ABSTRACT
The human right to water entitles every person to sufficient, affordable, physically accessible, safe and acceptable water for personal and domestic uses. The wealthy buy safe water in large bottles which are regularly delivered to hotels and to their homes, but the great majority of the population routinely experiences typhoid and other waterborne diseases. Populations all over the world are expanding, and this, together with the consequent increases in pollution, etc., means that per-capita access to water is decreasing. Chile is not alone among South American countries facing privatisation of their water supplies, or their water supply being compromised by various WTO-style bilateral agreements. Thus, even in developed countries, the private sector regularly has a negative impact on health and other basic human rights. The 'Dirty Aid, Dirty Water' campaign of the World Development Movement seeks economic justice, allowing communities to make their own decisions and putting the rights of the people affected ahead of those of remote business interests.
