President Clinton wasn’t the only notable attendee at the Annual Fisherman Ball. The Clinton Climate Initiative has worked to combat the adverse effects of global climate change with policy for sustainable solutions and economic development.

Honoree guests included Sting and Trudie Styler. Both Sting and Trudie Styler worked on spearheading the Rainforest Foundation in 1989. The Rainforest Foundation protects water and land of indigenous groups living in the rainforest.

Honorary guests at the Riverkeeper’s Annual Fisherman Ball were given the “Big Fish” award for their work on clean water advocacy across the world.

New Yorkers are proud of drinking water quality available straight from the tap. The work of the Riverkeeper Organization and distinguished individuals including President Bill Clinton will preserve the pristine water sources that keep New Yorkers refreshed.

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According to looktothestars.org, the single is part of Knowles’ commitment to bring reliable clean water resources to communities in Uganda, Cameroon, and Rwanda.”Water is a necessity, it’s not a privilege,” said Knowles.

In partnership with the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation’s Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN), proceeds from Kenya will provide clean drinking water, hygiene, and sanitation to communities where clean water is the difference between life and death.

Find Kenya at the Music for RAIN website. The single is available via donate to download, so the sky is the limit in terms of donations. The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation aims to raise approximately $10,000 for the Music for RAIN project, but Knowles supporters and water advocates can surely surpass this modest milestone.

Water is life for the body. Music is life for the soul. You might not be able to dig a well in Cameroon. But, you can always assist those who can. Download Kenya and donate to the Music for Rain project.

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The African Water Facility (AWF) is an organization launched in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AFDB) that finances and promotes sustainability projects to render water accessible to local population and therefore ameliorate their living conditions.  The AWF serves as a catalyzing force that collects all investments in order to render them profitable towards sustainable actions and projects for the water sector in Africa. The mission of this organization is to ‘” improve the enabling environment and strengthen water resources management in Africa by attracting the massive and appropriate investments necessary to achieve national and regional water objectives” (Source: http://www.africanwaterfacility.org/en/about-us/mission-and-mandate/). In addition, this organization’s mandate comprises the target of investments for infrastructure development projects, raising awareness about water issues, supporting the River Basin Organizations and establishing a method to evaluate the projects and their developments. The Governing Council of the AWF, comprised of thirteen members, establishes the general policies guiding the focus and direction of the organization. In addition, the council proposes areas of intervention and reviews the previous annual reports.

An interesting project approved by the AWF is the Formulation of Burundi’s Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Plan, supported by the AWF.  The goals of this project are to reduce poverty, consequently improving the well-being of the populations and “conserving vital natural resources through enhanced water governance” (Source: http://www.africanwaterfacility.org/fileadmin/uploads/awf/projects-activities/BURUND_IWRM_PLAN_APPRAISAL_RPT_FINAL.PDF). Despite popular belief, Burundi has abundant water resources, yet the problem arises due to a dramatically uneven distribution amongst the population. With the fervent increase for water, tension is escalatingin the country. In 1989, a National Commission of Water and Energy was created, yet this structure has stopped function since 1992. Since then, no other national structure to control water has been developed. The AWF has recognized the need to make an urgent change and therefore has accepted to sponsor part of the project.

Of course financing such projects wouldn’t be possible without the help of valuable partners like the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the World Water Council or the Global Water Partnership. The IUNC, one of the world’s largest conservation network that an equitable use of water as a fundamental vital resources. The NEPAD focuses on all the challenges facing the African continent, from poverty to social marginalization; the organization seek projects and sustainable interventions that can enhance the general well-being of the continent.

With so many actors involved, coordination and communication become the two fundamental milestones that can determine the success or failure of a long-term sustainable development project. Water is probably the most precious resource on earth and should be accessible to every human being as a right instead of being a privilege for a small minority. The African Water Facility is working in order to extend that privilege to those who need it the most.

In 2004, in collaboration with various organizations, P&G created the Children’s Safe Drinking Water programs (CSDW), that helps raise awareness around the globe about the importance of having access to quality drinking water. The famous corporation reminded the whole world that often water scarcity is the trigger to a whole set of other problems such as diseases, health problems, malnutrition and agricultural impediments. This initiative is part of P&G’s larger philanthropic program called Live, Learn and Thrive TM initiative.  According to the official website of the initiative, P&G is “committed to improving the lives of people around the globe, saving children’s lives and providing clean drinking water to as many people as possible” (Source: http://www.csdw.org/csdw/csdw_program.shtml). Up to now, the corporation declares it has invested more than $25 million toward clean drinking water. Procter & Gamble has teamed up with organization like the International Council of Nurses or the Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs to distribute PUR packets to individuals who need it the most in developing countries or emergency situations.

