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The Saker
A bird's eye view of the vineyard

offsite link Alternative Copy of thesaker.is site is available Thu May 25, 2023 14:38 | Ice-Saker-V6bKu3nz
Alternative site: https://thesaker.si/saker-a... Site was created using the downloads provided Regards Herb

offsite link The Saker blog is now frozen Tue Feb 28, 2023 23:55 | The Saker
Dear friends As I have previously announced, we are now “freezing” the blog.? We are also making archives of the blog available for free download in various formats (see below).?

offsite link What do you make of the Russia and China Partnership? Tue Feb 28, 2023 16:26 | The Saker
by Mr. Allen for the Saker blog Over the last few years, we hear leaders from both Russia and China pronouncing that they have formed a relationship where there are

offsite link Moveable Feast Cafe 2023/02/27 ? Open Thread Mon Feb 27, 2023 19:00 | cafe-uploader
2023/02/27 19:00:02Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of

offsite link The stage is set for Hybrid World War III Mon Feb 27, 2023 15:50 | The Saker
Pepe Escobar for the Saker blog A powerful feeling rhythms your skin and drums up your soul as you?re immersed in a long walk under persistent snow flurries, pinpointed by

The Saker >>

Public Inquiry
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005

offsite link RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail?supporter? Anthony

offsite link Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony

offsite link Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony

offsite link RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony

offsite link Waiting for SIPO Anthony

Public Inquiry >>

Human Rights in Ireland
Promoting Human Rights in Ireland

Human Rights in Ireland >>

Lockdown Skeptics

The Daily Sceptic

offsite link The Death of Diversity Kitsch Fri Jan 31, 2025 18:01 | Dr David McGrogan
Diversity kitsch is all around us. But as the grim fact forcefully confronts us that some immigrants hate their hosts so much they want to murder and rape them, David McGrogan senses that it is at last falling from favour.
The post The Death of Diversity Kitsch appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Transgender Emilia P?rez Star Under Fire for Anti-Islam and Anti-BLM Social Media Posts Fri Jan 31, 2025 15:10 | Will Jones
The transgender?star of Emilia P?rez, Karla Sof?a Gasc?n, has come under fire over anti-Islam and anti-BLM social media posts. Another diverse person who missed the intersectional memo ? always one for the popcorn.
The post Transgender Emilia P?rez Star Under Fire for Anti-Islam and Anti-BLM Social Media Posts appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link The Reeves CV ? More Questions Fri Jan 31, 2025 13:00 | David Craig
David Craig has some more CV questions for Rachel Reeves. Including: was her meteoric rise to Chancellor via the HBOS complaints department due to getting an undisclosed leg-up or two from her Labour connections?
The post The Reeves CV ? More Questions appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Tenth of Farmland to be Axed for Net Zero Fri Jan 31, 2025 11:28 | Will Jones
More than 10% of farmland in England is set to be?diverted towards helping to achieve Net Zero?and protecting wildlife by 2050, the Environment Secretary will reveal today.
The post Tenth of Farmland to be Axed for Net Zero appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Badenoch Rebukes Priti Patel for Defending Sky High Immigration Under Tories Fri Jan 31, 2025 09:00 | Will Jones
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel has been rebuked by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch after she?defended sky-high immigration?under the Conservatives when she was Home Secretary.
The post Badenoch Rebukes Priti Patel for Defending Sky High Immigration Under Tories appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

Lockdown Skeptics >>

Uruguay Votes YES to ban Water Privatisation

category international | rights, freedoms and repression | news report author Tuesday November 02, 2004 12:16author by Donnacha O Briain - DAPSE Report this post to the editors

Important electoral results from Latin America, including historic referendum in Uruguay, in whcih more than 60% of the electorate
supported the Constitutional Reform in Defense of Water, adding water as a
human right to the Constitution and setting the basis for its exclusive
public, participatory and sustainable management. ( Source : Global Exchange)

Dear Friends,

October 31st marks a historic day for the victory of democracy in the social
movements against corporate globalization in Latin America.

