Public debate: Struggles against Water Privatisation in the South

Public debate: Struggles against Water Privatisation in the South
Theaterinstituut, Amsterdam, 18 October 2003
Organised by Transnational Institute (TNI) and Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO)

As a result of the wave of privatisation which has swept large parts of the world in recent years, the drinking water supply of many major cities in the South is now in the hands of European water multinationals such as Suez, Thames Water and NUON. The impacts of privatisation are often disastrous: due to dramatic price hikes large parts of population lose access to clean drinking water. The European Union and also the Dutch government, meanwhile, continue to push for further privatisation, for instance through the WTO services negotiations (GATS). Based on experiences from Indonesia, The Philippines, Malaysia and elsewhere, the debate will focus on the potential of international solidarity campaigns against water privatisation.

Speakers:

• Jude Esguerra (Water Vigilance Network, Manila)
• Yanuar Nugroho (BusinessWatch Indonesia, Jakarta)
• Charles Santiago (Monitoring the Sustainability of Globalisation, Malaysia)
• Clare Joy (World Development Movement)
• David Hall (Public Services International Research Unit)