The Blue Communities Project

 

We are pleased to note that the Blue Communities Project – a joint initiative by the Council of Canadians and CUPE is now expanding to communities in other parts of the world. The Blue Communities Project provides communities with the tools to fight the privatization of water and promote the human right to water. Through the project, we are working with local governments, community activists and water operators to ensure water justice for all.

A “Blue Community” is one that adopts a water commons framework that treats water as belonging to no one and the responsibility of all. Because water is essential for human life, it must be governed by principles that allow for reasonable use, equal distribution and responsible treatment in order to preserve water for nature and future generations.

The Blue Communities Project calls on communities to adopt a water commons framework by:

  • Recognizing water as a human right.
  • Promoting publicly financed, owned and operated water and wastewater services.
  • Banning the sale of bottled water in public facilities and at municipal events.

The Blue Communities movement has grown internationally with Paris, France, Bern, Switzerland and other municipalities around the world going “blue.” Schools, religious communities and faith-based groups have also adopted principles that treat water as a common good that is shared by everyone and is the responsibility of all.

We invite you to become a part of the global movement for water security and justice by joining the Blue Communities Project. Learn what you can do to help protect the water commons – our shared water resources – in the face of increasing pressure to put water up for sale and privatize water services.

For more information on the Blue Communities Project, visit www.canadians.org/bluecommunities.

Brussels becomes a Blue Community
Brussels Capital Region, November 29, 2019
L-R: Meera Karunananthan (Blue Planet Project), Jonathan Bierman (Vivaqua), Minister-President of the Brussels Capital Region Rudi Vervoort, Maude Barlow and Brussels Blue Community représentatives Gabriel DeTheux, Lea Vromman, Martha Vandermeulan, Auréliens De Bolster, Alexandre Van Hoeke and Simon Verhoye.


Los Angeles, California, November 6, 2019
Maude Barlow with Councilmembers Paul Krekorian and Monica Rodriguez.

Here are a number of international Blue Communities:

Blue Communities Ambassadors:

  • EYATH in Thessaloniki, Blue Communities Ambassador, November 28, 2016
  • AEOPAS (a national Spanish network) La Asociación Española de Operadores Públicos de Abastecimiento y Saneamiento, Blue Communities Ambassador, April 9, 2018

Institutional members: 

  • The sewage company in Barcelona
  • The Giahsa water company in Huelva, Spain

Die Blue Communities in Deutschland. In den Jahren 2017 und 2018 haben die Parlamente von Augsburg, Berlin, Marburg und München beschlossen, sich zu den Prinzipien von Blue Communities zu bekennen.

Blue Community Switzerland is a network of institutions and communities committed to the right to water. / Blue Community Schweiz ist ein Netzwerk von Institutionen und Gemeinden, welche sich für das Recht auf Wasser einsetzen.


Bern, Switzerland, the first Blue Community outside of Canada.

Blue Communities in Canada:

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