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UPDATE: Barlow speaks on the right to water in Vienna, Austria

Blue Planet Project founder Maude Barlow is in Vienna, Austria today speaking at the Federal Chamber of Labour about the European Citizens’ Initiative right to water and sanitation campaign. From Vienna, Barlow Tweeted:


  • Austrian Minister of Labour was there. Big crowd, maybe 300.

  • The Austrian health minister who spoke, said very proud of their water protection & that it is in public hands.

  • He said public water is a fundamental value in Austria.

The Chamber of Labour is an organization that represents the interests of 3.2 million Austrian employees and consumers. Through the European Citizens’ Initiative, the European Commission is being asked to propose legislation that implements the human right to water and sanitation as recognized by the United Nations General Assembly. In order to move this forward, 1 million signatures from at least seven different European Union Member States are needed. The campaign has collected 900,000 signatures so far. This effort is supported by the European Federation of Public Service Unions, which represents 275 trade unions and over 8 million workers in public services in Europe. It is endorsed by numerous other groups including the Blue Planet Project, Blue October, and the Council of Canadians. To read the speech Barlow delivered this morning, click here. Follow @MaudeBarlow on Twitter.