Canadians deliver water to protest Detroit shutoffs

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Canadians deliver water to protest Detroit shutoffs

Matt Helms, Detroit Free Press7:09 p.m. EDT July 24, 2014

(Photo: Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press)

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DETROIT — Protesters fighting water shutoffs in Detroit greeted a convoy of Canadians who traveled to the city with hundreds of gallons of water to help those who have been cut off because of unpaid bills.

Maude Barlow, a leading water rights advocate in Canada, and other activists brought 750 gallons of water in a seven-vehicle convoy that traveled through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel to deliver the water and the message that the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department's policy of shutting off service to delinquent customers violates the United Nations' 2010 declaration that water is a human right.

"What that means is that every country in the world is responsible for looking after their most vulnerable people," said Barlow, national chairwoman of the Council of Canadians, a social advocacy group. "It means that every country in the world is not allowed to turn the tap off of water that is already being delivered, and it means that nobody has the right to say no to water for people who cannot afford it."

USATODAY

Detroit faces heat over water shutoffs

It was the latest protest since the city declared a 15-day pause in shutoffs of residential customers as Detroit drew international attention for cutting water service in an effort to collect millions of dollars in unpaid bills.

Detroit says it has 90,000 delinquent accounts totaling more than $90 million. The city has been stepping up collections efforts since last fall, and in April and May alone cut off service to more than 7,500 customers — moves that have prompted outrage among groups that advocate for poor people in a city with deep unemployment and the scars of decades of neglect.

USATODAY

Detroit suspends water shutoffs for 15 days

The shutoffs drew criticism from U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes, who said the policy was giving the city a negative image even as it fights for its financial future in its historic Chapter 9 bankruptcy case.

City officials told him they're working to expand education efforts and to pull together more financial assistance for customers without the means to pay.

Paul Moist, national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, also was in the convoy and said that, while the water the Canadians delivered was small, it was meant to be a symbolic criticism of corporate, right-wing policies that pit poor people against others.

"America is better than this," he said. "If the richest country in the world can bail out banks and bail out Wall Street with public money, then public money from the state level and the national level can be used to help the people of Detroit who are in harm's way health-wise without water."

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[JohnR! 5,495]

Canadians and their socialistic communistic notions that we somehow have to care for our neighbors... Pfffff...

:-)

[Peikko 1,575]

That's disgusting, shutting off water. Is that really legal? I don't care if they can't pay their bill, everyone has a right to water and making people pay for the right to have it running in their homes and cutting it off if they can't pay is totally unreasonable. Unreasonable and disgusting. I am sure he main reason for the Canadians actually bringing the water was as a publicity stunt. I hope it works.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Canadians and their socialistic communistic notions that we somehow have to care for our neighbors... Pfffff...

:-)

There is no such thing as loving thy neighbor in the U.S. Only thy pet. Animals are more important. Save the pigeons, the cockroaches, the dog s###, the muppet babies, anything but other humans.

I love our style.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

That's disgusting, shutting off water. Is that really legal? I don't care if they can't pay their bill, everyone has a right to water and making people pay for the right to have it running in their homes and cutting it off if they can't pay is totally unreasonable. Unreasonable and disgusting. I am sure he main reason for the Canadians actually bringing the water was as a publicity stunt. I hope it works.

The nurses went to the U.N. about this. There is something called the Right to Water that they are violating. But the U.S. is good for signing something and ratifying it but ignoring their signature when it is convenient for them.

[Peikko 1,575]

The nurses went to the U.N. about this. There is something called the Right to Water that they are violating. But the U.S. is good for signing something and ratifying it but ignoring their signature when it is convenient for them.

