[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
No Subject
subject: LS: Letter to 'Down to Earth' on World Water Forum<underline>
For Publication</underline>
Dear Editor
Down to Earth's special report on the Hague World Water Forum (Vol. 8,
No. 23) states that "the real issues of global water management took a
backseat" as anti-dam protesters "hijacked" the meeting. I suppose it
is a compliment for anti-dam groups that you believe we were able to
hijack the massive jamboree, but I find it puzzling that Down to Earth
should imply that large dams are not a "real issue" in global
mismanagement of water and that activists should not have sought to
respond to the deluge of pro-dam propaganda at the Forum.
You also state that CSE's message that the problem is not one of water
scarcity but rather water mismanagement, was a "lone, odd voice". Yet
the statement released at the meeting from International Rivers Network
and a global coalition of anti-dam groups including the Narmada Bachao
Andolan discusses the "myth of a global water shortage crisis" and says
that "the problem is largely one of mismanagement and politics - of
overconsumption, waste, pollution, watershed degradation, rampant dam
building". It appears to me that CSE and the anti-dam groups have the
same message on the global water situation so I wonder why Down to
Earth seeks to drive a wedge between us?
I was also rather surprised to see myself quoted as being dismissive of
the speech on community water management by Sunita Narain, deputy
director of CSE. In fact I started my speech (which focussed on the big
dam lobby's influence at the World Water Forum) by saying that I would
not address the issue of sustainable water management precisely because
this had already been so eloquently covered in the two previous talks
by both Ms Narain and Reema Nanavaty of SEWA.
I believe that groups opposing large dams and those implementing
sustainable water management are fighting the same battle. Movements
against dams have opened political space for debates and practical work
on sustainable and equitable alternatives, while those working on
alternatives (such as CSE) have strengthened the case against large
dams. It would be helpful if Down to Earth did not seek to fabricate a
spurious split between us.
Yours faithfully
Patrick McCully
Campaigns Director
International Rivers Network
Berkeley, California, USA