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Water and sanitation

UN Public Services Awards: Paris water win highlights benefits of remunicipalisation

23 June 2017

Seven years ago the City of Paris brought their water supply back into public hands. Today they received one of the highest international public service awards at a special UN ceremony at The Hague.

PSIRU releases brief on "categorical errors on water renationalisation"

6 Jun 2017

This PSIRU Brief, written by Emanuele Lobina, discusses some of the categorical errors mainstream economists make in predicting the outcome of water renationalisation. It argues that these errors are due to the misrepresentation of the ethos and motivation of the public and private sectors.

Renationalisation is needed to tackle water poverty

23 May 2017

This PSIRU Brief, written by Emanuele Lobina, shows that water privatisation in England and Wales has led to a concerning increase in water poverty, and that economic regulator Ofwat is part of the problem. It argues that renationalisation is needed to tackle water poverty.

“Our Water, Our Right”, Lagosians insist

30 March 2017

22 March was marked as World Water Day in Lagos with a demonstration in defence of the right to water. The demonstration which drew about 500 persons was organised by the “Our Water, Our Right” coalition. It was a continuation of the struggle against privatisation of water by the state government which has yielded some results, with amendments to the Environment bill before it was passed into law on 1st March.

"We stand for public funding of public quality water and sanitation services for realizing women's rights"

22 March 2017

Today, 22 March, World Water Day, PSI's General Secretary Rosa Pavanelli states the importance of tax-funded public water and sanitation for all, but especially for realizing women's rights. In an interview*, Pavanelli talks about the major challenges in achieving this goal.

PSI berates Nigerian government’s privatisation programme

21 March 2017
Adeyemi Peters, vice-president of PSI

PSI has criticized the entire privatization exercise of federal government, describing it as unfavorable to workers. In a parallel development, the Lagos State Council of Trade Union Congress (TUC) has decried the recent bill passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly, denying Lagosians access to water.

Water is Life. For some, water is profit. PSI says: PEOPLE OVER PROFIT!

09 March 2017
Flush out corporate tax dodgers

For more than 1,000 children every day, water is death. Waterborne diseases kill. It is estimated that half of all hospital beds are occupied by people suffering from waterborne diseases. These are preventable deaths.

PSI at The Vatican: Human Right to Water

27 February 2017

Check out our General Secretary Rosa Pavanelli discussing our work alongside our affiliates on the Human Right to Water and why it is so important at a special seminar held at the Vatican by Pope Francis. Trade Unions, NGOs, UN Human Rights experts and the Pope all agree: Water is a human right and needs to be governed publicly, in the public interest. Not by profit-maximizing private corporations.

PSI attends seminar on the Human Right to Water in the Vatican City

Date: 
23 February, 2017 to 24 February, 2017

PSI delegation including Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary, take part in the human right to water seminar on 23 and 24 February at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in the Vatican City.

Trade Unions and Civil Society Welcome the Introduction of the Human Right to Water into the Constitution of Slovenia

11 January 2017

Last November, the National Assembly of Slovenia passed an amendment to its Constitution to include a new article that recognizes the Human Right to Water. The amendment affirms water should be treated as a public good managed by the state, not as a commodity, and that drinking water must be supplied by the public sector on a not-for-profit basis.