While the Human Right to Water (HRW) is a widely accepted global norm asserted from below, important governments and powerful corporations contest or reject this claim. This panel discussion will consider how local action that is based in communities of color and indigenous people in the United States may alter the US Government's position on the Human Right to Water. The panel portion will draw on global experiences (from India and Latin America) as well as domestic campaigns. Specifically, we will look at "The Color of Water Project" run by Massachusetts Global Action in Boston; the Indigenous-Labor-International links in Bolivia's ongoing water struggles (with Nancy Romer of the Professional Staff Congress-AFT Local 2334, NY); Global Campaigns out of India (with Amit Srivastava of the India Resource Center); reviews of the international legal struggle around HRW (panelist to be confirmed). Underlying all of these strategies are (1) campaigns that transcend mere anti-privatization to demand dynamic and responsive public sectors and (2) innovative coalitions involving communities, labor and solidarity movements.

The event will adopt a workshop format that (1) includes 5 3-5 minute presentations (each with written outlines to be distributed); (2) develops a US-specific checklist on environmental justice communities and the HRW in a participatory manner; (3) brainstorms HRW objectives for the US (with all attendees invited to participate); (4) brainstorms on the opportunities for and challenges of coalition-building in the US and globally.

In addition to organizations already listed, other invited participants in the workshop include the Indigenous Environmental Network; the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water; the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee; Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign; Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.