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Carlos García-Robles
Carlos García-Robles
Carlos´ letter in the book " Water Voices from Around the World"
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Carlos García-Robles

(Originally written for the book "Water Voices from Around the World" www.watervoices.org )

To the people of the World

“…The powerful flame ignited by the will of the Mexican people was felt throughout the city. As an alternative to the 4th World Water Forum, hundreds of civil society events where going on all month long. After this, “business as usual” at water forums will never be the same, and it took the efforts of people from the entire globe to spark this shift”…….Helen Samuels

In my city, after a rainfall, it is not unusual to see puddles of dirty, rotten water evaporating from the largest paved surface on earth. The remaining fresh water flows into sewers and mixes with black waters, destined to never complete its natural cycle.

This may not seem a tragedy to many, but for some of us it is. Mexico City used to be a water-city where the challenges have traditionally been an excess of the vital liquid not the lack of it. What was called the Valley of the 5 lakes now steals half of its water from rivers kilometers away. The remaining half comes from diminishing watersheds and almost 50% of the total water supply available is lost from leakages in the delivery system. Millions of people have only poor quality water dripping into their homes a few hours per day.

Does this sound ridiculous? Well it is. A region inhabited by 22 million people, originally characterized by its huge lakes now finds itself sinking in its own thirst, and the international private sector is taking full advantage of this situation.

The good news is that not everything is grim concerning water these days. During the 4th World Water Forum held in Mexico City in March 2006, Mexican civil society movements such as worker’s unions, indigenous and youth organizations, environmentalists, punks, NGOs, feminists, independent activists, students, professionals and a diverse multiplicity of people, decided to unite forces in a common vision to face the unilateral strategy of privatization of water and its related services. The results where an amazing series of events offering the public a vast array of choices in appropriate technology and water management. Projects such as “Mirror of Water” and the “Green Room” were created so that a wide range of visitors could participate for free in conferences, forums, debates, video projections, NGO expos, workshops, concerts, art, fairs, games for children, photography exhibits, street theater, native ceremonies and cultural exchanges. The civil action provided a pro-active citywide forum for demonstrating “do it yourself” technologies such as rainwater collectors, dry toilets and local organic production amongst others. Strategic alliances emerged spawning hundreds of new community projects and long-term regional management strategies.

People took action because of their personal responsibility to this and future generations, proving that respect for water is a powerful motivator. It was the driving force that brought together 50,000 citizens in a march held on the day of the inauguration of the “official forum”. We achieved a celebration of diversity and set the groundwork for a global movement of civic response not seen during prior World Water Forums.


In a devastated world, social movements that are born to defend basic human and Earth rights offer a sign of hope. In March, two hundred and forty civil organizations came together in Mexico City under the banner of “Alliance for the Defense of Water and Earth”. This movement, which coalesced spontaneously, has already begun to implement a new vision of decision making and participation. Self-management with responsibility enables a community to work efficiently to improve quality of life and water. This also reduces the dependence on consumption of “market products” as a quick fix solution. Informed self-monitoring makes the community aware of how much water they have and how to best use it. This is far more valuable than money.

The solution to the global water problem is not privatization and taking the decision making process away from the people; everybody has to get involved. We all have to take a deep look into ourselves and go to the root of the problem…,our anthropocentric view of the world that leads us to believe that we, or the “privileged few”, have the right to manage the essential elements that provide life for all.¬ We have to build an improved paradigm of civilization if we are to survive, and take the next step towards evolution where society has access to knowledge and the wisdom of the people prevails over international marketing strategies.

Water does not belong to anybody, it is an inalienable right not only for humans, but also for animals, plants and all living creatures on Earth. Einstein said “problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them”, so, can corporate solve the problems that it helped create? Not without changing. Fortunately, the collective efforts of regional and global communities worldwide are beginning to provide sustainable strategies for water protection and management.

It is a common perception that water scarcity will be the cause of the next world wars. The social phenomena in Mexico City has shown us that the shared desire to build a new relationship with water has the power to unite people with varying points of view and backgrounds. Mutual understanding empowers people to set aside their differences for a greater good.

I firmly believe that if we could achieve this in Mexico City, then it can be done everywhere, to demonstrate that people can build a pathway of peace towards a different and new relationship with water and life. If we liberate water, we will free ourselves and live in peace, not war, and for this we have to come together in one voice and take action as a grass root global movement for a free, just and living world. Water is a reason to create community not war!


Carlos García-Robles


December 30, 2008 | 12:23 PM Comments  0 comments

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