The PUR packet was developed by P&G in partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease control and Prevention (CDC) and it is “an amazing innovation that quickly turns 10 liters of dirty, potentially deadly water into clean and drinkable water” (Source: http://www.csdw.org/csdw/pur_packet.shtml). The packets contain a powder that is able to remove pathogenic microorganisms in order to render the contaminated water clean. According to the official website, the packets are able to remove more than 99.99999% of bacteria and various types of viruses. This product has been sold to various organization and NGOs, for instance the International Rescue Committee has bought enough PUR packets to deliver close to 3.5. million liters of drinkable water for the people in Iraq. Disaster relief is a very important part of the company’s corporate social responsibility commitment that often start with providing clean water, a basic element for the survival of entire population. According to the official website of the organization, the program has “delivered over 1.6 billion liters of clean drinking water and they are committed to delivering four billion liters by 2012” (Source: http://www.csdw.org/csdw/csdw_program.shtml). In addition to this valid water initiative, P&G has set five strategies for sustainable in order to achieve a list of set goals by 2012.

One of their most ambitious goals so far is to enable 300 million children to have a better life, which starts with preventing around 160 million days of disease and saving 20, 000 lives by delivering 4 billion liters of clean water. This goal seems somewhat outstanding and so far the progress made since 2007 comprehend a total of 135 million children reached and close to 930 million liters of clean water were delivered. (Source: http://www.pg.com/en_US/sustainability/strategy_goals_progress.shtml). These numbers are indicative a successful start only time will tell if such ambitious goals can be reached. The importance and validity of this cause seems to be appreciated at the international level since in 2007, the CSDW received the Ron brown US Presidential Award for Corporate Citizenship, the United Nations Association Global Leadership Award. In addition in 2005, the program was also awarded the Stockholm Industry Water Award.

Reconciling business requirements with corporate social responsibility has become a must for small firms and large corporations.  The Children’s Safe Drinking Water Programs have the ambitious goal to provide clean water to all of them who need it. The innovative PUR packet is able to rapidly transform polluted and often deadly water into clean potable water. This mechanism needs to be promoted at an international level and to be further developed since it could save the life of entire population especially in crisis situation.

The Indian author, Vandana Shiva, highly active on this front wrote a controversial book called Water Wars where she states in nine principles why access to water is a democratic right.  According to her “ since nature gives water to us free of cost, buying and selling it for profit violates our inherent right to nature’s gift and denies the poor of their human rights” (Source: http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz/VANOVEDR/). When companies decide to privatize water is highly questionable from a moral point of view considering the potential lethal consequences it could have on the poor and thirsty. Currently, countries around the world that have important debts, suffer great pressure from the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund in order to privatize their water systems. Vandana Shiva goes as far as calling privatizing water “ecological terrorism” (Source: http://baltimorechronicle.com/2010/030910Lendman.shtml). Those in favor argue that governments have not enough funding in order to fully cover the sanitation of the water systems and therefore, the quality worsens and the water is becoming dangerous for citizens to drink.

This debate over water privatization has become a real hot topic in the United States where there has been an increasing worry about the quality of tap water in America. Government resources for the water sectors are not enough and most water systems in America need to be replaced or repaired. Water privatization has become the alternative solution to the lack of funding in order to improve the public system.  “In the U.S. rather than allocating public funds for investing in public water systems, local governments have removed legal and regulatory restrictions that prohibit private operation of publicly owned utilities” (Source: http://www.tradeobservatory.org/library.cfm?refid=99838). The pace of privatization in the United States reflects the ongoing trend of the entire world: in many cases governmental initiatives have given a helping hand to private companies in order to acquire smaller public utilities.  Instead of taking measure to install programs and initiatives for water conservation and preservation, governments prefer to liberate themselves from this burden and pass it on to the private sectors. The pro privatization camp argues increasing efficiency and the improvement of the service quality as arguments in favor of taking over water supplies.

The bottled water industry has taken advantage of the momentum and “water resources in Wiconsin and Michigan have been targeted by giant bottled water companies like Perrier” (Source: http://www.citizen.org/cmep/Water/general/). Initiatives like the “Think Outside the Bottle” campaign (see video above) are challenging the corporate control of water and reminding citizens that trusting a giant profit driven corporations like Nestlé with our water supply might not be the safest option.

It is inevitable to wonder if a private company can have an incentive to bring water to poor rural areas. Restaurants, communities, schools and businesses all over the United States have taken the “Think Outside the Bottle” pledge in order to fight for water sovereignty and to discourage the waste of plastic water bottles marketed by the world’s largest corporations in order to gradually gain control and access of rivers, wells and water supply systems. “ From celebrity chef Mario Batali’s Del Posto in New York City to Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse in Berkley, California, restaurants are now serving tap instead of bottled water” (Source: http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org/restaurants-think-outside-bottle). The transition is raising customer awareness about waste and showing everyone that bottles with tap water are just as good and trendy as a plastic water bottle.

