More than 100 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from around the world have issued an "Evian Water Challenge" to leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) major industrial nations that will meet next week in Evian, France, demanding that they stop pressuring developing countries to privatize their water resources. [refers to 6 major multinational companies which between them account for virtually all private investment in water utilities in developing countries: France's Suez and Vivendi Environment; Thames Water, owned by Germany's RWE AG; Saur, another French company; United Utilities of Britain; and Bechtel]