging to disadvantaged families, since 2006.

The man, named in the French media only as Mark, had been employed at Veolia for 20 years but was handed his dismissal letter on April 4th for his “refusal to implement the cut-offs following the non-payment of bills”.

Justifying his actions, the rebel employee told Europe1 radio: “I saw people who had nothing, living with their children, who begged me not to cut off the water supply and to give them a little more time to pay up.

“It could happen to anyone. You have to make a choice – either feed the children or pay the bills. These big companies pocket the money and redistribute it to their shareholders, without looking after their clients or employees. It’s scandalous,” the sacked employee added.

The socially conscious worker is being supported by the CGT trade union.

“Psychologically, he just couldn’t bring himself to cut the water off. He preferred to negotiate with the families and advise them what to do,” said Thierry Lapoire from CGT.

According to the unions, around 1000 families have benefited from his refusal to cut off the water.

For their part, Veolia insist that it was not poor families that benefited from the altruistic actions of the employer, just those who did not pay up on time.

“The families in difficulty can contact social services, which under law can pay for all or part of the bills,” said Veolia’s Bruno Challion.

[/vc_column_text] [/vc_column] [/vc_row]

[box] In a candid interview for the documentary We Feed the World, Nestle Chairman Peter Brabeck makes the astonishing claim that water isn’t a human right. He attacks the idea that nature is good, and says it is a great achievement that humans are now able to resist nature’s dominance. He attacks organic agriculture and says genetic modification is better.[/box]

[/vc_column_text] [/vc_column] [/vc_row] [vc_row] [vc_column] [vc_column_text el_position=”first last”]

Nestle is the world’s biggest bottler of water. Brabeck claims – correctly – that water is the most important raw material in the world. However he then goes on to say that privatisation is the best way to ensure fair distribution. He claims that the idea that water is a human right comes from “extremist” NGOs. Water is a foodstuff like any other, and should have a market value.

He believes that the ultimate social responsibility of any Chairman is to make as much profit as possible, so that people will have jobs.

And just to underline what a lovely man he is, he also thinks we should all be working longer and harder.

Consequences of water privatisation

The consequences of water privatisation have been devastating on poor communities around the world. In South Africa, where the municipal workers’ union SAMWU fought a long battle against privatisation, there has been substantial research (pdf) about the effects. Water privatisation lead to a massive cholera outbreak in Durban in the year 2000.

The Nestle boycott 

Nestle already has a very bad reputation among activists. There has been a boycott call since 1977. This is due to Nestle’s aggressive lobbying to get women to stop breastfeeding – which is free and healthy – and use infant formula (sold by Nestle) instead. Nestle has lobbied governments to tell their health departments to promote formula. In poor countries, this has resulted in the deaths of babies, as women have mixed formula with contaminated water instead of breastfeeding.

Tell Nestle they are wrong – water is a human right

There is Europe-wide campaign to tell the European Commission that water is a human right, and to ask them to enact legislation to ensure this is protected.

If you live in Europe, please Sign the petition here.

[/vc_column_text] [/vc_column] [/vc_row] [vc_row el_position=”last”] [vc_column] [vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/nTqvBhFVdvE” el_position=”first last”] [/vc_column] [/vc_row]

The whole letter by Anna Zoirou

To: His Excellency, the Prime Minister of Greece, Mr Antonis Samaras

26 March 2013

Prime Minister,

Last Saturday, while I were in Brussels working on my PhD, I was informed (off the record instead of by Mr. Stournaras as should formally have been the case) that a decision exists for my replacement. Such decision was taken on Friday 22 March, only a few after receiving Mr. Stournaras’ thanks for the issues I brought to his attention.

The decision for my replacement takes effect only a few days before the completion of the privatization process for OPAP and DEPA-DESFA.

Of course everyone understands that it also is the latest of the actions taken by Messrs Stournaras and Athanasopoulos (you know that the latter is persecuted with felony charges as an embezzler of Public Funds) in order not only to obtain unanimity in the TAIPED Board during the decision taking procedure, both in the above cases and in others to come, but also to stop me from pointing out publicly problems and illegalities that appeared during such.

You, and everyone else involved, know that I never accepted being a puppet of certain interests nor would I ever agree to becoming just another yes-person in a board whose members only seem to care for pleasing those that appointed them there. I have built my career, in Greece and abroad, based on my powers and abilities and always acting according to certain principles I cannot and will not abandon for anyone’s sake.

While working for TAIPED I have continuously been pressed to agree to all proposals. In the cases I had to disagree I insisted that my objections be entered in the minutes of the Board meetings. I also proposed and insisted that such minutes become available to the Greek people, because they have the right to know how the TAIPED Board deals with the public property. I wonder what the Board members are afraid of in and they insist in keeping such documents secret, even to MoPs.

I have to point out too that when the TAIPED Board informed the Parliamentary Committee on Financial Issues on matters concerning EYATh, they “forgot” to mention my disagreement to this privatization procedure. During my term as a TAIPED Board Member, I never ever agreed to anything without first completely examining all issues relevant to the case. Other Board members of course claiming their incomplete knowledge of English technical terms always trustfully consented to the suggestions put forth by Mr Takis Athanasopoulos (the one with the felony charges, in case you have forgotten whom I refer to). Of course I had to object to such breaches of the Board procedures.

