President of the 63rd session of the United Nations Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann appointed Maude Barlow, national chairperson of the Council of Canadians and founder of the Blue Planet Project, as the first Senior Advisor on water issues, because of her “outstanding experience, creativity and leadership in water issues”. In his letter to Barlow [1] President d’Escoto writes that one of his priority issues is the need to achieve the goals of the United Nations Decade “Water for Life” (2005-2015).

In her reaction Barlow explains that she is honoured to be working with President d’Escoto: “I am excited for the year ahead, and am pleased to note that President d’Escoto has already adopted the call for water to be recognised as a human right.” [2]

For a critical review of some of Maude Barlow’s claims see Maude Barlow: No Free Pass by Michael E. Campana, Director of the Institute for Water and Watersheds (IWW) at Oregon State University (18 Mar 2008).

[1] Read President d’Escotto’s letter appointing Maude Barlow as Senior Advisor here

[2] The right to water, Council of Canadians

Related web sites: Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann ; Council of Canadians ; Blue Planet Project

Contact: Dylan Penner, Media Officer, Council of Canadians, Ottawa, Canada, dpenner@canadians.org

Source:Council of Canadians, 21 Oct 2008

Tags: policies & legislation, water supply