Protecting Our Water

• to assure that elected officials who make decisions on water use, pricing and quality represent the community of varied users, water specialists and the environment; (Grassroots Democracy)

• to acknowledge the diversity of plant and animal life dependent on long-enduring ecosystems and
to recognize the necessity of water systems to all life; (Respect for Diversity)

• to prevent the usurpation of public rights through Privatization of the water resource by multi-national
corporations; (Decentralization)

• to prioritize affordable drinking water over industrial uses, recognizing that access to water is a basic human right; and to consider the impact of all water policy decisions on poor people, impoverished neighborhoods, rural communities and family farmers; (Social Justice)

• to support local growth policies regarding water supplies, and to maintain a working relationship between urban economic development and local rural agriculture. (Community-based Economics and Economic Justice)

The Green Party of the United States will:

• provide policy proposals on water and watershed issues for Green candidates and increase the visibility of water issues in political campaigns.

• support the development of local, renewable energy sources that minimize consumptive water use, destruction of watersheds and water pollution.

• support legislation that promotes urban conservation, efficient agricultural use and the integration of land use with water supply.

• support enforcement of indigenous treaties, paramount water rights for indigenous nations and the Treaty of Guadelupe-Hidalgo regarding land and water rights.

• participate in regional and state water plans and urban development plans to balance growth with renewable supplies.

• work towards making the position of Environmental Advocate an elected post in our municipalities.

• work on developing bills in state legislatures and in Congress that increase the responsible use of water.

• support legislation in Congress to fund public water planning and investments in upgrading and improving water infrastructure, levees and hazardous waste dumps.

• provide a hub for the exchange of views and summarizing of ongoing work on water with other individuals, organizations and public officials.

• raise public awareness on water and water pricing issues and educate the public about the water crisis that is already affecting our nation and the world.

The threats to our waters are many, from depleted aquifers, to the pollution of surface waters, to the degradation of oceanic waters that have been treated as international waste dumps. There is no time, and no water, to waste.

REFERENCES:

Water Planning: Middle Rio Grande Water Assembly
http://www.waterassembly.org
Commodification of Water: Blue Covenant: The Global Water
Crisis and the Fight for the Right to Water – Maude Barlow
Freshwater: The World’s Water 2008-2009: The Biennial Report
on Freshwater Resources by Peter H. Gleick