[Summit] Fwd: AlterNet: The Corporate Control of Water Takes an Unexpected Twist

[Elizabeth Grossman]

I think we really should organize against this profit making,  
privatizing approach to a public resource.   Could the Association  
take this up officially? I am willing to help. Elizabeth
On Sep 15, 2008, at 10:11 AM, <libertyliterary at cox.net> wrote:

>
> =============
> To: hopeforhealth at quakerworks.net,libertyliterary at cox.net
> Subject: AlterNet: The Corporate Control of Water Takes an  
> Unexpected Twist
> From: libertyliterary at cox.net
> Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:03:28 -0400 (EDT)
>
> -------------------------------------
> The Corporate Control of Water Takes an Unexpected Twist
> http://www.alternet.org/water/97993
>
> In one U.S. city, a mayor is putting the city's water systems up  
> for sale in exchange for money for eduction.
> -------------------------------------
> THIS ARTICLE INCLUDES A COUPLE OF PARAGRAPHS ABOUT THE USE OF A  
> VOTER INITIATIVE TO STOP THE PRIVATIZATION -SEE BELOW.  MAYBE THIS  
> IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING?  (ALSO, PERHAPS WE SHOULD GET AND  
> SHOW THE FILM, "THIRST"?)
>
> Today, a similar risk faces Akron. But there is evidence that  
> Akronites have learned from other communities, especially Stockton,  
> whose drama was the subject of the  2004 film (and later book)  
> "Thirst".
>
> In the film, 65-year-old orthodontist and Stockton resident Dale  
> Stocking offers the following advice:
>
>     What I'm telling people is when you hear the first indication  
> toward privatization, start a community. Start a grassroots  
> activity. And if it appears you're being railroaded into something,  
> or a small group is in control of an issue, then the citizens  
> immediately have to move to an initiative to require public  
> participation and a public vote.
>
> The residents of Akron took the advice very seriously. On May 3,  
> local labor, faith and community groups -- notably AFSCME Ohio  
> Council 8, which represents many of the sewer workers whose jobs  
> would be impacted -- formed a coalition under the name Citizens to  
> Save Our Sewers and Water (Citizens SOS) to launch a voter  
> initiative to amend the city's charter. Stated simply, the  
> amendment would require that any action by the mayor or City  
> Council to sell or lease a city utility be approved by a majority  
> of voters in Akron. Within six weeks, Citizens SOS collected more  
> than twice the needed signatures, and on Aug. 18 the initiative was  
> ordered to the November ballot.
>
> Blessings,
>
> Liberty G
>
>
>
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