Water Conflicts: Environmental Justice Cases from California and New Orleans

This is a brief discussion of two examples of conflicts over water distribution, participation and recognition at the local level in California and New Orleans, United States of America.

1. California Case

This was about lack of clean water in Central Valley, California (CA). It’s a case type of water management, access rights and entitlements. Poor communities bore the cost of water pollution from fertilizers and agricultural pesticides and yet they paid the highest drinking water rates in the state. Their access to bottled water was weekly, and came at a cost, as they found such water 30 to 50 miles away. This posed various environmental, health and socio-economic impacts.

Environmental justice organisations and other supporters played a crucial role in mobilising community members against the situation. Sundry mobilisation forms were employed: development of a network, collective action, public campaigns and street protests. The outcome was that a relevant new legislation was enacted and participation of community members in decision making processes was strengthened. There was also development of alternatives where, for instance, State tax on fertilizers was put in place to fund clean drinking water programs in the area. With all such strides, some communities still lack access to clean, safe and affordable water despite the passing of a bill ensuring the human right to water in CA.

"The Quran Converted Me to Christianity"

With no edits, below is a conversion story as shared by Mario Joseph:

“While I was working in Muslim moscheet as an Imam, a parish priest, once I preached in my parish that Jesus Christ is not God. For me God was only Allah, and I believed Allah never got married, so no sons for Allah. So I preached there that Jesus is not God. Then somebody asked me, “Who is Jesus?” from the crowd. Maybe a Muslim, but he asked me, “Who is Jesus?” I was preaching he is not God, but the question was, “Who is he?” To know who is he, I read the entire Quran once again: 114 chapters, 6666 words in the Quran. When I read it, the name of Prophet Muhammad I found in Quran 4 places, but the name of Jesus I found in 25 places. There itself I was a little confused. Why does the Quran give more preference to Jesus? And the second thing: I could not see any women’s name in Quran: Prophet Muhammad’s mother’s name, or wife’s name or children’s name, no. In the Quran there is only one woman’s name that I found: Mariam, the mother of Jesus. No other woman’s name. And in the holy Quran chapter 3, the name of the chapter is ‘Family of Mariam.’ And the holy Quran chapter 19, the name of the chapter itself is ‘Mariam.’ One chapter is “Mariam.” So I as very curious to know ‘Why does the Quran say all these things?’ About Mariam, holy Quran chapter 3 verses 34 onwards says that Mary was born without original sin, she never committed any sin in her life, she was ever virgin. Quran chapter 50 verse 23 says that she went to Heaven with her physical body. Even the assumption is written in the holy Quran.