WHEREAS:

Water is now considered a finite resource due to human behavior of emptying aquifers and shipping that water to urban areas where it goes directly into the rivers then out to the ocean; and

WHEREAS:
We should protect working families from the pending water wars; and

WHEREAS:
Working families should band together against privatization of water distribution and delivery systems; and

WHEREAS:
The big water multinational corporations have been carving up this country’s water distribution and delivery systems to make profit out of, what most agree, should be a right - namely, the ability to drink clean water; and

WHEREAS:
The rapid desertification of the planet needs to be addressed and the “desalination” method is just another way to allow the same corporations the ability to escalate their control over all of us through controlling our water; and

WHEREAS:
The multinational corporations have been trying to influence international law through their World Water Forum.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That we discourage any attempts at water privatization throughout the United States of America and the world; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That we encourage public and cooperative utilities to state in their charter or bylaws that they may never sell their operations or systems to private individuals, companies, or corporations; and
 
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That we support keeping water in the hands of the public and out of private ownership.
 
 
SUBMITTED BY: 
Gary Gillespie, President and Delegate
Janice Larkin, Secretary and Delegate
AFSCME Council 75
Oregon