In the United Nations, the answer to that is no. Instead of water being a fundamental right to life, it is an economic commodity. Why? Because it's a scarce resource that has "economic value in all its competing uses," says The Dublin Statement on Water and Sustainable Development arguing for water as a commodity.
But, countries are fighting for safe water everyday. Does the fight need to be even more difficult? Is it bad to want a refreshing bath or a sip to wet our whistles? We only get one body and one life, so we might as well take care of them. It's as simple as having a wet cloth and a cup of water.
Of course, something as simple as a human right is not always that simple. The UN doesn't see the right to water as a human right... even though, as humans, we need water. Hmmm, interesting.
As for our free country,“[t]he United States does not oppose any government adopting a national right to water or sanitation as part of its own domestic policy. We do, however, have concerns with a statement that would require all countries to adopt a national right to water or sanitation or would establish an international right to water or sanitation," said Andy Laine, State Department spokesman at the 2009 World Water Forum.
I still don't understand how the universal human rights we were all given at birth aren't universal anymore especially when it comes to sustaining life. What changed?
Worldwide organizations like UNICEF and The Water Project work to provide countries with safe water. Luckily, there's a force fighting for our rights.
What do you think it would take for there to be a universal human right to have water? Or, do you think there ever will be? I wonder what the economic implications are of water. It astonishes me that in country like ours, where I know that I pass at least 50 water fountains a day, there are countries that are denied the right. Does this only affect countries that do not have a natural water supply?
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