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The Citizen Alliance’s Hijabi s’ Union is taking action at the FFF-Fédération Française de Football to fight for for Muslim women wearing scarves. right to play official competition matches wearing sports hijabs.
The new Aberystwyth Chapter had a very successful direct action ( pictured above) that resulted in the member receiving their deposit back in full! Congratulations to the Aberystwyth Chapter on their victory!
The chapter also spoke to voice.wales about the tenants’ campaign that led them to found ACORN Aberystwyth, how a few landlords have stitched up the local housing market, and why the local community should join their efforts.<<Listen in Here >>
Manchester:The Manchester chapter is looking for a member defense organizer to work in Manchester, focused on recruiting, developing, and supporting members to take action on issues affecting them and the communities they come from. The successful candidate will start work on the 4th of October and will have a focus on organizing direct action housing campaigns and working with women in Manchester.Find out more here
Newcastle: Newcastle launched a campaign to save the Apollo Bingo Hall from being turned into more expensive student accommodation. The chapter raised awareness about the campaign through outreach in Durham where they spoke to many local residents and got their thoughts on the proposed demolition of a much-loved bingo hall, as well as getting people to write a comment on how to object to the plans through the council website.
Find out more here
Oxford: Victory Experienced a city-wide VICTORY for their YES TO DSS CAMPAIGN! Yet another demonstration of the power that direct, collective action has to win change for ordinary people in Oxford.
Oxford City Councillors unanimously passed a cross-party motion to stamp out discrimination against renters in receipt of universal credit or other housing benefits.Check out their latest action >>
Brighton:
Weeks after ACORN Brighton members marched on The Property Shop to demand these issues are fixed urgently, nothing has been fixed, and contractors continue to turn up unannounced and get nothing done. They were back, telling the public about the conditions Stephen is happy to let his tenants live in, and dozens of people were up for supporting our campaign
<< Read More Here >>
Birmingham: VICTORY
Member Yun Fang was living in a council flat riddled with mushrooms and dampness. Her kids’ health was impacted by the conditions and she was upset, distressed, and at the end of her tether when she became a member of Acorn Birmingham. We are thrilled that she has won her demands for repairs, and finally the council has listened and responded! Her kids can enjoy their safe home now.
The chapter also hosted a meet with tenants in Nechells Tower blocks last night who were sick of the conditions they were putting up with. Most of the residents were tenants and customers of Birmingham City Council and the Wates Group. They are dealing with issues like chronic mold, unsanitary communal corridors, smelly rubbish chutes, mice and cockroach infestations, and disturbance from contractors who are working on the windows of the towers.
ACORN Birmingham members were out leafletting today and delivered invites to our resident’s meeting in 290 flats in Nechells.
Toronto ACORN members had a great Internet for All rally on Tuesday, July 6th at 11 am at City Hall, demanding the City to make connections to community-owned, community-controlled, and $10 internet for all low and moderate-income people.
ACORN Vanier Rallies to save homes from N13 Demoviction!
Tenants Speak out in London To Demand Healthy Homes:
“London ACORN member Samantha, had a Tenant Speak Out event outside her Landlord’s office to demand a healthy home for her and her daughters. Samantha has been asking for repairs to be fixed in her home so she and her daughters can live comfortably. Instead of fixing the repairs, the landlord has told Samantha she can just move out.
<< Read More Here>>
“Several representatives of ACORN Hamilton, a tenant rights group, backed the idea of a vacant housing tax.”
“Dayna Sparkes, ACORN’s east Hamilton chair, said the tax would discourage landlords from keeping units vacant. This is an important tool Hamilton can use to prevent speculation.”<< Read More Here >>
The chapter contacted the vice minister of public health Dr. Roberto Cosenza, in the municipality of Puerto Cortés, from whom we recently requested assistance and vaccination for the Choloma and Lopez Arellano sectors. After receiving a positive positive response a vaccination process was started as of July 22 including the municipality of Puerto Cortes.
The management is done in a particular way because there is a lot of demand with the issue of covid-19 as the country is seeing an uptick in Delta variant cases
Pictured below: meeting with representatives of civil organizations in Puerto Cortes and collecting signatures to protest about the employment zones (ZEDE) and demand the right to respect national sovereignty, the signatures will be presented later to the national congress in Tegucigalpa.
ACORN Puerto Cortes getting signatures at the protest. The Chapter also met with representatives of civil organizations in Puerto Cortes and collected signatures to protest about the employment zones (ZEDE) and demand the right to respect national sovereignty, the signatures will be presented later to the national congress in Tegucigalpa.
In Puerto Cortes, the reforestation of beaches and mangroves is being carried out permanently to protect the environment. ACORN is supporting this group who we hope will join us in this effort.
Thirty families have now joined ACORN Nigeria to launch a new affiliate in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The first step in order to grow the membership is formally registering ACORN Nigeria, and we are on our way. This organizing was triggered by ACORN President Marva Burnett working with a local organizer, Etida Anthony Edem.
