Barlow was appointed by Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, president of the UN general council, to achieve Water for Life program goals (2005-2015). The United Nations estimates 42,000 people die each week from diseases related to bad water and poor sanitization.

"There has been growing momentum in the international community for water justice," says Barlow. "I also plan to take this opportunity to get the Canadian government to change its shameful position, and to finally join the international community in recognizing water as a human right."

Barlow has written 16 books, is the national chairperson of the Council of Canadians, and co-founder of the Blue Planet Project. The unpaid position strengthens her campaign for Canadian legislation that would ban the commercial export of water.