El Salvador Activists: Water Is a Human Right, Not Merchandise
Activists marched against water privitization and against a water regulation bill, which is believed might lead to the privatization of water supplies.
El Salvador’s National Alliance against the Privatization of Water condemned last week the water privatization by the sugar industry and the possible implementation of a water regulation bill that could lead to more privitization, an issue activists have been grappling with for years.
Across El Salvador organizations, networks, churches, water boards and communities making up the National Alliance against the Privatization of Water said they still have nothing to celebrate as they continue to fight against actions by the ARENA, PCN, GANA and PDC parties to approve a Water Law that privatized water management.
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In a press release the National Alliance against Water Privatization called the sugar industry, âan irresponsible, highly polluting sector that strips us of our water and our protected areasâ adding that the industry manipulates âlaws, institutions and political parties to privatize water.â
âIt is clear that the objective of the sugar industry to finance the ARENA, PCN and PDC parties is to defend their corporate interest, passing a law that gives them control of water or preventing approval of one that benefits the population and thus continue with the dispossession of water in the territories cultivated by sugarcane,â they added.
El Salvador has had issues with water scarcity for years, and the problem is only getting worse. The U.N has recognized that access to fresh water is a fundamental human right.
According to the U.N., recognizing the social aspect of water distribution is fundamental to establishing a path towards equality and to push for social and environmental justice.