*In Uruguay, more than 60% of the population voted for a Constitutional
amendment protecting public ownership and management of water for drinking
and sanitation.
*In addition, a leftist coalition called the Frente Amplio in Uruguay won
the presidency with their candidate Tabaré Vazquez, who shares a vision for
Latin American unity with Argentina's Kirchner, Venezuela's Chávez, and
Brazil's Lula da Silva.
*And the anti-FTAA government of Hugo Chávez and his MVR party won 21 out of
23 governorships, consolidating the victory of government-for-the-poor that
the people reaffirmed in the August 15th referendum on President Chávez's
mandate. For more information, check out the article at
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=1403

We hope that these electoral victories provide inspiration to all of us
working in the US for greater democracy and social justice here in the US.

Please see the article on the victory for public water below.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Sovereign decision for water in Uruguay: more than 60% said YES

On a historic day in Uruguay, more than 60% of the Uruguayan people
supported the Constitutional Reform in Defense of Water, adding water as a
human right to the Constitution and setting the basis for its exclusive
public, participatory and sustainable management.

This referendum was promoted by the National Commission in Defense of Water
and Life (CNDAV). The commission was created in 2002 as an answer to the
signing of a Letter of Intent between the Uruguayan government and the
International Monetary Fund (IMF), which committed to extend the
privatization of potable water and sanitation services to the
entire country.

Privatizations started in Maldonado department, firstly with the presence of
French multinational company Suez Lyonnese Des Aux followed by Spanish
company Aguas de Bilbao.

As in most of water privatizations performed last year, these processes have
had negative consequences.

From the social point of view, wide sectors were prevented access to potable
water for not being able to afford the cost of the service, which
considerably decreased its quality in comparison to the services provided by
water state company OSE.

The conditions of the service were of such low quality that quality control
bodies in that matter recommended not to consume water because it didn't
comply with minimum quality standards.

From an economic point of view, the "business" was really bad for the
Uruguayan state. Not only did the companies failed to comply with the
provisions of the contracts, but they didn't make the agreed payments
either. They filed for contractual reconsiderations with the state, which
assumed the losses caused in each of the cases.

From an environmental point of view, Aguas de la Costa company (subsidiary
of Suez) was responsible for draining Blanca Lagoon, which used to be a
source of potable water. Precisely for this cause, neighbors of Maldonado
department filed a lawsuit against the company for environmental damages.

*Water against everything*

The victory of the water plebiscite was actually a social one. CNDAV is a
wide group of social and political organizations which oppose the
commodification of water.

Among their founders are community organizations, FFOSE (water state
company's trade union) and REDES-FOE (Friends of the Earth Uruguay). After
its foundation, the commission became greater, including the majority left
wing political party (Frente Amplio, winner of October 31st elections) and
one nationalist party's sectors.

The companies carrying out privatization -- of water and other sectors such
as bottling companies along with conservative business sectors (including
large estate owners) carried out a strong political and media campaign
against the reform.

During the nine months previous to the campaign, the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) started a public debate with the CNDAV, denying any policy
imposition on the Uruguayan government and refusing responsibility for the
content of the 2002 Letter of Intent.

The work, which enabled the triumph of the Constitutional Reform was based
on the grassroots, which transmitted the spirit and content of the proposed
articles.

The auspicious result of the plebiscite opens the doors for a water policy
designed from a perspective viewing this resource as a common good, to be
publicly managed for social participation and sustainability criteria.


http://www.realworldradio.fm

For more information

CNDAV
[email protected]

FFOSE: www.ffose.com.uy
[email protected]

REDES: www.redes.org.uy
[email protected]


--
Deborah James, Global Economy Director
Global Exchange
415.575.5537 direct line
415.255.7296 x245
415.255.7498 fax
2017 Mission Street #303, San Francisco, CA 94110
http://www.globalexchange.org

Related Link: http://www.globalexchange.org
author by Ray McInerney - Global Country of World Peacepublication date Thu Nov 16, 2006 23:19author email raymond.mcinerney at ul dot ieauthor address Limerickauthor phone 00353860638611Report this post to the editors

Uruguay announced its intention to repay early all outstanding obligations to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), amounting to an estimated $1.1 Billion. Finance minister Danilo Astori also announced the canceling the current Stand-By Arrangement which extended until 2008.

Finance minister Danilo Astori also announced the canceling the current Stand-By Arrangement which extended until 2008.

Astori described relations with the IMF as very friendly but from now on “we’ll be exchanging ideas and suggestions”.

Related Link: http://www.mercopress.com/Detalle.asp?NUM=9183
 
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