THE Right2Water campaign has called another major demonstration in Dublin on Saturday 29th August 2015 at 2pm. Several buses are being organized to run from Donegal – Advance booking essential.
The Right2Water campaign includes community groups, trade unions and political representatives and has been the biggest popular mobilisation since the foundation of the state with approximately half a million people attending their four previous demonstrations.
“It’s very clear this government believes the water charges issue has gone away. We’re saying very firmly that it hasn’t and this will be the biggest issue when it comes to the next general election. On Saturday, 29th August we intend to show this government that water charges are still the number one item on the agenda and we have no doubt this will be our biggest event yet.”
The Right2Water campaign believes recent events where the government gave the Courts the ability to attach unpaid water bills to earnings in two years time have only added fuel to the fire. “People are outraged. The government obviously recognise they have lost the debate. Nobody wants these unfair water charges because they see it for the scam that it is. We already pay for our water and sanitation through general taxation, which is progressive and fair and we want it to remain that way. Instead of listening to us, this government wants to intimidate and threaten people with Court dates and attachment orders, but we’re not falling for it. We will continue to build and articulate our ideals for a better, fairer Ireland that doesn’t put a monetary value on everything – including turning our water into a profitable resource to be privatised in the future.
“Last month at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ Biennial Delegate Conference, delegates voted to make abolition of these water charges their policy for the next two years. By then we believe the people’s movement against these charges will have succeeded in protecting our human right to water and abolishing these regressive charges. The Conference also endorsed ensuring water remains in public ownership through a referendum. Right2Water promised when it was launched it would finish the job and remove water charges from the statute books. We have done so much already but we have much more to do. In the coming months we will fulfil our promise.”
The Right2Water campaign believes that water is a human right and the introduction of these water charges is an infringement on that right. While Ireland is currently the only country in Europe with zero water poverty, these charges will inevitably lead to a new form of poverty being introduced. In Italy, France, across Eastern Europe and Detroit in the USA, families are having their water shut off for being unable to pay their bills. This is not the future that we want in Ireland.
The demonstration on Saturday, 29th August will be the most colourful and family friendly event yet and Right2Water say there will be face painting and balloons for children on the day.
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