Minal Diwan, an ACORN member in the Dharavi area of Mumbai. She is 27-years old and has been unemployed since the pandemic closed her workplace. Her 23-year-old brother is also without work. The entire family is living on the 8000 rupees ($107.85 USD) her father makes. They have been living in Dharavi all of her life. Their rent and utilities there cost 5000 rupees ($67.41), so they survive on only 3000 rupees or about $40 for the month. She credits the rations that she has received from ACORN with support from RIST for their survival. Watch the Full Interview Here
On July 10 and 23, 2021, nearly 80 people from the Bepanda Bonamoussongo and Yonyong districts respectively gathered at the initiative of the OnEstEnsemble association to discuss the problems that plague the two districts.Assessment of the activities of the last 6 months, strategic reflections on the campaigns or battles in progress, identification of new avenues of campaigns are the axes which furnished these meetings.Finally, the elections took place to renew the members of the board of the 2 local branches. Other citizens’ assemblies are being prepared in 7 other districts where the association is established.
Resumption of drainage works in the Ngongue and Tongo A ’Bassa rivers after several work stoppages
Thanks to the non-violent mobilization of “flood refugees” on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at the town hall of Bonanjo. The resolutions of the negotiation with the chief of staff of the city mayor led to the descent of the city mayor of Douala on the spot to assess the situation.
Two days later, work resumed on the ground with cleaning and de-grazing equipment in the drains.The inhabitants continue to follow up on a daily basis to ensure the effectiveness of the work on the ground.
#TogehterWeAreStronger
#Together
[Inondations dans les quartiers] : Début des travaux de drainage sur dans les rivières N’gongue et Tonga ‘ A Bassa à Douala
Reprise des travaux de drainage dans les rivières n’gongue et Tongo A ’Bassa après plusieurs d’arrêt des chantiers
Grace à la mobilisation non violente des « réfugiés des inondations » le Mercredi 21 Avril 2021 à la mairie de ville de Bonanjo. Les résolutions de la négociation avec le chef du cabinet du Maire de ville ont abouti à la descente du maire de ville de Douala sur les lieux pour évaluer la situation.
Deux jours après, les travaux ont repris sur le terrain avec les engins de curage et de dérasement dans les drains.
Les habitants continuent à faire le suivi au quotidien pour s’assurer de l’effectivité des travaux sur le terrain.
#EnsembleOnEstPlusFort
#OnEstEnsemble
[Quality electricity for all]: Faced with multiple complaints of overbilling members of the association, a working session with the commercial delegate of Douala Center made it possible to make new commitments to improve access to the electricity service
The first contact with the new Managing Director Eric Mansuy of the company Eneo led to a working session on September 11, 2020. It should be recalled that this meeting follows the non-violent action of September 9, 2020 which made it possible to renew the collaboration between the association and the Eneo company. To this end, one of the commitments was to systematize working sessions to take stock of the supply of electricity service (connection requests, processing of requests, abuse of agents, etc.). Faced with new complaints of overbilling, the Douala Center trade commissioner Ms. Leila Metiegoum invited the association on June 9, 2021 to a working session to review the overall situation.
The new commitments made by the Douala center trade commissioner:1. The reorganization of connection campaigns up to 51,257 FCFA for single-phase prepaid meters (02 lines)2. Compliance with the 5-day deadline for processing requests and connection requests between 10 and 20 days3.The provision of the OnEstEnsemble association, an information note signed between ARSEL (Regulatory Agency for the Electricity Sector) and Eneo, on improving the quality of service4. Provision of customers, service regulations (user obligations, formulation of requests and connection requests, etc.) via display channels and digital platforms5. The organization of quarterly meetings between Eneo and the association
The next step will be to meet the technical manager in charge of network maintenance, Mrs. Yvonne Mauger, to take stock of the renewal of defective electrical infrastructure in the neighborhoods.
#WeAreTogether
[Electricité de qualité pour tous] : De nouveaux engagements pris par l’entreprise de distribution de l’électricité Eneo
Face aux multiples plaintes de surfacturation des membres de l’association, une séance de travail avec la déléguée commerciale de Douala Centre a permis de prendre de nouveaux engagements pour améliorer l’accès au service d’électricité
La prise de contact avec le nouveau Directeur général Éric Mansuy de l’entreprise Eneo a débouché sur une séance de travail le 11 septembre 2020. Il faudrait rappeler que cette rencontre fait suite à l’action non violente du 9 septembre 2020 qui a permis de renouer la collaboration entre l’association et l’entreprise Eneo. A cet effet, l’un des engagements était de systématiser les séances de travail pour faire le point sur la fourniture du service d’électricité (demandes de branchement, traitement des requêtes, abus des agents etc.). Face aux nouvelles plaintes de surfacturation, la déléguée commerciale de Douala Centre Mme Leila Metiegoum a convié l’association le 09 Juin 2021 à une séance de travail pour le point sur la situation globale.
