Six IHECS students from the Brussels Blue Community

28.11.2019
As part of their media project, six students in the 2nd year of the Master in ASCEP were eager to encourage the Brussels government to join the "Blue Community" network.

Blue Community?

Blue Community is a concept created by the Council of Canadians to encourage cities, organisations and communities around the world to treat water responsibly.

Specifically, the organisation is committed to:

  • Respecting the right of access to water
  • Banning bottled water from the municipal sphere
  • Guaranteeing the promotion of public water supply and wastewater treatment services financed and operated by the public sector, and belonging to it

Since its creation, more than 40 communities have joined Blue Communities. These members include the cities of Berlin, Paris, Zurich, Cadiz, Thessaloniki, Montreal, the universities of Sankt Gallen and Lavras, and the World Council of Churches, etc.

Blue Community is a concept created by the Council of Canadians to encourage cities, organisations and communities around the world to treat water responsibly.

Specifically, the organisation is committed to:

  • Respecting the right of access to water
  • Banning bottled water from the municipal sphere
  • Guaranteeing the promotion of public water supply and wastewater treatment services financed and operated by the public sector, and belonging to it

Since its creation, more than 40 communities have joined Blue Communities. These members include the cities of Berlin, Paris, Zurich, Cadiz, Thessaloniki, Montreal, the universities of Sankt Gallen and Lavras, and the World Council of Churches, etc.

Brussels Blue Community

With the help of other international players in Blue Communities, Aurélien De Bolster, Gabriel Detheux, Martha Vandermeulen, Alexandre Van Hoeke, Simon Verhoye and Lea Vromman have embarked on a comprehensive series of steps aimed at getting the Brussels Capital Region to the project.

Specifically, they are in contact with most of the water stakeholders in the capital, both experts on the issue of the right to access to water, but also workers who work directly on the ground. They have designed a website, produced a documentary entitled "Le bruit qui coule" ("The Sound That Flows"), a physical campaign with stickers and flyers, and a campaign using social networks.

On 28 and 29 November, they are organising, in collaboration with Blue Communities and EPSU, a conference during which a press conference will take place in the presence, among others, of Rudi Vervoort, Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region.

All their work has borne fruit, since the Brusssels government has accepted the adoption of Blue Community status for the Brussels-Capital Region.

To conclude this project, they also plan to send a dossier to all communities (cities, schools, universities, places of worship, etc.) interested in the idea of joining the Blue Community. This will outline the stages they have implemented in order to carry out this project, while summarising the questions and concerns that have occupied them during this adventure.

Le bruit qui coule

"Le bruit qui coule" is a 20-minute film-discussion which tackles the issue of access to water in Brussels and its management with various theoretical and on-site stakeholders, including, in particular, Riccardo Petrella, Italian political scientist and economist, who wrote "Manifeste de l’eau" ("Water Manifesto").

Here is an extract from the film’s synopsis: "For some in our capital, even the essentials may be lacking… Our films aims to raise awareness of water poverty and stimulate debate: how can we rethink access to water? Which ethics should guide us? What type of society should we choose? "

Would you like to attend an advance screening of this documentary?

  • Meeting at 1930 on 29 November
  • At COOP - Quai Fernand Demets 23, 1070 Anderlecht
  • Free
  • The screening will be followed by a discussion with various speakers.

Find out more about the Brussels Blue Community