Zurich, Switzerland is now a blue community!
The Swiss news service 20 Minuten reports (in German), “The city of Zurich is to assume more responsibility in terms of water and join the international ‘Blue Community’ initiative. …Upon accession, the city will recognize, among other things, that the right to clean water is a human right, that the water supply is the responsibility of the public sector and should remain so to ensure that all people have easy access to drinking water. The city will also forego bottled water. And the Zurich water supply will support a community in a developing country in realizing the human right to safe drinking water there.” In addition, “Zurich water supply will join the ‘Aqua Publica Europea’ network. This is a network of public companies in Europe within the field of water supply and sanitation.”
Photo: Excerpt from 20 Minuten news report.
The news report notes, “On September 18, 2013, the city of Bern was the first capital of the world and the University of Bern were the first university, to be called a ‘Blue Community’ or ‘Blue University’ because they participate in this international effort.”
And it highlights, “Passing it was from the Canadian water activist Maude Barlow, winner of the Alternative Nobel Prize, who had launched the project.”
In March, Cambuquira, Brazil became the first blue community in Latin America. Barlow visited that city in June to congratulate them and present them with a blue community certificate.
For more information about the Blue Communities Project, please click here.
