Articles
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Earth for Sale: Maude Barlow’s New Book on the Fight Against the Financialization of Nature
In her new book, Earth for Sale: The Fight to Stop the Last Plunder of the Planet, Maude Barlow, founder of the Blue Planet Project and creator of the Blue Communities initiative, delivers an urgent warning about the accelerating financialization and commodification of nature. Barlow exposes the mechanisms, corporate actors, and illusions behind so-called “nature-based…
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May Day 2026
Happy International Workers’ Day. On this May Day, we recognize the work of the people. Labour by definition is human work, specifically productive, physical, or mental effort, often in the context of employment or organized movements. Labour, by definition, does not capture the unseen or unmonetized care work that predominantly women carry – such as…
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Ghana Launches Its Water Justice Campaign in Accra
Accra, Ghana – At the launch of the Ghana Water Justice Campaign in Accra, the Blue Planet Project (BPP) and the Africa Water Justice Network (AWJN) joined civil society partners in calling for urgent action on water protection and justice, under the message: “We need higher commitment to address water issues.” This campaign, supported by…
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Statement of the Peoples’ Water Forum on the Appointment of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Water
A concerning appointment: Since December 2024, a new mandate has been created. The UN Secretary-General appointed Retno L.P. Marsudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, as Special Envoy for Water. Months before the appointment, water justice groups were repressed in Indonesia by a pro-government paramilitary group from holding a counter-summit to the 10th World Water…
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Two Senegalese Communities Recognized as Blue Communities in January 2026
Blue Communities Africa recognised and celebrated two new Blue Communities in January 2026: Merina Dakhar and Keur Mor Ndiaye, both located in Senegal. Merina Dakhar is approximately 130 kilometres from Dakar, while Keur Mor Ndiaye is about 15 kilometres from the capital city. The two communities demonstrated strong commitment to the Blue Communities principles, meeting…
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Are We Facing Advocacy Burnout?
As we continue to witness genocide in Palestine, political violence in America, and the increasing appropriation of public wealth by a few – including water privatization efforts around the world, we cannot help but wonder – are we facing advocacy burnout? Burnout is defined as “exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as…
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May Day Reflections
Every day is a workers’ day. Every day is May Day. May first, May Day, is a day commemorating the struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. Labour takes many shapes and forms. We commend the ongoing battles for justice, equality, and safe workplaces. Last year, we reflected on the unequal distribution…
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Stop the Faure Water Sell-Off: Cape Town’s Future Shouldn’t Be for Sale
An abridged version of this letter was published by GroundUp, 16 April 2025. A group of water justice researchers warn against the expensive disasters ahead if citizens agree to the City of Cape Town’s proposal to “externalise” the implementation and operation of the Faure New Water Scheme The City of Cape Town (CoCT) wants to outsource…
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The Blue Planet Project’s World Water Day 2025 Reflection
World Water Day 2025 Reflection This year, we at the Blue Planet Project would like to use the World Water Day commemoration to reflect on the centrality of water to life. Last year, we offered a series of critiques of the United Nations (UN) and positioned ourselves outside of UN frameworks, conversations, and agendas; but…
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Kenya’s High Court Ruling on Privatization Act: Lessons for Water Justice and Human Right to Water Advocacy
Kenya’s High Court recently made a landmark ruling that nullified the Privatisation Act 2023, signaling a significant setback for the government’s attempts to privatize state assets and meet conditions set by international lenders like the IMF. The ruling, however, offers key lessons for water justice advocates and African Commonwealth nations that share similar legal frameworks…