Bravo to Italy for pulling their funds out of the World Bank's water privatisation programme on the grounds that giving ownership of water – yes, the stuff every human being needs for basic survival – to profit-making companies is a bit barmy. Residents of poverty stricken Soweto, Johannesburg are taking their city authorities to court this month as they’ve decided they’d like to be able to flush their toilet without having to sacrifice the weekly food budget. Pre-paid water meters were forced on the city’s homes in January, meaning the poor can no longer afford to wash their hands – a marvellous predicament for a country already staggering under the weight of serious health problems.