I could never consent to hiring “friends” and paying them € 4.000 or € 5.000 per month at a time when the vast majority of the Greek people have to suffer huge cuts in their salaries and pensions, nor could I go along with dubious procedures as the ones followed by other Board Members (on the OPAP Lottery Ticket Public Tender) that led to the exclusion of all contestants, except, of course, a certain one.

As far as DEPA is concerned I still wonder how Members of the TAIPED Board could agree to changing the rules of the Public Tender after the initial offers of the contestants have been received and made public: of course this led to several of the contestants obtaining certain bonuses vs the rest, which obviously directly contravenes the idea itself of healthy competition and equal chances.

I also could not agree to the statement that TAIPED cannot find the time to set up and use an open public competition to obtain the best of advisors needed choosing instead to length or renew existing contracts of several such costing millions of Euros.

To me the actions of Mr. Stournaras are a proof that my stance as to the issues mentioned above, and maybe other ones too, has been annoying to people both in TAIPED and in other places.

In case you are not already aware of it, let me inform you that I completely and absolutely rejected a lot of advances made to me both from and on behalf of several businesses. I always considered that my participation in the TAIPED Board should have as its target the safeguarding of the public interest not the facilitation of those who try to obtain the Greek public property in as low a price as possible.

Several months ago the members of the TAIPED Board unanimously agreed not to sign the contract with OPAP’s technical infrastructure provider in order not to put unneeded restrains to the new owner. This same issue, however, was to be discussed and decided upon in the OPAP Shareholders Meeting of today: TAIPED (through Mr. Athanasopoulos) offered no objections despite there not existing a Board decision contrary to the above.

Finally I feel obliged to point out that I consider it an honor to be replaced because I feared not putting forth and supporting to the end my objections, especially at this time when the Chairman of the Board, who opposed me, is persecuted on embezzlement charges, while the actions of certain members of the Advisory Council are already under investigation by the Greek Courts.

I don’t consider that such actions of your government have any connection with the democratic procedures you claim to use. I feel and will always feel proud for my work with the TAIPED Board. My conscience is clear: I know that I tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to safeguard the public interest and I hope that the day will come when those who did not will answer to justice.

Anyway, the Greek Courts are the ones who will decide on the rationality and the timing of Mr. Stournaras’ decision to replace me such a short time before the completion of the Public Tenders for OPAP and DEPA.

Sincerely,

Anna Zoirou

relevant TAIPED Press Release

Athens

1st April 2013

Anna Zoirou was relieved from her duties as a member of the Board of TAIPED by decision of the General Meeting of the Fund.

TAIPED does not comment on her statements, however, highlights the following:
The Board members of TAIPED, are appointed by the Greek State and bound with confidentiality obligations. They are called upon to operate and serve with integrity, transparency and efficiency to the purposes of the Fund. At the same time, they must consent to the use of public property in the best possible way, ensuring the legitimacy of the proceedings, but also the highest possible price within the agreed timelines.

In any company or organization anywhere in the world, if a Board member is unable to serve in his role in its specific context, for any reason or expediency, either places him outside the organization or is replaced so the Board can accomplish without problems its plans.

[box] Spanish national and local government plans for sweeping privatisations received a blow when campaigners collected more than 160,000 signatures opposing the flotation on the stock exchange of the local water company, El Canal de Isabel II. Volunteers across Madrid urged passersby to vote in an informal referendum.[/box]

[/vc_column_text] [/vc_column] [/vc_row] [vc_row el_position=”last”] [vc_column] [vc_column_text el_position=”first last”]

Last year Madrid voted over future of water supply, over plans to privatize 49 percent of Canal de Isabel II, the public water authority.

The regional government of Madrid, like the national government, is in the hands of the right wing Popular Party. Both are dead keen on selling of Spain’s family silver in order to plug a big hole in the public finances caused first by a bank-fuelled housing boom-turned- bust and then by austerity policies in Spain and abroad.

Esperanza Aguirre, head of the regional government of Madrid also wants to flog off the Metro, one of world’s top 10 underground urban train systems. He hopes to make Euros 1.5-1.75 billion from the sale of the water company, which would also allow the new private owners to buy other companies, including banks, and exploit land currently being used for public utility like gardens and parks. Aguirre has called Canal de Isabel II “a safe investment,” because “everybody drinks water,” whatever the economic climate.

But opponents including the unions, United Left party green groups, neighborhood associations and the 15-M (indignados movement), have been raising awareness among the public of the planned sale of the public water company, arguing that ‘water is for everybody and does not belong to anyone’. The results of their referendum in which 167 000 people took part: 99% rejected privatisation.

The organisers said that the referendum, which was organised by installing polling booths in 350 municipals, or local areas, was designed to allow people to take a view on an issue that had ‘not appeared in an electoral programme’ and that the regional government was promoting ‘behind the backs of the citizens.’

