On March 12, Food & Water Watch and Food & Water Europe
Executive Director Wenonah Hauter declined an invitation to debate World
Water Forum participants on the merits of public versus private
involvement in the water sector, encouraging them to involve a
Philippine water activist who could testify to the disaster that
privatization brought to her community in the Philippines. Council of
Canadians Chair Maude Barlow had also previously declined the
invitation.
“Since this debate is closed to the public and is only open to Forum
participants, who must pay prohibitive fees in travel and registration
to attend, I feel rather than participate in the debate myself, you
should hear from a citizen directly impacted by water privatization
schemes,” wrote Hauteur to Benedito Braga, president of the
International Forum Committee.
“No company should profit from the endeavor to supply the world with
clean water and sanitation,” wrote Hauter. “Anything less is
unacceptable, and that is why I will not support the Forum with my
participation in this debate.”
