“We, the undersigned, respectfully call upon the United Nations to add a 31st article to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, establishing access to clean and potable water as a fundamental human right.
We believe the world will be a better place when the Right To Water is acknowledged by all nations as a fundamental human right, and that this addition to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights represents a major step toward the goal of water for all.”
From AVAAZ:
“Dear friends,
Imagine the sea rising around you as your country literally disappears beneath your feet, where the food you grow and the water you drink is being destroyed by salt, and your last chance is to seek refuge in other lands where climate refugees have no official status. This is not a dream, it’s the fearful reality for millions of people who live on islands around the world, from the Maldives to Papua New Guinea.
That is why these small islands are taking the unprecedented step of putting an urgent resolution before the United Nations ahead of next week’s global climate talks, calling upon the Security Council itself to address climate change as a pressing threat to international peace and security.
This is a creative move born of desperation, a challenge to global powers to end their complacency and tackle this lethal crisis with the urgency of wars. But the island states’ campaign is meeting fierce opposition from the world’s biggest polluters, so they need our help. Sign the petition now to raise a worldwide chorus of support for this call — it will be presented by the islands’ ambassadors to reinforce their resolution at the UN next week:”
http://www.avaaz.org/en/sos_small_islands
Some of the music by Aotearoa/New Zealand/Polynesian band Te Vake:
Latest edition – free interactive sampler – Songlines Magazine UK (no relation to Songlines.org.au)
http://songlines.co.uk/songlines/current-issue.php?PHPSESSID=eef66e52636c65f6b1f3f3c07b4b7037
podcast also available from the home page at www.songlines.co.uk (may require conversion to MP3)
Australian Indigenous Doctor’s Association.
Submission to the Northern Territory Emergency Response Review Board (Date submitted: 22 August 2008)
Select download from http://www.aida.org.au/submissions.asp