I am sure there is a right to water, it sounds like something that would be in the Declaration of Human Rights. Looks like this is the start of a campaign that will have the US forced to comply, I truly hope so. I am totally shocked and upset that anyone in the US would go this far. Running water in the home is not only a right, but also a necessary requirement for the maintenance of public hygiene, so if nothing else, the other residents should be up in arms worrying about cholera and other diseases that are prevalent in societies where clean running water is not available. This is truly something that should have every US citizen outraged.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

I am sure there is a right to water, it sounds like something that would be in the Declaration of Human Rights. Looks like this is the start of a campaign that will have the US forced to comply, I truly hope so. I am totally shocked and upset that anyone in the US would go this far. Running water in the home is not only a right, but also a necessary requirement for the maintenance of public hygiene, so if nothing else, the other residents should be up in arms worrying about cholera and other diseases that are prevalent in societies where clean running water is not available. This is truly something that should have every US citizen outraged.

We had this discussion in class. I was the only one who agreed people need water. Gotta love the Conservative West Texas. They all looked at me as if I was an alien and crazy. I was quite pissed up.

There is also a right to family unity that is ignored as well in the Declaration of Human Rights.

[Peikko 1,575]

Quite honestly this is something that the president could and should get involved in. If he does turn his back on this type of action on US soil then he the US citizen does have something to attack him over.

[Peikko 1,575]

We had this discussion in class. I was the only one who agreed people need water. Gotta love the Conservative West Texas. They all looked at me as if I was an alien and crazy. I was quite pissed up.

There is also a right to family unity that is ignored as well in the Declaration of Human Rights.

interesting. The right to family unity is actually something again that people should place more value in. If you break up families and extended families then you lose a lot of the glue that keeps a community vibrant and connected. That leads to all kinds of social break downs and the requirement of more government support. It is so short sighted to tell people to 'get on their bikes' to find work.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Quite honestly this is something that the president could and should get involved in. If he does turn his back on this type of action on US soil then he the US citizen does have something to attack him over.

I do believe he should. If he sits back and watch Americans on American soil suffer he is a bigger POS than I originally suspected. This is not something that should be happening in America.

interesting. The right to family unity is actually something again that people should place more value in. If you break up families and extended families then you lose a lot of the glue that keeps a community vibrant and connected. That leads to all kinds of social break downs and the requirement of more government support. It is so short sighted to tell people to 'get on their bikes' to find work.

I agree. But most judges won't listen to the right to family unity when dealing with deportations or trying to get your loved to the U.S. period.

[Karee 4,190]

I wonder how many of those Canadians went back to Windsor without their watches, wallets, and jewelry?

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Ok I am all for everyone having good clean drinking water. As far s a human right .. Don't know

So they are handing out water in gallon Jugs. Why aren't they piping it into their homes for free? Cause that is what this is all about. The people have access to water, just not piped into their home for free.

If those do gooders really cared. Take all that money you spent on Gas and bottled water and pay some folks water bill.

What will be a right next. electricity in your home for free.

It costs money to pipe water into homes. It's a luxury.

[UncleBeer 244]

Caviar for all! What are, we: rats?

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Ok I am all for everyone having good clean drinking water. As far s a human right .. Don't know

So they are handing out water in gallon Jugs. Why aren't they piping it into their homes for free? Cause that is what this is all about. The people have access to water, just not piped into their home for free.

If those do gooders really cared. Take all that money you spent on Gas and bottled water and pay some folks water bill.

What will be a right next. electricity in your home for free.

It costs money to pipe water into homes. It's a luxury.

Maybe a store donated it to them for free as a tax right off.

Why are they do gooders because they believe people should have clean drinking water?

[JohnR! 5,495]

There is no such thing as loving thy neighbor in the U.S. Only thy pet. Animals are more important. Save the pigeons, the cockroaches, the dog s###, the muppet babies, anything but other humans.

I love our style.

Ture. In our country life is sacred up until the moment it is out of the womb. After that it is every man for himself and helping thy neighbor, let alone, love him or her, os frowned upon. I believe the Canadians made a point - that seriously when the communitty gets together something good can come out of it. I don't believe for a second they ever presumed to present a solution to the problem, so much they wanted to show that itt is really not too hard to make a difference. A message utterly lost on some.