Modatima
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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]