Canada should end its disgrace and officially recognize water as a human right.

As the world recognizes World Water Day on March 22, 2008 Canada should end its disgrace and officially recognize water as a human right.

Imagine a world with no safe water. For over one billion people this is reality. What is worse 2.4 billion people have no access to proper sanitation facilities. The shocking facts are half of the hospital beds in developing countries are occupied by people suffering from sanitation and water-related diseases. Each day 4,000 children die as a consequence of drinking contaminated water.

"We must hold the Harper government accountable for its action at the UN," Fox said. "The right to clean water and other public services are not a privilege. They are not a gift. They are a right that we have as human beings and as citizens." Robert Fox, Oxfam Canada. MORE