Welcome to our work in progress: Turn the world blue!

«Privatization of municipal water systems and the fast-growing bottled and packaged water industry are the two major ways that drinking water is being transformed into a for-profit commodity on a global scale. The Blue Community movement makes a critical connection between these two forms of commodification, highlighting how both of them pose a threat to realizing the human right to water. Cities, universities, schools, faith organizations, and others who become Blue Communities are taking an important stand–joining a worldwide movement to keep water a public good and working toward water justice.»

«Water is an essential human right and a non-negotiable common good. It cannot be turned into a commodity; it is a source of life, dignity and balance. I am proud and honoured to be an Ambassador for the Blue Community, which is committed to ensuring universal and free access to water through public, democratic and sustainable management. I have dedicated my life and career to defending the Rights of Nature, socio-environmental justice and life itself, and I will continue to do so.»

«Water is essential for all forms of life, we cannot exist without it. That is why it is so crucial that we organise together through groups like Blue Communities to protect water and make it accessible for all.»

«I support the Blue Community Initiative because it represents a pact between water utilities and the communities they serve: This is a collective commitment to keep water in public hands and manage it with long-term goals and environmentally sound planning. This commitment by the public sector makes sense not only in economic and ethical terms, but also in ecological and infrastructural terms.»

«Blue Community is an excellent initiative raising the awareness of the importance of water and allowing people to mobilise with concrete measures in support of water as a human right.»

«As a political leader committed to social and environmental responsibility, I firmly support the Blue Community initiative. To ensure equity, sustainability, and long-term prosperity for our current and future generations , it is fundamental and not just a smart policy, to protect water and sanitation as human rights and as shared public goods.»

«The Blue Community Initiative shares principles of challenging unjust processes of commodification and privatization of water, promoting the human rights to water, and sanitation and strengthening public services. I have advocated for these principles for decades, in my academic career, in my international mandates, and my political activism. For this reason, I support this important initiative.»

«Rivers are living beings with whom we are all in a relationship of mutual interdependence and reciprocity. The sooner we stop dominating and exploiting all waterways, the sooner we can embrace a truly legitimate and sustainable way of life. Water is life: for us, for the planet, and for itself.»

«Across the world, new water justice movements have proliferated that creatively enliven rivers in all their senses. As multi-scalar coalitions they deploy alternative river–society proposals and practices that foster environmental justice. They bridge, translate and merge local river commoning practices, languages and strategies into global ones and vice versa, joining forces among South and North, triggering fundamentally new ways of thinking, acting, defending and living with rivers.» (Riverhood)

«Water should not be a commodity for financial profit. Just as corporate power is attempting to profit off of the privatization of water and working globally to do so, transnational (or trans-local) social movements are also organizing to envision new paths forward where all have access to water, land, and other life-sustaining necessities. Without water, we have nothing.»

«Privatization of water (services and resources) increases inequality and injustice in society. By exploiting water, private companies make huge profits while people are confronted with higher prices, deteriorating environment, and loss of livelihoods. This must be stopped if we are serious about saying: ‘Water is a human right!’ Water is even more than that: ‘Water is a public good, not a commodity!’»

«Water service provision should be treated as a public good, as evidence shows that public ownership is most compatible with the human right to water and sanitation. In my research I focus on global environmental justice for local or national water policies. Blue Communities align with and advocate for these principles, which is why I am happy to support the initiative.»

«The Blue Community Initiative is a vital effort to recognize water as a fundamental human right instead of a commodity. After covering water issues for over 20 years, I firmly believe everyone deserves clean water access. By joining the Blue Community, we commit to protecting water as a shared resource and fostering conversations and collaboration to enhance water management practices.»

«Water is life sustaining. Confronting the interrelated social and environmental challenges before us requires a collective commitment to governing water resources sustainably and to promoting access to clean water and adequate sanitation in ways that challenge structural inequalities and centre the health and vitality of our communities and ecosystems. The Blue Community’s mission contributes to this commitment.»

«Water and sanitation are basic human rights. Yet the rights of poor and marginalised people around the world are routinely violated by powerful state and private actors with impunity. I support the Blue Community Initiative’s call for water justice for all, and the need to ensure accountability and that water remains a public good, not a commodity.»

«Water is a fundamental human right and a necessity for the flourishing of all life on earth. Water should be held as a public good to ensure water justice globally. But commodification and privatization of water are challenging that. We must continue to fight for water justice for all.»

«The vibrant blue and green hues of planet Earth make it stand out as a radiant jewel in the vast expanse of space. The Blue Community works and unites people dedicated to water health and security, ensuring that this natural beauty—and the life it sustains—remains preserved for generations. I am honored to be part of the Blue Community, working to sustain life on Earth and preserve its unique beauty among all planets.»

«We all have the right to water as a human right, but we must remember that every right comes with a responsibility. We all must have also the responsibility to protect, to value and to assure it remains usable for future generations, regardless of its use. This is what I stand for as being an Ambassador of the Blue Community.»

«Water is essential for life. Therefore, initiatives upholding the right to water, like the Blue Communities, are important for advancing social and environmental justice.»

«Water and sanitation services must be publicly-owned and publicly-managed if we are to expand and maintain them in the public interest. This requires a two-pronged approach. The first is fighting against privatization and commercialization. The second is working towards pro-public models of water and sanitation that are democratic, accountable and sustainable.»

«The vision and mission of the Blue Community deeply resonate with me, and I look forward to contributing actively, especially in advancing the network’s impact in Africa. I appreciate the attention the Blue Community is giving to Africa, where the need for sustainable water protection and equitable access is both urgent and immense, particularly in our rural communities.»

«The Blue Community is an initiative that recognizes water as a common good whose availability and quality must be protected. As an organization, it promotes dialogue between organizations and academics committed to struggles of resistance, mobilization, and building alternatives for just and equitable water management. I could not agree more with these principles, which is why I am a strong supporter of the Blue Community.»