Water privatisation protest this Saturday

If you use water, or think your children or grandchildren may do so in the future, you should take action against water privatisation this Saturday, says Right to Water activist Sam Buchanan.

Protests will be held on June 12th against Rodney Hide's Local Government Amendment Bill in Wellington and the Hutt, as well as other towns and cities throughout New Zealand.

“The court jester of New Zealand politics is up to his old tricks – tabling an innocuous sounding bill that would lead to far-reaching changes in the way local government services are provided – or not provided,” says Sam Buchanan.

The bill removes the requirement of councils to maintain control of the management of water services and extends the maximum duration of a contract with a private company to supply water from 15 years to 35. Water infrastructure will be allowed to pass out of council ownership for the duration of the contract.

“Despite gaining the support of less than two percent of New Zealanders in opinion polls, the ACT party, is determined to inflict the zany policies that emerge from Rodney's churning innards on the public. Privatisation of water is a line in the sand. If we lose democratic control of water, a basic requirement for human life will be run according to the whims of private profit,” says Sam Buchanan.

In Wellingon, meet at the bucket fountain in Cuba Mall at 11.30am, Saturday, June 12th.

More information on the national day of action, including events around the country, how to make submissions on the bill (due by June 18th) and other information on water privatisation is at:
http://www.righttowater.org.nz/waterprivatisationinNZ.html

The text of the proposed legislation can be read here:
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2010/0142/latest/DLM2922407.html

Sue Kedgley from the Green Party comments on the bill here:
http://blog.greens.org.nz/2010/05/05/water-and-democracy/

And the Green Party submission guide on the bill is here:
http://www.greens.org.nz/takeaction/submissionguides/submission-guide-local-government-act-2002-amendment-bill

The Maori Party has commented on their opposition to the bill here:
http://www.angoa.org.nz/pages/show_file.php?filepath=pages/news/2010-05-10-Rahui-Katene.php

And even the Labour Party opposes the bill:
http://blog.labour.org.nz/index.php/2010/06/07/time-to-take-action-against-water-privatisation/

ENDS

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