Sea of Irish Protesters: 'Water Is a Human Right!'

[Judi Lynn]

Published on Monday, October 13, 2014
by Common Dreams

Sea of Irish Protesters: 'Water Is a Human Right!'

Massive demonstration admonishes new water tax as further austerity

by Andrea Germanos, staff writer


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A sea of protesters in Dublin on Saturday denouncing new water charges. (Photo: Dara Robinson/flickr/cc)[/font]

As many as 100,000 people took to the streets of Dublin on Saturday to denounce a new water tax and declare, "Water is a human right."

Protesters say the water charges, to begin next year, are yet more austerity measures that have pushed people towards a "tipping point."

Fifty-year-old Martin Kelly held a sign reading "Stop the great water heist" and told Reuters, "There is absolute fury against what the government has imposed on the people."

"This day will go down in history as the day that the people decided to roar," said Independent TD Clare Daly. "We are here in our tens of thousands to say water is a human right, based on need, not an ability to pay."

Other protesters chanted, "“From the rivers to the sea, Irish water will be free."

Independent councillor Declan Bree said that people have already been paying €1.2 billion for water through their taxes, and said the new plan is a step towards privatizing the country's water.

More:
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/10/13/sea-irish-protesters-water-human-right