As part of the recognition of human rights in the constitution, the human right to water in Switzerland is enshrined at the federal level. The responsible bodies and persons of the city, municipality or institution are aware of how they contribute to the respect of the right to water and support each other in its implementation.
In Switzerland, public control over water supply has existed for a long time. This political and institutional experience and the privileged position in the world legitimizes and obliges Switzerland to openly exchange experiences in the framework of international cooperation and to advocate for international institutional regulations and their enforcement.
Internal operating structures, services and events use drinking water from the public water supply wherever possible. Blue Communities refrain from transporting bottled water unless this is also disproportionate in the long term. Thus, at internal events, tap water is always offered as an alternative in addition to any bottled water that may be available.
A Blue Community also campaigns for the right to water at the international level. It maintains long-term partnerships with cities, municipalities or institutions abroad. The exchange of knowledge and experience is promoted through the umbrella organization "Blue Community", which ensures networking and support with specialized agencies and individuals.
This spring, Dr. Madelaine Moore published her book «Water struggles as resistance to neoliberal capitalism - A time of reproductive unrest» .
Invited by Blue Community and the University of Zurich, Dr. Moore will come to Switzerland beginning of October.
Monday, Oktober 9, 2023, 12h: Lecture at Zurich University (Irchel) as part of the BSc-Course "Wasser und Mensch".
Tuesday, Oktober 10, 2023, 16-17h: Seminar with Dr. Madelaine Moore at Zurich University (Irchel) as part of the seminar series "Forum2to3", (UZH Irchel, building 25, room H79 - open for external participants)
Tuesday, Oktober 10, 2023, 19.15h: Blue Community in the Limmattal. Public event by SP Limmattal with Madelaine Moore. Venue: Quartierraum Giardino, Schlieren
Wednesday, Oktober 11, 2023, 12h: Brownbag session at Bern University, Room 120, CDE, Mittelstrasse 43, 3012 Bern or by Zoom
Blue Community cofounder Maude Barlow states on this book: «The planet's water is in peril, seen as a resource for the global economy at the service of transnational capital. In her powerful new book, Madelaine Moore shows us that water does not exist outside the politics and culture that shapes our core values. To protect water and the human right to water requires a profound commitment to social change and true democracy from the ground up. »
details on Dr. Madelaine Moore:
Postdoctoral Researcher
German and Transnational Social Policy Working Group
Department of Sociology, The University of Bielefeld
Recent Publications:
2023, 'A Time of Reproductive Unrest: The Articulation of Capital Accumulation, Social Reproduction and the Irish State.' New Political Economy
2022, Altun, S., Caiconte, C., Moore, M., Morton, A., Scanlan, R., Ryan, M., Smidt, A., 'The Life Nerve of the Dialectic: György Lukács and the Metabolism of Space and Nature.' Review of International Political Economy
2021, 'Liquid Gold or the Source of Life: Understanding water commodification as a contradictory and contested political project', Globalizations
2021, Moore, M., Trommer, S. ‘Critical Europeans in an age of Crisis’, Journal of Common Market Studies Moore
Several Universities and Highschools in Switzerland are part of the Blue Community family. Beginning of September, a first exchange among these Swiss Blue Universities took place, organized by the Sustainability Team of the University of St. Gall.
On October 23rd, a first exchange among Blue Universities on international level is scheduled. 17 people from 9 universities took part in finding a common timeslot. More people will join in for the video conference. Blue Community co-founder Maude Barlow will open the videoexchange. She herself contributed most to have several Canadian universities in the Blue Community network.
The (preliminary) agenda of the Blue University network session:
1. Welcome and introduction (Maude Barlow)
2. Blue Clusters: Network of Blue Universities around the globe (Roland)
3. Tour de Table: Short introduction/presentation of the participating Blue Universities, ongoing projects related to SDG 6 + links for potential collaboration
4. International networking/collaboration. Future exchange
If you are interested in joining the Blue Universities network, contact Roland Brunner, Blue Community Zurich.
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