Forum sparks alternative
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Sevim Songün
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 14, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL- Activists, political parties and NGOs are organizing two events in opposition to the 5th World Water Forum that will be held in Istanbul starting Monday, saying the international conference favors privatization and big business to the detriment of the public.
The Alternative Water Forum will take place from March 20 to 22 at Istanbul Bilgi University’s santralistanbul campus, across the Golden Horn from the Sütlüce Culture and Congress Center, which is hosting the World Water Forum.
"Established by a private organization that was founded by water companies, the World Water Forum is not a legitimate organization," said Ümit Şahin, a Turkish Green Party spokesperson. "But it still is signing agreements that bind governments. This is what we will stand against first and foremost."
The privatization of water and water resources, the building of huge dams on rivers and the commercialization of water Ğ access to which should be an indispensable right for people and other creatures, organizers say Ğ are some of the main things being protested at the alternative forum.
Ömer Madra, the executive editor of independent station Açık Radyo, said people mistakenly believe the World Water Forum is organized by the UN to better manage water politics. The alternative forum, he said, "aims to reveal that lie."
Access to clean water should be a constitutional right for everyone, Madra said, adding that he hopes this forum "will inspire the rewriting of the Turkish Constitution" to reflect that. The activists believe the government does not pay enough attention to environmental concerns. "This government once said it would privatize all the rivers in Turkey," Şahin said. "Indeed, they are keeping their word by building dams and renting rivers to energy-production companies." Unlike the World Water Forum, the alternative event will be open to everyone, free of charge.
"Established by a private organization that was founded by water companies, the World Water Forum is not a legitimate organization," said Ümit Şahin, a Turkish Green Party spokesperson. "But it still is signing agreements that bind governments. This is what we will stand against first and foremost."
The privatization of water and water resources, the building of huge dams on rivers and the commercialization of water Ğ access to which should be an indispensable right for people and other creatures, organizers say Ğ are some of the main things being protested at the alternative forum.
Ömer Madra, the executive editor of independent station Açık Radyo, said people mistakenly believe the World Water Forum is organized by the UN to better manage water politics. The alternative forum, he said, "aims to reveal that lie."
Access to clean water should be a constitutional right for everyone, Madra said, adding that he hopes this forum "will inspire the rewriting of the Turkish Constitution" to reflect that. The activists believe the government does not pay enough attention to environmental concerns. "This government once said it would privatize all the rivers in Turkey," Şahin said. "Indeed, they are keeping their word by building dams and renting rivers to energy-production companies." Unlike the World Water Forum, the alternative event will be open to everyone, free of charge.