We demand that the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia guarantee citizens the right to drinking water!
Justification:
Almost 10 years ago, on November 17, 2016, the Slovenian Parliament voted to amend the Constitution, declaring the right to drinking water a fundamental human right.
Slovenia thus became the first country in the European Union to constitutionally protect water as a public good that must not be treated as a marketable commodity.
The main goal of the Slovenian constitutional changes was to prevent the commercialization and privatization of water resources!
Water is defined as a public good managed by the state, and sources must not be available on the market.
The authorities were given a constitutional obligation to ensure drinking water to all citizens as a primary public service, on a non-profit basis.
Following the Slovenian example, we are requesting that Article 52 of the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia be amended to read:
“The sea, the coast and islands, waters, airspace, mineral resources and other natural resources, as well as land, forests, flora and fauna, other parts of nature, real estate and things of special cultural, historical, economic and ecological significance, which are determined by law to be of interest to the Republic of Croatia, shall enjoy its special protection.
The law shall determine the manner in which assets of interest to the Republic of Croatia may be used and exploited by the holders of rights to them and the owners, as well as compensation for the restrictions to which they are subject.”
We want drinking water to be declared a fundamental human right, and for existing contracts to be reviewed and water resources to be exempted from further concessions!
Reason for the request:
Climate change is rapidly affecting groundwater supplies.
The changed rainfall rhythm is causing rainwater to penetrate underground reservoirs faster than before, the water is cloudy and untreated, and the quality of drinking water is rapidly declining.
The illegal landfill of harmful and hazardous waste in Gospić is the cause of groundwater pollution with the “eternal chemical” PFAS, which is dangerous to human and animal health, as well as the biodiversity of the contaminated area!
Drinking water “downstream” of the City of Gospić is at risk for current and future generations!
Let’s save what can be saved – let’s demand that drinking water become a constitutional guarantee for all citizens!
Because, we are all citizens of Gospić – Croatia is full of illegal landfills and they are still waiting for independent analyses of their impact on the environment and groundwater!
Reason
There is no life without water.
Water is a fundamental condition for the survival of people, animal and plant life.
Water is the most precious natural resource on Earth that needs to be preserved for both current and future generations.
Drinking water should become and remain guaranteed by the Constitution to all Croatian citizens!
