WATER ABLAZE - Patagonia Sin Represas

We have learnt yet another lesson from all of this, however: politicians
worded their remunicipalisation applications in a very cunning
way, carefully concealing expressions such as “our own public utility
companies, but in cooperation with strategic partners”, thus creating
a useful loophole. This kind of wording would have allowed EnBW
to carry on its operations even after remunicipalisation of the supply
network and to rake in further massive profits. That is why we stated
in the text of our petition that the municipality would be responsible
for operating its own water supply without any involvement by private
firms and large companies – just to be on the safe side!
No doubt the battle in Stuttgart will continue to be a fierce one
because the power of decision at EnBW lies with EDF (Electricité de
France), the largest operator of nuclear power stations worldwide. It
is in EDF’s own interest to own as many electricity supply networks as
possible so as to be better equipped to sell its French nuclear-generated
power. EDF is likewise interested in prolonging the life-span of its
nuclear power plants and even in conjuring up an atomic renaissance!
Returning the actual water resources themselves to the public sector
will be an even harder nut to crack since Stuttgart City Council did not
merely sell the infrastructure, but also the subscription rights relating
to the water extracted from Lake Constance. In Baden-Württemberg
we have a so-called long-distance water supply, which provides more
than 300 towns with water. There is no concession, however, for these
rights and so the only possible way to buy them back would be via
negotiations and as the result of strong public pressure.
w w w . u n s e r - a l l e r - w a s s e r . d e (German)
w w w . h u n d e r t - w a s s e r . o r g (German)
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