São Paulo, March 22, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - On World Water Day, the date chosen for humanity to become aware of the need for reflection and serious action concerning this natural resource, the Parliamentary Front for the Defense of Water will be inaugurated this afternoon. Coordinated by state deputy Sebastião Almeida (PT-SP), the project intends to alert government officials and the population to reflect on the hydric problems faced by the state of São Paulo, to modify wasteful habits, and to seek alternatives for rational water use.

"Our goal is to carry out this reflection with the population, and the path we found was to create this front, which unites lawmakers, government officials, environmentalists, and university professors," Almeida observed.

Brazil possesses about 12% of the planet's fresh water and 53% of the fresh water in Latin America. It is the country with the richest hydrographic basins and the largest subterranean fresh water reserves on the globe. Nevertheless, São Paulo, for example, has only 1.65% of this water available for water supply systems. "For this reason, the idea is for all the hydrographic basin committees in São Paulo to discuss the problem in their own cities and for the commission to go to these places to promote events that involve mayors, city council members, and the whole population and organized society," the PT deputy explained.

Translator: David Silberstein