Enrique García, from the Popular Assembly of Tetuán, a district in Madrid, pointed out that demands for a debate in the Madrid regional assembly had been rejected by the regional government. He added:

“A few months ago the citizens know nothing of the privatisation of the water company’ but thanks to the successful referendum ‘now the majority of the population was informed.’

“We want to draw attention to an opaque process in which the government refuses to specify the value of the Canal, even in the Assembly”, said Ladislao Martínez, spokesman for the grassroots movement Plataforma contra la privatización del Canal de Isabel II.

“Water belongs to everybody,” said one retired woman who voted against the privatization. To her, the move would just result in fewer jobs and higher consumer fees.

Although it was not binding the referendum had ‘moral and political validity’, campaigners said. They are now demanding the regional government hold an official referendum that would force the Madrid administration to win popular support for its plans, or drop them.

Official data from the Social Consultation for Water is still available in the web www.porelagua.es

The promoters (of the protest referendum) also want to gather 500,000 signatures required to submit a Popular Legislative Initiative (ILP) to the Assembly of Madrid requiring a discussion and vote on the possible privatization in the regional parliament.

Plataforma contra la privatización del Canal de Isabel II

The privatisation of the Canal is halted due to:

– A lack of private buyers

– Citizen mobilisations

– Legal uncertainty which could lead to the use of administrative complaints and complaints of unconstitutionality

– Requirements from potential buyers

However, the creation of the company means a retreat from the current business model and a step towards privatization.

Several aspects of the contract-programme:

– The contract-programme will last 50 years.

– The functions and competencies of the Canal Gestión SA as well as its revenues are defined in the contract-programme but are not known.

– The annual tariff increase rates will follow the index of consumer prices and the company must reach a financial balance.

Spectacular increase in water bills in 2012

The Madrid government actions through Ordinance 2304/2011 of 30 December 2011, has led to increases of between 10 and 20%, without justification by introducing a new formula that affects the fixed service and supply distribution.

This decision runs counter to a report by the Economic and Social Council, which recommended in December 2011 to maintain the old formula.

The increase is part of the efforts being made to facilitate the sale of the Canal to private investors, increasing revenues and enabling higher profits.

[/vc_column_text] [/vc_column] [/vc_row]

Here follows the article:

U.S. Intelligence Says Water Shortages Threaten Stability By Alan Bjerga – Mar 22, 2012 published at Bloomberg.com

Competition for increasingly scarce water in the next decade will fuel instability in regions such as South Asia and the Middle East that are important to U.S. national security, according to a U.S. intelligence report.

An all-out water war is unlikely in the next 10 years, as nations will be more likely to use water as a bargaining chip with each other, according to the report from the Director of National Intelligence released today. As shortages become more acute, water in shared basins will increasingly be used as leverage, and the adoption of water as a weapon by states or terrorists will become more likely after 10 years, it found.

“These threats are real, and they do raise serious security concerns,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a speech today at the State Department, which requested the report. The study was drawn from a classified national intelligence estimate.

The report, drafted principally by the Defense Intelligence Agency, reflects a growing emphasis in the U.S. intelligence community on how environmental issues such as water shortages, natural disasters and climate change may affect U.S. security interests. It assumes no major changes in water-management practices.

Population and economic growth are the biggest near-term drivers of water shortages, while climate change rises as a threat, Clinton said.

Terrorist Targets

Increased tensions over water will require the U.S. to take a leading role in water development, she said. As nations increase water-related projects to gain influence, vulnerable dams, irrigation projects and reservoirs could become more attractive targets for terrorists or military strikes, according to the report.

Depleted groundwater for agriculture, which uses 70 percent of water, could destabilize markets and contribute to price swings such as those last year that sent food costs to a record and created unrest in the Middle East and North Africa, the report’s authors said.

“Many countries important to the United States will experience water problems — shortages, poor water quality, or floods — that will risk instability,” the study found. “North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia will face major challenges coping with water problems.”

Annual global water requirements will be 40 percent more than current sustainable water supplies by 2030, according to a 2009 report by the 2030 Water Resources Group, a World Bank- sponsored collaboration that included Coca-Coca Co. (KO) and Nestle SA (NESN)among its members.

Vulnerable Basins

The report also examines seven river basins that may present risks to U.S. security interests, ranking as “inadequate” the management capacity of the Amu Darya in Central Asia and Afghanistan, and the Brahmaputra, which flows from Tibet through India to Bangladesh. The study defines management capacity as the ability of nations, treaties and organizations in an area to manage political grievances over water.

In northern India, overuse of groundwater may limit access to food and water for millions of people, and wells in Yemen may run dry in a decade, Clinton said. China will also face strains because of its rapid economic development, population growth and reliance on the Himalaya mountains for fresh water, Maria Otero, the State Department’s undersecretary for civilian security, democracy and human rights, told reporters.

The intelligence report described the political stability of the Mekong River watershed in Southeast Asia; the Tigris and Euphrates in Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran; and the Nile Basin in northern Africa as “limited.” The report rates the Indus in South Asia and the Jordan in the Middle East as “moderate.”

The United Nations designates each March 22 as World Water Day. Clinton today unveiled a new public-private U.S. Water Partnership that includes Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) and Ford Motor Co. (F)