It helps students comprehend water quality access issues within the political, economic, and cultural context of cochabamba, bolivia. The article reports on the success of the people of bolivia to reclaim the ownership of their water supply from bechtel corp. In bolivia, shifts towards the privatisation of water supply and sewage services caused strong dissatisfaction, resulting in the eruption of social conflict. Cochabamba is a town of 800,000 situated high in the andes mountains of bolivia. One of the least developed countries in latin america, the country experienced a water war 16 years ago when the. Water war in bolivia pdf,, download ebookee alternative successful tips for a best ebook reading experience. The govt of bolivia gave the charge or responsibility of water to an mnc and the mnc hiked prices 4 times. Because of the severe dissatisfaction, action was taken to cancel the previous agreements and instead launch a forum where government representatives, social organizations, the private. The bolivian government successfully obtained the recognition of such a right by the united nations general assembly in 2010. With billions at the mercy of an unrestrained marketplace, it is easy to understand why this precious resource is at the center of the international movement working to turn back the rising tide of corporate globalization.
However, bolivias water problems reflect more fundamental issues than can be. In 2001, water warriors there regained control of their water supply and defied all odds by driving out the transnational corporation that had stolen their water in the first place. The bolivian experience both over the centuries and since the water war of 2000 illustrates the malleability of the term. Bolivia recently declared a state of emergency due to the worst drought in 25 years. Bolivian water rationing in pictures environment the. When the government responded to mass demonstrations and blockades with bullets, killing and injuring many, the country rose up in outrage, driving out president. Jun 20, 2015 bolivias new constitution, enacted in 2009, proclaims that access to water is a human right and bans its privatization.
O n a parched hill in central bolivia, a blue tanker winds its way past halfbuilt houses carrying water to alto buena vista, a hillside settlement in the south of the city of cochabamba. The water wars, which involved shutting down cochabamba for six months, were so successful because the social movements fighting against privatization of municipal water supplies were extremely well informed. In 1999 the bolivian government signed a fortyyear contract to transfer the operation and distribution of bolivias water supply from semapa the municipal drinking water and sewer services to the company aguas del tunari, a multinational group owned by international water, of which the san franciscobased company bechtel was the main. A fragment of this great documentary on the available 3% freshwater worldwide and all problems associated with the use and abuse connected to this resource. The quality of service in the majority of the countrys water and sanitation systems is low. Jul 05, 2011 oscar olivera oo is a trade unionist and leader of the famous water wars which unfolded in cochabamba in 2000 following the privatization of the citys water supply the water wars, which involved shutting down cochabamba for six months, were so successful because the social movements fighting against privatization of municipal water supplies were extremely well inform. Pdf how cochabambas water war led to the reversal of. Problems encountered in the implementation of the private sector participation. The socalled water war of cochabamba in the year 2000 is. Class 10 political science chapter 5 popular struggles and movements part 1 hindi explanation duration. Regarding sanitation, 50% of the total population had access to improved sanitation, or 61% and 28%, in urban and rural areas, respectively. Water war in bolivia led eventually to overthrow of entire. The triumphant struggle of grassroots activists in cochabamba, bolivia, sounded a significant opening salvo in the water wars.
Cochabamba water war in bolivia oscar olivera, tom lewis. The world banks role application project presented in. Historically a common trust, water is now bought and sold as a private commodity. The water war in bolivia by richard joseph there are certain human needs that are so basic, that in a civilized society, to be deprived of such is nothing less than criminal. Bolivia is founded on plurality and on political, economic, juridical, cultural and linguistic pluralism in the integration process of the country. The cochabamba water war 1 the cochabamba water war. Water war in bolivia led eventually to overthrow of entire political order south american country found itself in need of aid from imf and world bank tue, nov 18, 2014, 01. The government sold these rights for the city of cochabamba to a multinational company mnc. Water, privatization and conflict heinrichbollstiftung. Bolivias water war began the month after the novemberdecember 1999 seattle wto shutdown, and culminated in april 2000, when thousands of us in the us were occupying downtown washington dc to disrupt imf and world bank meetings.
