Pure Water Is a Basic Human Right!

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 15:15

South Africa has one of the most advanced constitutions in the world in terms of the protection of human rights and the promotion of human dignity. It provides explicitly for ”access to sufficient food and water” as a social right.

The practical fulfilment of these rights, in terms of water supply and sanitation, is being met by providing access to basic water supply and sanitation through an extensive capital programme as well as implementation of South Africa’s policy on Free Basic Water. Indeed, Government has acknowledged that “water is our future” and that it is the key to ensuring the eradication of poverty and under-development. In 1996, President Mandela, in a statement on Human Rights Day, said: "21 March is South African Human Rights Day …………... it is also a day on which we reflect and assess the progress we are making in enshrining basic human rights and values."

Not so long ago, the Aral Sea was the 4th largest freshwater lake in the world. Now, it's only 10% of its former size., The Aral Sea has literally all but dried up. So how does one of the most massive bodies of water in the world vanish?

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