Modatima, the “Movement for the Defense of Access to Water, Land and Environmental Protection”, is an organization formed in Chile out of the Province of Petorca.[1] The organization was created in 2010 as a response to increased water scarcity in the region caused by an ongoing drought and alleged water theft by local agribusiness, specifically large-scale avocado farmers.[2] Motadima activists state that their mission is to make visible the conflicts over water in the region at a national scale and bring to light the commodification of water driven by the 1981 Water Code.[3] Motadima has spoken at universities and held demonstrations across the country for their cause.
The organization has expanded their presence to the regions of O’Higgins, Los Lagos, Arica & Parinacota and Metropolitana.[4] Modatima has also joined La Red Vida, a transnational organization representing water and land rights across the Americas.[5]
People in the region of Petorca get their water delivered by truck with each person receiving 50 liters a day, lower than the national average use of 196 liter per day, per capita.[6] Water is delivered by unmarked trucks, and resident have noted that water received is often discoloured and not clean.[7][8] Studies have found that the water given to the community contains high levels of coliform.[9]
Threats edit
Rodrigo Mundaca, the organizations director and spokesperson, along with other local water activists such as Veronica Vilches have received numerous death threats in relation to their activism.[10] Mundaca faced charges and possible jail time in 2012 when he released names of businesses who had built illegal underground channels diverting water from the River Petorca to their farms.[11]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "History". Modatima. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "Rotten- Avocado Wars". IMDb. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- ^ "Quienes Somos". Modatima. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ "Quienes Somos". Modatima. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ "Quienes Somos". La Red Vida. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "Chile must prioritise water and health rights over economic interests, says UN expert". UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "Chile the Wild West of Water Rights". Bloomberg. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "Chilean villagers claim British appetite for avocados is draining region dry". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
- ^ "The avocado agribusiness and the water crisis in Petorca, Valparaiso Chile". Environmental Justice Atlas. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
- ^ "Chile: Authorities must protect Rodrigo Mundaca and other environmental defenders". Amnesty International. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ "An Eco-Geo-Politic of Water: A proposal from the Territories in the Struggles for the Reclamation df Water in Petorca Province (Central Zone of Chile)". SciElo. Retrieved 16 February 2022.