Maude Moves Up: UN Senior Water Adviser
Reader Leif Nelson sent me this information. Maude Barlow, Canada's best-known water gadfly, has been named the first UN's first senior water adviser. She said she wants to use the role to establish water as a human right and to convince Canada to "change its shameful position" on the issue.
Read all about it here (from CBC); some excerpts are below. The story also has links to additional information about Barlow.
The accompanying picture is from the article and shows Barlow "celebratring" President George W. Bush's 60th birthday in Ottawa.
From the story:
"I also plan to take this opportunity to get the Canadian government to change its shameful position, and to finally join the international community in recognizing water as a human right," said Barlow.
D’Escoto [UN General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann] extolled on Barlow’s ability to “combine humanitarian vision with a practical approach to problem solving” and has expressed support for her crusade, calling water a "human right as basic as the air we breathe."
Barlow holds six honorary doctorates and has written or co-written 16 books. She is also co-founder of the Blue Planet Project, a group that works to protect fresh water from trade and privatization around the world.
The United Nations estimates 42,000 people die every week from diseases related to bad water and poor sanitation.
I am sure my appointment letter is en route. Must have gotten lost in the mail.
"This is my standpoint. And I am just not going to budge from it. It's having a world view that is just in some ways immovable." - Maude Barlow
Sounds like she is just the person for this important job.
I have just discovered your blog and think you are an eye opener. I am adding you to my links to spread the word.
Posted by: Joan | October 24, 2008 at 12:59 AM
Sounds just like the WRONG person for this job. We don't need ideology at the UN; we need pragmatism.
OTOH, another "stubborn" person won't get the job -- GW Bush.
Damned if you do...
Posted by: David Zetland | October 24, 2008 at 09:22 AM
Joan - thanks for your comment and kind words. I hope you will continue to find my posts of use.
David - thanks as well. While I certainly do not agree with everything Barlow does or says and find that she sometimes gets her facts muddled, I do support her contention that access to water should be a basic human right.
Posted by: Michael | October 25, 2008 at 09:29 PM
David - I beg to differ. Ideology is a necessary part of pragmatism, without it the most pragmatic person will just roll along aimlessly,with no destination in mind....
Posted by: Joan | October 27, 2008 at 11:58 PM