Ppt the cochabamba water war powerpoint presentation free. Jul 07, 2010 following the water war, bolivian social movements fought the 2003 gas war to reclaim bolivias oil and natural gas from multinational corporations, still yet to be fully won. The mnc immediately increased the price of water by four times. The world bank pressurised the government to give up its control of municipal water supply. The water war to resist privatisation of water in cochabamba, bolivia. Mar 26, 2005 the water war in bolivia by richard joseph there are certain human needs that are so basic, that in a civilized society, to be deprived of such is nothing less than criminal. With a changing climate, water sources in bolivia are not likely to improve. History of colonial, foreign, and class exploitation. Includes index the water war privatization organization war perspectives on the water war and the coordinadora the coordinadora by raquel gutierrezaguilar the multitude by alvaro garcia linera interview with luis sanchezgomez semapa. A ministry of water was created in 2006 and the right to access to water was recognised as a human right in bolivia, exempted from the possibility of privatisation, under the 2009 constitution. According to a recent world bank report, because of climate change, rising consumption, and growing populations, up to 3. The global water crisis, privatization, and the bolivian. A recent study found that bolivian glaciers shrunk by 43% since 1986.
At the end of the 90s, the world bank threatened not to renew a major loan on which the bolivian government depended if they did not agree to privatize all water services in the city of cochabamba. This paper will discuss the water war that took place in cochabamba, bolivia in 2000, written from the perspective of the world bank. The conflict, known as the cochabamba water war, became symbolic of the struggles fought to protect common rights, proving that popular participation could have a major influence on decision making in regard to the management of public services. Cochabamba was much more intense and sustained than seattle, but both mass actions opened new political. The tensions erupted when a new firm, aguas del tunari.
This chapter examines water privatization policy in cochabamba, bolivia, the site of the first largescale rejection of water privatization in latin america. Introduction in a 21 decision dated october 21, 2005, a tribunal at the international. Privatization triggers an uprising powerful forces are compelling latin american countries to privatize state enterprises and public services, including water services. The international consortium aguas del tunari was granted a concession to supply drinking water and sewerage services to the city of cochabamba, bolivia in september 1999.
This paper provides an overview about the world banks role, about the city of cochabamba, bolivia, and the public. The major shareholder of the consortium was the multinational company bechtel. Cochabamba water war cochabamba\water war bolivias. Bolivia, a poor country in latin america, had to face pressure from world bank to sellits municipal rights in cochabamba, a city in this countryto a mnc. The system was characterized by significant maintenance and administrative problems. In 2015, in bolivia 90% of the total population had access to improved water, or 97% and 76%, in urban and rural areas, respectively. Bolivians end foreignowned water privatization in cochabamba. The water war bolivian thoughts in an emerging world. Bolivias new constitution, enacted in 2009, proclaims that access to water is a human right and bans its privatization.
Many people received monthly water bill of rs in a country where average income is around rs 5000 a month. These forcesthe world bank wb, transnational enterprises, national. The global water crisis, privatization, and the bolivian water war madeline baer the struggle for access to potable water is at the nexus of the larger battle between states, multinational corporations, international financial institutions, and. Pdf on jan 1, 2004, rocio bustamante and others published the water war. Jul, 2014 class 10 political science chapter 5 popular struggles and movements part 1 hindi explanation duration. However, bolivias water problems reflect more fundamental issues than can be articulated.
