Infocus- march 2006

--------------------------------------------------------------------
A monthly Review of clippings on Critical Issues & Concerns for NGOs, Activists
and others concerned with Justice & Social Change
--------------------------------------------------------------------

March 2006

THE HUMAN RIGHT TO WATER

If we look around, then there is this one specific agenda that is being promoted with great amount of zeal - to make water an economic commodity that is bought and sold on global markets and is managed by transnational companies. They claim to be more efficient, flexible and cheaper than public water agencies.

Arrayed against this corporate- planned / controlled water future is a growing citizen's movement of community groups and non- government organizations. These people believe water is a human right.

Highlights

The human Right to Water
The New Agrarian Dream
Unwanted People
Three Years after Iraq
New Left Gains Ground

POLITICS OF WATER
<Related Articles - March 2006 issue>

The 4th World Water Forum , 16th-22nd March 2006.
4th World Water Forum Ministerial Declaration ,Mexico City, 22 March 2006
Privatisation cloaked as concessions and decentralisation? , Nitya Jacob, Infochange Website, 29th March 2006
World Water Forum: privatisation no longer the mantra , Kala Vijayraghavan, Infochange Website, 24th March 2006
India's water scene grim: UN ,Toufiq Rashid, Indian Express, Bombay, 10th March 2006
Water not declared a "human right" at Fourth World Water Forum , Toufiq Rashid, Infochange Website, 30th March 2006
Making water a basic right , The Hindu, Madras, 29th March 2006
Ray of hope , Indira Khurana, Sahara Time, 25th March 2006

IN FOCUS The Human Right to Water March 20 is observed as International Water Day, this year it coincided with the 4th World Water Forum.	POLITICS OF WATER
Time for Real Empowerment The theme for this yearâ€™s International Womenâ€™s Day is â€˜political participationâ€™.	GENDER & SOCIETY
All About Growth & Profits The Union Budget tabled in parlaiment is more concerned about Growth and profits than issues like health, employment and deaths.	UNION BUDGET
To Profit or Not to Profit What seemed like political vendetta has grown into a full fledged crisis on the issue of â€˜office of profitâ€™.	GOVERNANCE
The New Agrarian Dream Agrarian policy as it evolving seems to be more concerned about Investments and exports rather than the crisis of suicides	FOOD & AGRICULTURE
Uncaring Urbanscapes Despite, the National Urban Renewal Mission, the status of our metros is in utter chaos, especially for the urban poor.	URBANISATION
Unwanted People Even while projecting a fresh concern towards the issue of Displacement, nothing at the ground has really changed.	DISPLACEMENT
A New Human Rights Body? The United Nations has put a new Human Rights Council in place Of the `discreditedâ€™ Commission for Human Rights	HUMAN RIGHTS
Nuclear Nonsense Bush has signed a nucler deal wih India, but at the same time threatens to go to war on alleged possession of nuclear weapons.	POLITICS OF AN UNI-POLAR WORLD
Subtle and Not so Subtle Moves From Varanasi to Europe the demonisation of Islam and Muslims continues unabated.	RIGHT WING MOBILISATION
Three Years after Iraq The most decisive moment in the so called `clash of civilisationâ€™ happened three years ago and continues to fester.	HEGEMONY
France Burns? Why is France Burning?	LABOUR
New Left Gains Ground The left in Latin America and setting up a new agenda for change	ALTERNATE GLOBALISATION
UPDATES Naxal Game Plan Info Matters Another Worlds in the Making Bird Flu Managing Biodivesity	NAXALITES RIGHT TO INFORMATION WORLD SOCIAL FORUM ENVIRONMENT DISASTERS
LAST PAGE What is NBA upto?	DISPLACEMENT

Earlier criticial concerns issues