Canadians deliver water to protest Detroit shutoffs

[unokitty]

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...

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.

Pleased that our neighbors to the north have finally recognized their social justice obligations.

But isn't it time to get serious about social justice?

For example, the President of Guatemala is meeting with Obama today to discuss 2 billion dollars in aid.

A small country like Guatemala wants billions and all that Canada has for the USA is a thousand litres of water?

Where's the social justice in that?

Uno

 

[nickbits]

Windsor is south of Detroit.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Canada is the Ned Flanders, to the US' Homer Simpson.

 

[boomerang]

Excellent news! The humble beginnings of foreign aid to the United States of America!

 

[cabri]

Instead of delivering water, why not pay the water bill.

OR do these activitsts feel that everyone has the right to have things for free?

 

[michal1980]

Instead of delivering water, why not pay the water bill.

OR do these activitsts feel that everyone has the right to have things for free?

they should just take them in as refugees, give them free housing, food, education, etc etc.

 

[Greenman]

It's nice to see the canooks getting involved, but I think their concern is misplaced. Detroit has been a liberal mecca for decades, and under the clear eyes and steady hands of it's enlightened leadership, I'm sure they will overcome this obstacle as they have overcome every other problem they have had, by blaming white people.
Also, someone should point out to those kind folks that UN declarations don't mean diddly squat, they simply say things like that so dumb people will think they actually give a fuck.

 

[Oldgamer]

Pleased that our neighbors to the north have finally recognized their social justice obligations.

But isn't it time to get serious about social justice?

For example, the President of Guatemala is meeting with Obama today to discuss 2 billion dollars in aid.

A small country like Guatemala wants billions and all that Canada has for the USA is a thousand litres of water?

Where's the social justice in that?

Uno

Maybe they feel American's are losing sight of their priorities, to take care of their own people?

 

[Mursilis]

Maybe they feel American's are losing sight of their priorities, to take care of their own people?

So if I decide to stop paying my bills, you're going to help me out?

 

[ch33zw1z]

So if I decide to stop paying my bills, you're going to help me out?

For basic necessities like water, I think that's pretty reasonable.

 

[networkman]

For basic necessities like water, I think that's pretty reasonable.

Are you really serious?!? Mursills said if he decided to stop paying his bill, not that he couldn't pay his bill just that he wouldn't want to.

Being willing to help those who CAN'T help themselves is admirable, but helping those who WON"T help themselves is stupid.

 

[OutHouse]

So if I decide to stop paying my bills, you're going to help me out?

drinking water should be free.


its not hard to grasp.

 

[OutHouse]

Are you really serious?!? Mursills said if he decided to stop paying his bill, not that he couldn't pay his bill just that he wouldn't want to.

Being willing to help those who CAN'T help themselves is admirable, but helping those who WON"T help themselves is stupid.

nobody should have to pay for drinking water.

 

[unokitty]

From the Detroit News.

In Detroit:
50 % of the people pay their water bill
66% pay their cable or satellite bill
72% pay their cellphone bill

US getting ready to send four billion dollars to their southern border to take care of Central American children.

All Canada can do is send 1000 litres of water to Detroit?

The Horror!

Uno

 

[BUnit1701]

drinking water should be free.


its not hard to grasp.

Yea, because it doesn't cost anything to filter, treat, and deliver it to your home...

 

[networkman]

nobody should have to pay for drinking water.

And I would argue that they aren't. They're paying for the maintenance of the facilities and infrastructure to deliver it to their tap.

I have a well, I don't pay for my water, but I do pay for the new well pump when it breaks, the water softener and salt if needed in a "hard water" environment and any electricity needed to pump it out of the ground and filter it if needed.

 

[DCal430]

The worst is the privatization of water. People are forced to pay large sums of monies to private companies for water to drink. In many places in the U.S this is the reality of things. Private companies control the water supply here and we are at their mercy for water to drink, cook, and clean.

 

[Spungo]

They couldn't send a real army so they sent the Free Shit Army.

 

[Orignal Earl]

US getting ready to send four billion dollars to their southern border to take care of Central American children.

All Canada can do is send 1000 litres of water to Detroit?

The Horror!

Uno

This is a small group of advocates.
Do you think Canada should get involved like we did with Katrina or 911?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_response_to_Hurricane_Katrina

Canada's first response to the disaster inflicted by Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf of Mexico coastline of the United States was the deployment of a Vancouver heavy urban search and rescue team, which arrived in Lafayette, Louisiana on the evening of August 31, 2005, arriving on a WestJet Airlines aircraft. Due to security and logistics issues in the disaster area surrounding New Orleans, the team started operations on September 3, saving 30 people that day. They returned to Vancouver on September 6, reportedly saving over 110 people during their deployment. It has also accepted some evacuees to stay in Canada.

The official response by the Government of Canada to the Gulf coast disaster came on September 2, following discussions between Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada and the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency. The federal government announced it was deploying a task force comprising three warships—HMCS Athabaskan (DDH 282), HMCS Toronto (FFH 333) and HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH 332)—along with the Coast Guard vessel CCGS Sir William Alexander and three Sea King helicopters and one BO-105 helicopter to the area.

The Canadian Forces also provided several Griffon helicopters and crews to the New England States at the request of the United States Coast Guard whose search and rescue helicopters from that area have been assigned to Gulf Coast SAR operations. Canadian aircraft were deployed as part of a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) military assistance pact.

Read article for tons more help

 

[BoberFett]

nobody should have to pay for drinking water.

Why not?

 

[boomerang]

The worst is the privatization of water. People are forced to pay large sums of monies to private companies for water to drink. In many places in the U.S this is the reality of things. Private companies control the water supply here and we are at their mercy for water to drink, cook, and clean.

In Detroit, they're at the mercy of those bastards at the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.

http://www.dwsd.org/

 

[BoberFett]

In Detroit, they're at the mercy of those bastards at the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.

http://www.dwsd.org/

I blame Republicans and the Koch Brothers.

 

[glenn1]

Maybe we can just send the people to the Canadian water, it would save a lot of time and effort for the Canuckistanis. <locks the door behind them>

 

[boomerang]

I blame Republicans and the Koch Brothers.

Hell yes! Who in their right mind wouldn't! But just what are Bill Gates ($67 Billion), Warren Buffett ($53.5 Billion) and Larry Ellison ($43 Billion) doing to help out? Counting their money?

 

[boomerang]

Maybe we can just send the people to the Canadian water, it would save a lot of time and effort for the Canuckistanis. <locks the door behind them>

You're thinking on too small a level. We should bus these folks into Canada and drop them off. Tell them to say they are seeking asylum from the dangers of Detroit. Have Canada feed, clothe and house them as well as provide for their education and health care.