In meetings at the United Nations last week, we learned that the G77 states were working on a joint submission for the “zero draft” of the negotiating text for Rio + 20. Among the states we spoke to some were very critical of the green economy focus being imposed primarily by Northern states to promote their own interests. The more progressive among them were pushing for strong language on human rights and environmental protection. Upon learning that a handful of G77 states were blocking inclusion of language on the human right to water and sanitation, the Council of Canadians and 37 other organizations from more than 20 different countries have sent a letter calling on the G77 to include the human right to water in its submission. You can read the letter here.
