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Water Charges Meeting, City Hotel,Derry, 7.30pm Thursday, 15th February

Monday 12th February 2007

As 'indicative' water bills land on Derry doorsteps, Communities Against the Water Tax have organised a city centre meeting this Thursday night 15th February to give people up-to-date information about the campaign to stop the charges.

The City Hotel meeting will start at 7.30pm and has an impressive line-up of well-informed speakers. John Corey, head of the NIPSA union and Frances Dowds, Director of the Northern Ireland Anti Poverty Network (NIAPN) are travelling from Belfast to address the meeting.

Frances Dowds says "the government are spreading a lot of disinformation to try to frighten people from the non-payment campaign. But the legal advice we have got is clear that a mass non-payment campaign can win. If privatisation of our water is to work, they have to show the multinational water companies that we will meekly pay separate charges to boost their profits.

"As long as we all stick together and make it really difficult for them to collect the money, it will force the politicians - whether local or direct rule - to listen to people's concerns and keep water in public hands, paid for out of general taxation."

Local woman Goretti Horgan, who is chair of the Anti Poverty Network says "NIAPN is a founder member of Communities Against the Water Tax (CAWT). Over the last while, CAWT have been holding stalls in the city centre and it is clear that people are angry and determined not to pay. Some are frightened about the implications of non-payment but they are more scared about trying to find the money to pay the full whack in two years time.

"Thursday night's meeting is for all those who want to know more about the non-payment campaign or to help organise it in their own area.





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