Civil Society Role in the Water Resources Policy

 

Agenda 21, Chapter 23 – this document, signed by more than 170 nations during Eco 92, has been considered as the major joint effort from governments throughout the world to identify actions that would align development with environmental protection – it highlights citizens role in the environment defense.

All social groups participation enhancement in the environment management is one of the basic principles of Agenda 21 Chapter 23. This international treaty makes evident that normal citizens participation is a fundamental requirement to achieve sustainable development and establishes means for that goal to be reached.

Highlights that society, governments and international institutions must create means for the NGOs to be sustainable development partners.

The ordinary citizen must participate in the public discussions for decision that will affect his/hers day-to-day life.

São Paulo State Constitution (1989) had already assimilated those concepts on water resources:

Decentralized management, with participation and integration of natural resources, the State division into hidrographic basins, use of multiple water resources and the garantee of means to assure organized civil society participation in the decision making processes.  

São Paulo State Water Resources System established by an specific law that rules the constitutional resolution (Law 7,663/1991) has created spaces for society participation, at the same levels as the government representatives.

From these social victories, consolidated in the law, civil society institutions changed roles and start to share responsabilities with public and governamental institutions. The community organized in representation unities and also collective interests defense institutions started to truly exercise citizenship in the environmental field as well as in the water resources management.

The so called “humming-bird wisdom”*, present in a Brazilian popular saying has been consolidated. Nowadays, we are making an effort, as citizens, to do our part. And although it might seem modest and small, it is as a water drop: even soft and small, it carries on insisting until it drills the rock.   

 

*The humming-bird wisdom:

The forest has caught fire and animals have fled scared. As the monkey realized that the humming-bird was taking water in its beak to extinguish the fire, said: “Don’t  you see that this is useless?”. To what the humming-bird replied: “I am doing my part”.

 

As the hummimng-bird, we should all do our little parts. Participate! Look fot the basin committee in your area.

Join us!