Maude Barlow and Lila Cabil urge people to stop privatization of public waterSTAFF PHOTO[/caption] Maude Barlow, Canadian author and national chairperson of the Council of Canadians, with a delegation of water rights advocates brought 260 gallons of water to Detroiters July 24. Of the 15,000 homes that have had water shut off by Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr, it is estimated that only 48 percent are back in service. “We came to pay tribute to the people of Detroit,” Barlow said in remarks made at St. Peter’s Church, Michigan and Trumbull, where the water was delivered. “Fresh water and sanitation are human rights guaranteed by the United Nations,” she said.” Every country is responsible for looking after its most vulnerable. It is not acceptable that people do not have water.” No city council member has spoken out against the water shut offs and Mayor Mike Duggan has only said things would be different if he were in charge. The Canadian water caravan was held up at the border by U.S. customs offiicals who charged each car in the caravan $10 duty for the water drawn from Windsor, Ontario taps. Barlow and Detroit People’s Water Board activist Lila Cabil urged people not to buy bottled water. That the convenience of buying bottled water was leading to the commodification of water around the world. EM Orr has said he wants to privatize the DWSD. “Have you seen the philanthropic community that stepped up to save the art (at the Detroit Institute of Arts)?” Cabil asked the crowd. “Have they offered to help people with water? No!” See also: Detroit welcomes water from Canada