Across the world last weekend, communities rose up and came together to call for a ban on fracking in the second Global Frackdown. From France to Argentina, Australia to South Africa, India to Mexico and all across the United States, actions took place opposing fracking and related projects like frac sand mining, pipelines and other infrastructure projects. It was a beautiful and powerful day for the anti-fracking movement and shows our movement stronger and more unified than ever.
On the occasion of the World Water Week 2013 and the year of International Cooperation in Water, we have the pleasure of inviting you to the event on "Reclaiming the Right to Water in Europe: Citizens Participation, Democracy & Commons taking place in the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday the 19th of March 2013 from 18H00 - 20H00 in room A3H1.
The European Water Movement will be participating at the World Social Forum this March in Tunis. Our main aim is to build up links with local and regional groups and set up a Euro-Mediterranean Alliance to facilitate the exchange of experience and information. Many North African countries are currently facing the same problems we have in Europe namely with the threat of privatization of water services and unconventional energy sourcing projects such as hydraulic fracturation.
March 14 is the International Day of Action for Rivers and Against Dams. Every year, thousands of people around the world lift their voices to celebrate the world’s rivers and those who struggle to protect them. The International Day of Action for Rivers is a day to celebrate victories such as dam removal and river restoration. It is a day to take to the streets, demonstrate and demand improvements in the policies and practices of decision makers. It is a day to educate one another about the threats facing our rivers, and learn about better water and energy solutions. Above all, it is a day to unite – by acting together, we demonstrate that these issues are not merely local, but global in scope.
The first European Social Forum took place from the 6th to 10th of November 2002. Ten years later, much has changed: the historical context, the political situation (in Italy and all over Europe), social movements, civil society networks, etc.. When we set out to do an event for the Decennial of the ESF, we were not thinking of a celebration or any nostalgic memory. On the contrary, it is an opportunity to look at the present and future, and how to join forces from all over Europe because the moment is serious and we must act together.