Program Description
The upcoming symposium builds on a symposium held at Texas Tech University School of Law in November 2005 - Precious, Worthless, or Immeasurable: The Value and Ethic of Water - to further explore the idea of water ethics. This symposium will bring together people from a wide variety of groups representing different interests in water, such as the water industry (e.g., privatized utilities, bottled water, water marketing, etc.), agriculture, government (at the municipality- to the national level), environmental and nature organizations, indigenous peoples, human rights organizations, and others. The purpose of the symposium is to seek common ground in identifying a water ethic that are fundamental to all of these interests and that might lay the foundation for compromise, cooperation, and sound management of fresh water resources. Fundamental to this goal is the ideal that common water ethics should be at the base of all agreements, legislation, and management efforts related to fresh water resources.
Symposium Chairs
Dr. Irene Klaver, Director, Philosophy of Water Project, University of North Texas
Professor Gabriel Eckstein, Professor and Director, Center for Water Law & Policy, Texas of Law Tech University School
Keynote I
Commissioner Robert Johnson, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of the Interior
Keynote II
Professor Jean Fried, University of California, Irvine and UNESCO
PANEL I: Water Ethics and Commodification of Freshwater Resources
Moderator:
Professor Stephen Diamond, Santa Clara University School of Law
Panelists:
Professor James Huffman, Erskine Wood Sr. Professor of Law, Lewis & Clark Law School
Mr. Harry Ott, Director, Strategic Global Water & Environmental Initiatives, The Coca-Cola Company
Mr. Vernon Masayesva, Executive Director, Black Mesa Trust, Kykotsmovi, Arizona
Dr. Larry Swatuk, Visiting Research Fellow, Centre for Foreign Policy Studies; Adjunct Professor of International Development Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
While water ethics may come in a variety of forms, none may be more controversial than those related to the commodification of fresh water resources. The commodification of water entails conceptualizing water as a commodity - an article of trade - and allowing the market to manage the resource in accordance with free market principles. Those in favor of water commodification tout the market’s ability to more efficiently manage and allocate scarce resources to where they are needed, while those opposing it contend that a market-driven management scheme will exacerbate scarcity and depletion and leave the poor and the environment without adequate fresh water. This panel brings together experts to address ethical issues related to water commodification and the consequences that may result from such action. Topics of discussion may include the availability, consumption, conservation, cost, distribution, and ownership of fresh water resources on the local to the global level.
PANEL II: Ethics-Based Decision-Making in Societal Water Management
Moderator:
Mr. David DeCosse, Director of Campus Ethics Program, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University
Panelists:
Ms. Amy Hardberger, Attorney, Environmental Defense, Austin, Texas
Mr. David Sandino, Chief Counsel, California Department of Water Resources; Adjunct Professor, Santa Clara University School of Law
Professor Paul Kibel, Director, Policy West, UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy; Golden Gate University School of Law; Fitzgerald Abbott & Beardsley
Mr. Robert Potts, President, Dixon Water Foundation, Dallas, Texas
Fresh water resources are managed, allocated, and protected by an assortment of actors and at a variety of levels of authority. Decisions related to such management typically are based on numerous factors and interests related to the priorities of both the actor and those of society. This panel will explore those priorities, factors, and interests and consider whether common grounds can be found to establish a basis of cooperation. Topics of discussion may include the prioritization process, responsibilities, decision-making authority, negotiating conflicting goals and ideals, what counts as good governance, and more.
PANEL III: Water Ethics in a Globalized World
Moderator:
Professor Kenneth Manaster, Santa Clara University School of Law
Panelists:
Dr. George Ogendi, Visiting Asst. Prof. of Environmental Geology, Arkansas State University; and Asst. Prof. of Natural Resources, Egerton University, Kenya
Dinara Ziganshina, LLM Program in Environmental and Natural Resources Law, Expected 5/2008, University of Oregon School of Law, Eugene, Oregon
Dr. Helen Ingram, Research Fellow, Southwest Center, University of Arizona; Professor Emeritus, Planning, Policy, & Design School of Social Ecology, Political Science School of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine
Richard Paisley
With 1.2 billion people around the world lacking access to clean water for basic needs and 2.4 billion lacking access to proper sanitation, water today is one of the leading global issues of concern. Moreover, according to numerous reports, increases in population growth and pollution, coupled with climate change, will likely further exacerbate water stress around the world. This panel will explore how water is managed and allocated, as well as perceived, in a global context and consider whether and how water ethics might be used to address some of the issues associated with global water scarcity. Topics of discussion may include water governance, disputes and cooperation over transboundary fresh water resources, a human right to water, water trade, and other issues.
ROUNDTABLE: Toward a Water Ethic
In this final portion of the symposium, all of the speakers from the preceding panels will be invited to discuss and consider whether a consensus can be achieved on a core set of water ethics that society should pursue. They will also be tasked with negotiating disparate or conflicting ethical bases that may arise, as well as developing the processes and mechanisms for implementing the agreed-upon water ethics.
