Housing is a Universal Right - Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Article 25.

• (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

• (2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, part of the International Bill of Rights, was adopted by UN General Assembly Resolution 217A (III) of 10 December 1948.

The United States of America refuses to comply with the International Bill of Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - no surprise here.

From Wikipedia:
The International Bill of Human Rights is an informal name given to two international treaties and one General Assembly resolution established by the United Nations. It consists of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted in 1948), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) with its two Optional Protocols and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966).1 The two covenants entered into force in 1976, after a sufficient number of countries had ratified them.

Cook County Board votes for a 1-year moratorium on home foreclosures in Illinois.

from http://www.co.cook.il.us/

October 11, 2008

Support President Stroger's Proposal for a One-Year Statewide Moratorium on Home Foreclosures

On September 17, the Cook County Board voted to support President Stroger’s resolution calling for a moratorium on home foreclosures in Illinois. The resolution also empowers Cook County to divest its funds from financial institutions that do not support

On September 17, the Cook County Board voted to support President Stroger’s resolution calling for a moratorium on home foreclosures in Illinois. The resolution also empowers Cook County to divest its funds from financial institutions that do not support homeowner relief.

• County Board Resolution
  Read the September 17, 2008 County Board Resolution, supporting the moratorium.
• Press Release - September 17, 2008
  Link to the press release regarding the proposal and County support.
• Online Petition – show your support now online.
  Click to sign the online petition in support of the Mortgage Moratorium.
• Print Petition – Help collect signatures to support the Mortgage Moratorium.
  Download a printable copy of the moratorium petition.

Sept. 25: Bail Out the People - Not the Banks Demo - Detroit

BAIL OUT THE PEOPLE - NOT THE BANKS! Not One More Penny for Wall Street! Demand a Federal Moratorium on Foreclosures NOW! Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008 4:30 PM Gather at the Spirit of Detroit statue, Woodward and Jefferson, Detroit March through Financial District

Demand that the first item in any emergency federal legislation be protection for the victims of this crisis, the millions facing foreclosures and millions of others who are seeing their communities destroyed by the foreclosure epidemic brought on by the predatory lending and fraud of the financial industry. Demand the enactment of an immediate 2 year federal moratorium on all foreclosures. Such a moratorium is mandatory under federal law, which mandates the imposition of a moratorium on foreclosures whenever there is a declaration of a State of Emergency. During the moratorium, an oversight committee of community representatives, civil rights organizations, unions should review and adjust every mortgage in the country, so people’s house payments reflect the real values of their homes and their ability to pay. Such oversight cannot be left to the bankers or even to federal judges who are often disconnected from the reality facing working people today. Demand that rather than spending $1 trillion of taxpayer money to bail out Wall Street, that money be used to guarantee people’s needs, for decent jobs, health care, education, etc. It is the decline in wages, massive restructuring that has eliminated millions of decent paying jobs, and spiraling health costs that in large part has brought on this crisis, forcing people to take out unaffordable predatory loans just to survive. The Moratorium Now! Coalition has been pressing for a statewide moratorium on foreclosures in Michigan and recently held a demonstration in Lansing, MI to support SB 1306, which would put such a moratorium into effect. The Coalition is also demanding that new Detroit Mayor Kenneth Cockrel declare a State of Emergency in Detroit, the hardest hit city in the country by the foreclosure epidemic with an 18% home vacancy rate, and formerly apply to Governor Granholm to place a moratorium on foreclosures in Detroit pursuant to MCL 10.31 For more information contact 313-319-0870.

SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION demanding the Feds implement an IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM ON FORECLOSURES AND EVICTIONS, NOW!

SEPTEMBER 27 International Day of Action

SEPTEMBER 27
International Day of Action

NO Money for Wall Street & War -
Bail Out the Workers and the Poor!

Anti-war activists need to address the latest phase of the war - the war against working people here!

