What would it look like if individual states worked together to protect their water resources?
If you’re thinking of the Great Lakes region, you’re on the right track. But jump across the ocean and you will find the European Union owners of a water protection and conservation policy and a few more years under their belts.
The Great Lakes states, especially in the context of the Compact, can look to the EU as a model for successful regional collaboration of sovereign states working towards the better good of the region. The epitome of democracy, this set-up balances the interests of each individual state with the benefits of compromise.
In 2000 the EU adopted the Water Framework Directive (WFD), a set of goals (milestones) and laws set into place to improve the quality, quantity and sustainability of their water resources. The policy identifies major concerns such as chemicals in the water, drinking water, floods, groundwater, marine strategy, bathing water quality and urban waste water.
All are familiar concerns to the residents of the Great Lakes region.
And while the WFD places more emphasis on water pollution than the Compact, we and the rest of the world could certainly benefit from taking pieces of the legislation to adopt and adapt into other water protection policies.
The WFD policy shows great promise because it integrates “other major EU policies, e.g. agriculture, hydropower or navigation, and water policy [as] a prerequisite for successful protection of the aquatic environment.”
Furthermore, where the intelligent and exceptional craftsmanship shines through is in their river basin water management plan. Those who manage the water are those who live in its watershed and are directly linked to and affected by the resource and its associated legislation.
Political boundaries mean nothing; geographical and ecological situation does.
The Great Lakes Compact takes a similar approach. While the Compact has a few important flaws (i.e. bottled water allowance), it is a giant step towards protecting our water. Even greater, it introduces the country to thinking in a watershed mentality rather than a political one. It shows the government that we value and NEED our clean freshwater and will go through years of arduous policy work to achieve its protection. It says to both American and Canadian citizens that the environment is not limitless in its bounty, and conservation is essential.
The need for watershed mentalities becomes more poignant each day, especially when we see in the news that Las Vegas is closing in on its mission to pipe water from an already drought-victimized region of Utah, in order to promote further (frivolous, unnecessary and irresponsible) growth.
Holistic mindsets and sustainable strategizing is a sure step towards successful collaboration and conservation. Anything less is not going to cut it.
To read more about the EU's Water Framework Directive, go to http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-framework/info/intro_en.htm
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Taking note... There is also something to learn from areas w
By Alice Gray
13 July, 2008
Lifesource.ps
Mahmoud Darwish, Memory for Forgetfulness, August, Beirut, 1982.
United Nations Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The somewhat unpalatable truth of the matter is that every year, a water crisis is manufactured in the Palestinian Territories due to Israeli monopolization of water resources and hampering of Palestinian water development. The total yield of the Mountain Aquifer, the Coastal Aquifer and the Jordan River system (the three main water resources for Palestinians and Israelis) is approximately 1720 million cubic metres of water per year on an average year, of which Israel uses some 1444 million cubic metres, leaving a mere 275 million cubic metres for the Palestinians[iii].
(Emphasis added - B.M.)
[ii] WaSH MP (2005) Water for Life: Continued Israeli Assault on Palestinian Water, Sanitation and Hygiene during the Intifada. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Monitoring Program.
[iii] Israeli Hydrological Service (2003), Evolution of the Exploitation and State of Israel's Water Sources until Autumn 2003; Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (2008) Annual Available Water Quantity in the Palestinian Territory by Region and Source in 2006.
[iv] PWA (2005) Water Supply in the West Bank, 2005. Directorate General of Resources and Planning, Palestinian Water Authority.
[v] FAO and OCHA (2008) Drought: the latest blow to herding livelihoods. United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Jerusalem, January 23rd, 2008.
[vi] Hillel Fendel (2008) Israeli Water Authority Director: Crisis expected in July. Israel National News (www.IsraelNN.com), May 18th 2008.
[vii] Israeli Hydrological Service (2003), Evolution of the Exploitation and State of Israel's Water Sources until Autumn 2003
[viii] Yousef Awayes, Palestinian Water Authority, Personal Communication, May 2008.
[ix] Michael Bailey, Oxfam, Personal Communication, March 2008.
[x] WaSH MP (2004, 2005, 2006) Water for Life reports. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Monitoring Program.
[xi] COHRE (2008) Hostage to Politics: The impact of sanctions and the blockade on the human right to water and sanitation in Gaza. Centre on Housing Right and Evictions.
[xii] Ron Taylor (2008) Gaza: 'Bad and getting worse'. LifeSource News, www.lifesource.ps.
Please note the following ....
Europe: Keep Water Clean of Privatisation
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=40700
January 7, 2008
EUROPE: Call to Keep Water Clean of PrivatisationBy David Cronin