Les nouveaux engagements pris par la déléguée commerciale Douala centre :
La prochaine étape sera de rencontrer la responsable technique en charge de la maintenance des réseaux Madame Yvonne Mauger pour faire le point sur le renouvellement des infrastructures électriques défectueuses dans les quartiers.
#ensembleonvaplusloin
Faced with the silence of the City Mayor, households came to settle in the dry with their sheets, thermos, and mats in front of the urban community of Douala.
On Wednesday, April 21, 2021, around thirty residents of Makepe Maturity, Bepanda Yonyong, Makepe 1 Missoke, and Bepanda Petit Wouri came with blankets, cups to take refuge on the forecourt of the town hall in Bonanjo, to “flee the serious danger to which they are exposed in their neighborhood because of the floods and find refuge” within the town hall.
Indeed, the major drainage works were supposed to provide a lasting solution to the risk of flooding in certain exposed neighborhoods of Douala, but the suspension of the site has only worsened the situation over the past 2 years, particularly on the sector downstream of the Truth Bridge, which separates Yonyong and Tsf-Cacao Barry on one side and Missoke on the other. Due to the Reduction of the cleaning area, the abandonment of concrete in the construction, and the suspension of work: the first floods were quick to appear with the first heavy rains.
Following this the residents called the delegate to the Douala Urban Community (CUD) at the time, without response. Residents of the 4 neighborhoods, therefore, suffered from flooding throughout the rainy season last year. Mr. Kouo Daniel, saw dozens of chickens washed away, while he was about to sell them; Mr. Zeufo, owner of the Vérité primary school, saw his classrooms filled with water, forcing the students and teachers to concentrate in the rooms upstairs. Parents feared the worst for the little ones who could be swept away by water currents. Much material damage was observed in the homes. A petition was thus initiated, asking for the resumption of work, with the same rigor as at the start of the work, up to the Bao Bridge: in a few weeks, more than 200 signatures were collected. The petition, accompanied by a reminder letter, was thus filed on December 17, 2020.
The mobilization made it possible to meet the Chief of Staff of the Mayor who undertook to bring down the person in charge of the drains on the ground in order to assess and estimate the needs for the rest of the work. He will also organize discussions between the Association and these officials in order to find ways to contain the rainwater during the next rainy season.
#NoFLood
#WeAreTogehter
les habitants touchés par les inondations viennent se réfugier à la mairie de ville
Face au silence du Maire de Ville, des ménages sont venus s’installer au sec avec leur draps, thermos et nattes devant la communauté urbaine de Douala.
Mercredi 21 Avril 2021, une trentaine d’habitants des quartiers Makepe Maturité, Bepanda Yonyong, Makepe 1 Missoke et Bepanda Petit Wouri sont venus munis de couvertures, tasses et thermos se réfugier sur le parvis de la mairie de ville à Bonanjo, pour « fuir le grave danger auquel ils sont exposés dans leur quartier à cause des inondations et trouver refuge » au sein de l’hôtel de ville.
En effet, les grands travaux de drainage devaient permettre d’apporter une solution durable aux risques d’inondations de certains quartiers exposés de Douala, mais la suspension du chantier n’a fait qu’aggraver la situation ces 2 dernières années, notamment sur le secteur en aval du Pont Vérité, qui sépare Yonyong et Tsf-Cacao Barry d’un côté et Missoke de l’autre. Réduction de la zone de curage, abandon du béton dans la construction, puis suspension des travaux : de premières inondations n’ont pas tardé à apparaitre aux premières grandes pluies.
Les habitants ont alors interpellé le délégué auprès de la communauté urbaine de Douala (CUD) de l’époque, sans réponse. Les riverains des 4 quartiers ont donc subi les inondations pendant toute la saison des pluies de l’année dernière. Monsieur Kouo Daniel, a vu des dizaines de poulets emportés par les eaux, alors qu’il était sur le point de les vendre ; Monsieur Zeufo, propriétaire de l’école primaire Vérité, a vu ses salles de classes remplies d’eau, obligeant les élèves et professeurs à se concentrer dans les salles à l’étage. Les parents craignaient le pire pour les tous petits qui pouvaient être entrainés par des courants d’eau. De nombreux dégâts matériel ont été constatés dans les foyers. Une pétition a ainsi été initiée, demandant la reprise des travaux, selon la même rigueur qu’au début des travaux, jusqu’au Pont Bao : en quelques semaines, plus de 200 signatures ont été collectées. La pétition, accompagnée d’un courrier de relance, a ainsi été déposée le 17 décembre 2020.
La mobilisation a permis de rencontrer le Chef de Cabinet du Maire qui s’est engagé à faire descendre le responsable des drains sur le terrain afin d’évaluer et estimer les besoins pour la suite du travail. Il organisera également des discussions entre l’Association et ces responsables afin de trouver des moyens pouvant contenir les eaux de pluies durant la prochaine saison de pluies.
#NonAuxInondations
