[PEN-L:3569] Re: Re: Ozzie Bondage & commodified water

[Bill Rosenberg <w.rosenberg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Patrick Bond <pbond@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Comrade, they're doing it to us as well in South Africa. Will send
> you off-list some of the issues that the social movements here are
> raising as an effort to counter the commodification logic, to halt
> the mass cut-offs of water supplies in townships (affecting
> households and entire neighbourhoods where 75% of people can't pay
> the bills), to factor in public good externalities that reflect....

And in New Zealand ... (per Bill Rosenberg)

>> Sent: 	Tuesday, 19 January 1999 23:59
>> Subject: 	FIGHTBACK AGAINST CORPORATISED  WATER
>>
>> Happy  New Year to you all !
>>
>> Watch the Holmes Show on TV1 on Wednesday evening - 20th
>> January, for (hopefully) a good airing of the civil
>> disobedience campaign by the WATER PRESSURE GROUP in
>> Auckland.
>>
>> Since July 1997 the water services of Auckland City  have
>> been run by a company called Metrowater Ltd, owned but not
>> controlled by the City Council. This measure was adopted in
>> spite of the majority of wishes in the so-called consultation
>> process, and has continued in the face of growing opposition.
>>
>> This is the only New Zealand local body to go so far, apart
>> from the Papakura District Council who in 1997 franchised
>> their water management to the infamous United Water
>> (Generalle de Eux and Thames Water consortium).
>>
>> Since August 1988, the WATER PRESSURE GROUP has been mounting
>>  opposition to Metrowater and a waste water charges boycott
>> has been underway. The concerns of the group are that payment
>> of waste water on a user pays basis, rather than through
>> rates is unfair, the exorbitant service charges are crippling
>> ordinary citizens, small businesses and community groups,
>> while the commercialised public service stands as a halfway
>> step (like SOEs) to privatisation.
>>
>> As people have had their water supply restricted or cut off,
>> we have been turning the water back on. People are filling
>> their meter boxes with concrete, digging up footpaths,
>> parking their cars over the meters, or standing on them when
>> service personnel arrive to cut off the flow.
>>
>> A legal writ to the High Court is not deterring the group,
>> and the TV show on Wednesday should convey through several
>> interviews and footage some of the resolve of the group.
>>
>> The aim is to abolish Metrowater and return the water
>> services to the direct democratic control of the Council,
>> with waste water being charged once again through rates.
>>
>> The past fifteen years has seen the "level playing field"
>> levelling only, the living conditions of too many ordinary
>> working people throughout New Zealand, while handing the
>> public assets over to big business. It is high time that a
>> group stood to say  'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH"  This is a significant
>> step and style of work in that direction. Ordinary people
>> from disparate backgrounds and opinion are able to combine
>> and work together in this, and as the group matures it
>> becomes stronger and more confident.
>>
>> Cheers, please pass the word around for others to watch the
>> programme.
>>
>> To those overseas, we know that you are experiencing the same
>> "market economy" measures where you are.  Greetings and all
>> power to you in your struggles.
>>
>> To Anna in the Sth African union fighting against
>> corporatised water there, please bear with us - we will send
>> full information as soon as time permits.
>>
>> All the best,
>>
>> Jim Gladwin
>> Media Spokesperson.
>> WATER PRESSURE GROUP
>> Ph/Fax  09 828 4517
>>
>> ps For those in Auckland, don't forgert to listen to
>> FIGHTBACK RADIO - every  Wed morning from  7 to 8.  You will
>> find it on 810AM.
>>
>>
>>
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