Ppt the cochabamba water war powerpoint presentation. The mnc officials had to leave the city under pressure from the people while the government had to concede to the demands of the protestors. Almost every article on the subject notes in the last sentence that the crisis has triggered protests in major cities and conflicts between miners and farmers over the use of aquifers. The cost of water tripled and it became necessary to buy a license to access water resources and a licensing system for collecting rainwater was also introduced. The communities of cochabamba taking control of their own. The wave of demonstrations and police violence was described as a public uprising against water prices. Cochabamba water war bolivias water war took place in 2000 in cochabamba as people rallied in opposition to the privatization of the local water and sanitation system crabtree and chaplin. How cochabambas water war led to the reversal of privatization and recognition of selforganized water management in bolivia. In 1999, cochabambas public water supplier, semapa, was leased to the international consortium aguas del tunari. Outside bolivia, the water war helped to inspire a worldwide antiglobalization movement and provided a model for waterjustice struggles throughout the americas and beyond. A government water service law granted a private monopoly covering water supply and concessions. Most of the times, it has been believed that the readers, who are utilizing the ebooks for first time, happen to have a tough time before getting used to them. A flashpoint in the global conflict over natural resources privatization.
In cochabamba, bolivia, the lack of water has caused conflicts for decades. In 1999 the us company bechtel was granted the concession to manage water services in cochabamba, bolivias third largest city. The privatization of water emerged as a controversial policy area in bolivia after massive protests forced the retreat of a multinational water conglomerate from the city of cochabamba. Call our learnnext expert on 1800 419 1234 tollfree or submit details below for a call back. The bolivian water war of april 2000 was the culmination of years of domestic. The cochabamba water war was a series of protests that took place in cochabamba, bolivia s fourth largest city, between december 1999 and april 2000 in response to the privatization of the citys municipal water supply company semapa. Privatization triggers an uprising find, read and cite all the research you. Bolivia plurinational state ofs constitution of 2009. The worst drought in 25 years in bolivia is affecting at least seven major cities. The water wars in 2000 represented public disapproval of the limited water services provided by state and private institutions. Regarding sanitation, 50% of the total population had access to improved sanitation, or 61% and 28%, in urban and rural areas, respectively quality of service. Bolivias water war was the war by the citizens of bolivia against hiked water prices.
Dec 01, 2016 the water is being delivered in a petrol tanker and the meager rations people are fighting over looks more like urine than water. Nov 23, 2016 will this new water crisis lead to another water war in bolivia. Oscar olivera oo is a trade unionist and leader of the famous water wars which unfolded in cochabamba in 2000 following the privatization of the citys water supply. He also organized an email campaign directed at bechtels ceo.
The major shareholder of the consortium was the multinational company. So in a country where an average man earned 5000 bucks as a salary had to pay bucks as water bill. Cochabamba is the third largest city in bolivia, pop. The state adopts and promotes the following as ethical, moral principles of the. Today, more than one billion people live in waterscarce regions. Two years ago, a popular protest there turned into a deadly riot. On february 8th, pacific news service correspondent jim shultz brought news of bechtels involvement in cochabamba to a worldwide audience by publishing war over water on the internet. Ninety percent of cochabambas citizens believed it was time for bechtels subsidiary to return the water system to public control, according to results of a 60,000person survey conducted in march. The company immediately increased the price of water by the four times. Jun 09, 2016 o n a parched hill in central bolivia, a blue tanker winds its way past halfbuilt houses carrying water to alto buena vista, a hillside settlement in the south of the city of cochabamba. How a water war in bolivia led to the reversal of privatization.
Nov 03, 2017 a fragment of this great documentary on the available 3% freshwater worldwide and all problems associated with the use and abuse connected to this resource. Outside bolivia, the water war helped to inspire a worldwide antiglobalization movement and provided a model for waterjustice. Cochabamba water war in bolivia oscar olivera, tom. Successful tips for a best ebook reading experience. Once the contract entered into force, water rates increased more than 100%. Nov 23, 2016 the worst drought in 25 years in bolivia is affecting at least seven major cities. Cochabamba, bolivia, urban water expansion case study water project summary. The triumphant struggle of grassroots activists in cochabamba, bolivia, sounded a. This article was adapted from our latest book, sharing cities. The unit communicates the critical need for access to freshwater by people and the tradeoffs of various models of water supply within a community. Mirroring preceding protests, a street war erupted causing the death of a. This year brought an end to one of the greatest water battles in history. Hospitals are in emergency, schools have cancelled classes, food factories have stopped manufacturing.
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