Should human beings have the right to transform nature’s most vital element into a mere commodity to be marketed and sold like any other product? Can moral ethics find a place in a business driven logic? While people continue to debate about water privatization, the quantity of accessible potable water is continuing to lower everyday. How can giant corporations take over local rivers or lakes without a real concern for what the population wants? If water quality is deteriorating in many states and local governments lack funding in order to ameliorate service, what options do we have left?

Through the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation (Source: http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/citizenship/foundation_local.html), Coca Cola is working with existing charities to help address Africa’s water situation. “Coca-Cola’s RAIN (Replenish Africa Initiative) project has committed US$30million (£19.5million) to provide schools and communities throughout Africa with safe drinking water. So far, the project has reached 300,000 people in 19 different countries, and over the next six years we expect to give a total of at least two million people access to clean water.” (Source: http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/community/replenishing-africa-during-the-world-cup.html).

For the  2010 FIFA World Cup™,  Coca-Cola is using the occasion to raise funds for RAIN’s

“Water for Schools”  project, including a pledge to donate money every time a player scores a goal. The “Water for Schools” is aimed at providing access to clean water for African Communities.

Coca-Cola has also joined forces with Thames21, London’s leading waterways charity (source: http://www.thames21.org.uk/) to mark the World Water Day 2010 and give employees a chance to improve local environment and community. “A loophole in London’s city regulations means that local councils are not responsible for rubbish on the Thames shoreline, so Thames21 was set up to motivate people to get together and muck in to clean up the riverside. Coca-Cola has been involved with the charity since 2008, helping to preserve the natural beauty of the landscape and create new habitats for wildlife at various sessions during the year.” (Source: http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/environment/thames-21-river-clean-up.html)

According to its website, Coca-Cola is improving its social commitment by helping to improve the communities they serve. Working with  charitable associations gives an added value to the Company and makes consumers  aware that it sees itself beyond just selling beverages worldwide. The London charity works with over 8,000 volunteers each year to remove more than three million liters of litter from London’s waterways. “This is the equivalent of more than 27,000 wheelie bins full of litter” says the river program manager at Thames21. Yet, a smart and realistic consumer that doesn’t live in wonderland, will probably be able to hint at the fact that corporate social responsibility has become a “must” for any company’s marketing strategy.

The Company wants to improve its transparency by providing a tool on the website to see where the can or bottle we drink from is made. (Source: http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/environment/carbon-footprint-calculator-coca-cola.html)

Coca-Cola’s environmental commitments are focused on  areas like water stewardship, sustainable packaging, energy management and climate protection. On  May  14, 2009, it  unveiled a new plastic bottle made partially from plants. “Our goal is to safely return to communities and nature an amount of water equivalent to what we use in all of our beverages and their production. Our goal is to advance a packaging framework in which our packaging is no longer seen as waste, but as a valuable resource for future use, introducing the next step in our sustainability journey”. The “PlantBottle™” is fully recyclable, has a lower reliance on non-renewable resources, and reduces carbon emissions, compared with petroleum-based PET plastic bottles. (Source:www.coca-cola.co.uk/…/live-positively-sustainability.html)

The Company publishes a report on its website to communicate its commitment to sustainability. According to the data from 2007-2008 report ” improvement on the Water Use Total of 4% related to 2006; the Company asserts that it is because of organic growth and acquisition. The water use ratio (efficiency) presents an improvement of 2% related to 2006″ (Source:http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/citizenship/pdf/SR07_Enviro_33_46.pdf).

While business remains still business on the negative side, this world-know company has been accused of “leaving farms parched and land poisoned in India” ( Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2003/jul/25/water.india). Mass media has accused the company of leaving farmers desperatly hanging after having drained the water that feeds their wells. Coca Cola’s huge demand for water has left the entire village with a situation of water scarcity. Moreover, according to this article, the company has been accused of dumping all its waste on the lands and poising the harvest and all agricultural soils. In response to this situation Coca Cola has declared that the drought his caused by the lack of rainfall and that complains were nourished and mostly presented by extremists protest groups.

The situation in India doesn’t take away any credit from the positive initiative Coca Cola has undertaken for Africa during the World Cup. Yet, it is important for all you readers to keep in mind that  corporations are not NGO’s or charities and their main interest is almost always to keep their profits and reputation high. This comment is not intended to discredit this project but is simply a way to provide a more complete view of the picture.

Coca Cola is making a very clear case for social consciousness. When a company of this stature takes a stand, it is safe to assume that at the end of the day, what is good for the planet can also become something positive for the company’s reputation and therefore for its business.