Foreclose the War - Not People's Homes!
Bail Out People - Not Banks!
Money for Human Needs - Not War and Corporate Greed!

IN NYC:
March and Rally
Saturday SEPT 27
12 noon
Times Sq. - 42nd & 7th Ave.
-and in cities across the U.S.
see http://stopwaroniran.org/ for a list of local actions

Washington wants:

• $1 Trillion to bail out mortgage bankers
• $3 Trillion on the War in Iraq
• $ Billions for War against Iran
  

We Demand Money for:

• Housing
• Health Care
• Jobs with a Living Wage
• Rebuilding the Gulf Coast
• Education

SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION
demanding the Feds implement an
IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM ON FORECLOSURES AND EVICTIONS, NOW!

The same institutions that profit from endless war are now demanding that the entire U.S. Treasury to be placed at their disposal to bailout corrupt banks and mortgage institutions, a declaration of endless war against people at home. Even mainstream media is describing this as the “financial equivalent of the Patriot Act,” which will give the banks and their politicians in Washington a license to seize billions of dollars for the benefit of Wall Street bankers.

Many have speculated that the Bush Administration might launch an “October Surprise” - and it has. This is an outright declaration of war against working people. We’re told there’s no money for health care, education, infrastructure – but in one swoop – $1 trillion has been found to prop up banks and financial institutions. This money has been stolen from working people, who will face massive cuts in every social program.

Saturday's Day of Action was originally called by the Stop War on Iran Campaign to protest the Bush Administration's drive to war against Iran, and the demand "Stop War On Iran" will remain a central theme of the demonstration. In light of recent developments - Washington's declaration of war against working people in order to fund an unprecedented trillion dollar bailout of Wall Street bankers - anti-war activists need to address the latest phase of the war - the war against working people here.

No Corporate Bailout! - We need immediate moratorium on foreclosures; health care, education and housing.
SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION demanding the Feds implement an IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM ON FORECLOSURES AND EVICTIONS, NOW!

Donate to help with costs for this national day of action at: http://iacenter.org/donate/

For more information, call 212-633-6646

Sept. 17 Lansing Demo: Moratorium NOW!

Lansing, Mich., protest: ‘Moratorium now! No evictions!’

Published Sep 17, 2008 10:45 PM

WW photos: Cheryl LaBash and Alan Pollock

Streaming onto the state capitol grounds in Lansing on the morning of Sept. 17, hundreds from across the state of Michigan and beyond demanded passage of SB 1306, a bill that would enact a two-year moratorium on foreclosures. Demanding “Moratorium Now!” and “Bail out the people not the banks,” protesters held a spirited march, rally and people’s public hearing detailing both the devastation of foreclosures and the people’s will to keep fighting for a moratorium.

—Bryan G. Pfeifer

Surround the State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan on Sept. 17

September 17: Surround the State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan!

11:00 a.m., East Steps of the Capitol

Join the Fight for a Moratorium on Foreclosures in Michigan!

Your help is needed!

Send email messages to the members of the Michigan Legislature and the Governor demanding enactment NOW of the 2 year Moratorium at
http://www.moratorium-mi.org/petition.shtml
Donate at http://www.moratorium-mi.org/donate.shtml

Foreclosures and evictions are devastating working families around the country. One in nine homeowners nationwide is either behind in their mortgage payments or their family homes are in foreclosure. Over 72,000 homeowners have lost their homes in the Detroit area alone. The vacant home rate in Detroit is 18 percent, second only to New Orleans.

Michigan has led the nation in foreclosures caused by the predatory sub-prime lending crisis on top of a severe economic downtown. One in every 137 homes in Michigan is in foreclosure. Michigan leads the country in unemployment and poverty.

Since the federal government has now taken over and bailed out the big mortgage firms of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac at taxpayer expense, it is the government's responsibility to bail out and protect those who need it most -- working people and their families, the elderly and the disabled who are facing foreclosure and eviction!

The Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Stop Foreclosures and Evictions has been in the forefront of a mass struggle to win a moratorium or freeze on foreclosures. It is organizing throughout Michigan demanding passage of SB 1306, a two-year foreclosure moratorium law introduced in the Michigan Legislature by state Sen. Hansen Clarke. SB 1306 is the boldest Moratorium bill currently in front of a state legislature. It would set a precedent for the entire country! And it would provide a strong impetus for people fighting for a moratorium in other states.

The Coalition is organizing a mass demonstration in Lansing, Mich. on September 17, when hundreds of activists and foreclosure victims will surround the State Capitol to demand passage of SB 1306 and stop the foreclosure crisis devastating families and neighborhoods en masse.

See www.moratorium-mi.org for more information.

The Moratorium NOW! Coalition has already scored important victories in the fight against foreclosures and evictions in Michigan:

· Through a community rally and picket of Bank of America, we successfully stopped the foreclosure of Ruby Curl-Pinkins, a 72-year-old disabled woman, scheduled to be evicted from her home of 35 years by Countrywide.

· We have intervened with direct action to insure that other families facing foreclosure remained in their homes even after bailiffs came to evict them.

· We successfully fought HUD’s policy of violating its own regulations by not allowing continued occupancies of FHA-backed homes by tenants after foreclosure.

· We won an important First Amendment victory that guaranteed the right of anti-foreclosure activists to leaflet and petition at sham “prevent foreclosure forums” organized by Michigan’s pro-business attorney general for the banks and financial interests.

· We have helped sponsor legal challenges that have called into question the right of MERS, the Mortgage Electronic Registration System, to carry out foreclosures. MERS currently is the foreclosing party in tens of thousands of foreclosures in Michigan and millions nationwide.

ACT NOW TO HELP US CONTINUE THIS STRUGGLE!.

What you can do:

Join us at the State Capitol in Lansing, on Sept. 17:
11:00 a.m., East Steps of the Capitol
(see www.moratorium-mi.org)

Send email messages to the members of the Michigan Legislature and the Governor demanding enactment NOW of the 2 year Moratorium at
http://www.moratorium-mi.org/petition.shtml

Donate to help finance buses and vans to bring people facing foreclosure to Lansing on Sept. 17! at
http://www.moratorium-mi.org/donate.shtml

The Moratorium NOW! Coalition needs funds to continue the struggle to win a moratorium on foreclosures in this hard-hit state. Funds are needed to help with printing costs, phone calls, travel costs to get the word out around the state about this vital demonstration. Every donation raised comes from grass-roots donors.
Donate Now at http://www.moratorium-mi.org/donate.shtml.

Moratorium NOW! Coalition
To Stop Foreclosures and Evictions
23 E. Adams, 4th Floor
Detroit, MI 48226
313-887-4344

After Bailout, Senators Ask for a Delay in Foreclosures

September 12, 2008
After Bailout, Senators Ask for a Delay in Foreclosures
By EDMUND L. ANDREWS, New York Times

WASHINGTON — Four Democratic senators urged the Bush administration on Thursday to stop the nation’s two giant mortgage finance companies, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, from foreclosing on any homes for at least 90 days and to help troubled borrowers switch into more affordable mortgages.

On Sunday, the government seized control of both government-sponsored mortgage finance companies. The Treasury Department pledged to supply up to $100 billion in fresh capital for each company and prevent them from defaulting on the trillions of dollars in mortgage-backed securities that they either own or have guaranteed.

The four senators — Charles E. Schumer of New York, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Robert Menendez of New Jersey — said the administration should follow the example of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which took over IndyMac Bank in Pasadena, Calif., and imposed a temporary freeze on foreclosures while it tried to modify as many delinquent loans as possible.

The senators described their goal as a temporary “time-out” that would give federal regulators and the newly appointed chiefs of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac a chance to help defaulting borrowers negotiate new loan terms or refinance into a different mortgage.

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