Brochure eng a4_20090910_en
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WASA-GN is an international non-profit organization that aims to establish a global network of water experts to rationally manage water resources worldwide. It sees the current global water crisis, affecting one third of the world's population, as resulting from irrational water use and governance. Through collaborating with institutions and specialists, WASA-GN seeks to study the drivers of this crisis and develop new water management models based on systemic rationality and reformulated paradigms that recognize water as a human right rather than an economic good.
Brochure eng a4_20090910_en
- 3. Water Assessment and Advisory Global Network WASA-GN Water is essential for life, fundamental to overcome poverty and hunger and indispensable for human health and well-being. However, the world卒s present relationship with water is set within a pattern or irrationality evidenced by the high number of people with no access to drinking water and sanitation, the unsustainable use of water resources and a global water crisis that affects one third of the world卒s population. WASA-GN is an international non-profit organization independent of political or religious beliefs, whose aim is to establish global synergies to favour a rational management of water resources worldwide. In order to achieve this objective WASA-GN has created a global network of institutions and specialists in water issues and related disciplines and proposes the study of the drivers of the present global water crisis and the formulation of water management models based on a systemic rationality. This leads to focusing on the problem from its inception: the urgency to reformulate existing paradigms and current growth and development models and the need to clearly define the concept of Water Governance as a proactive instrument that will enable global society to find new ways and solutions. Civil society has limited knowledge of the gravity of water-related issues, which are seldom the object of global communication. In order to attain greater involvement by governments it is essential that the population become aware of the vital economic, social, cultural and environmental importance of water and that it be given information on the origin and consequences of the water crisis. To ensure an international commitment on water-related issues it is imperative to develop the capacity to analyze and promote reflection and communication on these issues at all levels. This is the challenge taken on by WASA-GN. www.wasa-gn.net
- 4. Man, Guardian of Water Man is the guardian of water resources, not its owner. His role should be to manage it fairly, not only among human beings and different users but also recognizing the environment as waters residence place and water卒s Man, Responsible for Life recycling mechanism and as such, with the right to use Life is a discontinuous phenomenon in the Universe but and preserve a significant proportion of available water abundant on planet Earth. The nature of species and resources. their interactions create competition among themselves, a competition which in the absence of great environmental Rationality in Water Management changes results in states of sustainability and balance. Water cuts across all human activities and is contained in The human race has developed the capacity to alter this everything that man does and produces. In the same balance, both against itself as against the environment way, water management must consider that it is not an and the remaining species, and is responsible, therefore, isolated sector, that the state of water resources is a for the preservation of environmental resources and the direct indicator of the of social, economic and health survival of other species. conditions of a society and must incorporate the vision of all systems that superimpose and interact with water Water, a Human Right resources and where usually are the roots of water Water is a unique resource, irreplaceable as life Basic problems. This demands a holistic approach and a management based on the principles of the Systems sustenance. For human beings water has an added spiritual, social and symbolic value. Thus water for Theory. human consumption transcends the nature of an principles Opening Up of Information economic good and, in a broader scope, constitutes a human right. Recognition of the human right to water of the Information in the field of water is highly conditioned by political or financial principles that sustain production of implies obligations by governments and international organizations. These obligations should go beyond the WASA-GN this information. We must champion water-related mere discourse and translate to concrete actions that information that is independent, open, free of personal involve mobilization of financial resources, revision of interests and understandable by the largest number of legal frameworks that regulate water as a merchandise, philosophy persons, so that they are able to make an interpretation of their reality and participate in decisions concerning water follow-up of the population卒s living conditions and the requirement of compliance with the human right to water issues that affect them. in the same manner as with other human rights. www.wasa-gn.net
- 5. For further information about WASA-GN, please contact: Ang辿lica Obes de Lussich | Communications a.obes.lussich@wasa-gn.net Luciana Coutinho | Network Co-ordinator l.coutinho@wasa-gn.net Fernando D鱈az Alpuente | Connectivity Co-ordinator f.diaz.alpuente@wasa-gn.net www.wasa-gn.net