We demand Sendai City to reduce the burden of lifeline payments and provide free lifelines
The Issue
We are the Free Lifeline Project. We demand the following two things from the City of Sendai
① We demand an immediate reduction in the burden of paying for lifelines as an emergency measure to cope with rising prices and increasing poverty.
② We demand not only emergency measures but also permanent free payment for lifelines to ensure that the right to life of all citizens is protected.
(1) The status of consultations with Food Bank Sendai and the expansion of poverty
Food Bank Sendai has already received 1,134 requests for food assistance and consultations during this fiscal year (from the beginning of the fiscal year 2022 until July). The reality that many people are not only unable to purchase food, but also unable to use lifelines has emerged. Some of the people we consult with have had one or more of their lifelines (electricity, gas, and water) cut off. This is just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, in Sendai City, more than 3,000 households per year have their water supply cut off. It is expected that some of these people have become impoverished and unable to pay their water bills.
Amid recent price hikes and utility rate hikes, more and more people are in danger of having their lifelines cut off. Among Food Bank Sendai's clients, about 25% are behind in payments with their electricity, gas, and cell phone bills, and about 20% are behind in payments with their water bills.
It is a very unusual situation to be unable to use lifelines because of an inability to pay water and utility bills. When water and electricity are not available, people are placed in a situation where they cannot wash their hands or gargle, even during the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), cannot drink water, cannot use air conditioners or fans even in extremely hot weather, and have to endure until they suffer heat stroke. Under these circumstances, it cannot be said that they are living a minimum standard of human life. The increase in the number of people who may have their lifelines cut off because they "can't pay the bills" is a social problem that needs to be solved.
Although these problems have often been associated with households that are unable or unwilling to work (e.g., the elderly, the disabled, single parents, etc.), they are no longer just a problem for a few people. Cases have been seen where even those in employment have fallen behind on their lifeline payments due to absence from work, unemployment, shift reductions, etc.
1) Impact of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and subsequent price increases
The impact of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is still undermining society. Approximately 50% of Food Bank Sendai's clients have been forced to cut shifts or lose their jobs as a result of the coronavirus, and approximately 60% of all clients have experienced a decrease in income following the coronavirus. In addition, fuel and food prices have risen due to the weak yen and rising raw material prices; energy prices (electricity and gas) in July were 16.2% higher than in the same month last year.
Case 1: A family of three: a mother and two children.
The mother is employed full-time and works in sales. Her income is unstable due to the spread of corona infection, but she has to manage to live on her salary, which is above the welfare level. The rising cost of living has put pressure on the family's finances to pay for lifelines, and they are one month behind in payments on their electricity and gas bills and two behind in payments on their water bill, and sometimes their lifelines are shut off.
2) Poverty even when working, is a reality
During these four months of FY2022, about 40% of the 1134 cases consulted by Food Bank Sendai were in employment, and of these, about 20% were working in regular employment. However, this does not necessarily mean that households with full-time employment can lead a stable life.
Case 2: A family of four: father, mother, and two children.
The husband is employed full-time, the wife works part-time, and they own a car and a house. Although seemingly a "normal household," the wife's part-time income has been reduced due to COVID-19, which has caused them to fall behind on their lifelines, leading them to use Food Bank Sendai to reduce their food expenses.
The term "working poor," meaning those who are poor even though they are working, living side by side with poverty even though they are working is not an uncommon situation.
Thus, poverty is no longer a "problem for a few," but a problem that many people who work and have homes, houses, and cars also face or may face. In Japan, a large portion of one's income must be applied to the various payments that arise while living, such as water, utility, food, childcare, and nursing care costs. As a result, an increasing number of people are unable to save enough money or are forced to live off their savings. Living on the edge like this, when there is a reduction in shifts, a reduction in partner's income, or unfair dismissal or termination of employment, even if it is only temporary, the family finances are severely affected. You may be thinking, "I work so hard, but I can't afford it at all. ...... You are by no means alone in this feeling.
Despite this situation, the only lifeline-related relief measures available in Sendai City are water rate exemptions for a limited number of households, including tax-exempt and welfare recipients, and no additional measures are being taken. However, Food Bank Sendai receives an endless number of consultations from households exempt from taxation or above the welfare level and behind in their lifeline payments. This means that there are many people for whom the current water rate exemptions alone are not enough to cover their needs. The current policy of exemptions only for certain households is inadequate and not in line with the current situation.
(2)We need to create a society where everyone's right to survival is protected.
In other countries, people's lives are becoming increasingly difficult due to soaring fuel costs and other factors. In the United Kingdom, the maximum price of utilities has been raised by more than 50% this fiscal year, forcing people to make a hard choice between cutting back on food and saving money on utilities. The reality that emerges from consultations with Food Bank Sendai is that this global situation is being manifested in Sendai as well.
This situation is not the fault of those who are struggling to make ends meet, nor is it a problem that can be solved by them alone. The city of Sendai should take some measures to alleviate the economic burden on its citizens and protect their livelihoods, rather than simply ending the conversation by saying that it is the responsibility of individuals to manage their household finances.
To this end, we call for an immediate reduction in the burden of lifeline payments as an emergency measure to deal with rising prices and increasing poverty. In fact, several municipalities in Japan have decided to offer a free basic water supply for a limited period. (Obu City, Aichi Prefecture; Sapporo City, Hokkaido; Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture...etc.)
Lifelines such as housing, medical care, electricity, gas, and water are indispensable for people to survive. We believe that everyone should have free access to the services they need to live, such as housing, medical care, and lifelines. However, we currently have no choice but to pay to obtain these lifelines. Many people may think, "Isn't it obvious?" However, the current situation where people have to pay for things that are necessary for survival is a violation of the right to exist, which should be a human right that everyone who has no money has.
Among them, electricity and gas are directly affected by the rising prices, and in winter, they are directly related to the danger to life. Furthermore, last year, Food Bank Sendai received a consultation from a person who felt his life was in danger because the water supply was cut off and even if he tried to use the water in the park, it was frozen during the winter. In addition, without access to running water, it is impossible to wash hands and take adequate measures against infectious diseases. Considering this situation, we are calling for not only emergency measures but also for the permanent free provision of lifelines so that the right to life of all citizens can be protected. Even if it is difficult to suddenly make all lifelines free of charge, we believe that we can start by making water supply free of charge, which has been partially made free of charge nationwide.
(3) With our own hands, let's build a new community!
The effects of COVID-19, rising prices, and inflation are continuing and are not expected to subside in the future. On the other hand, the growth of wages has not kept pace with the rise in prices, and the number of people falling into hardship is expected to increase in the future. In response to this situation, residents around the world are holding strikes and demonstrations to protect their livelihoods. For example, in the United Kingdom, a large-scale strike took place in which some 40,000 workers participated over three days. In Korea and Belgium, people are also expressing their frustration and anger at the harsh living conditions through strikes and demonstrations. Our demand for reduced and free lifeline services is also a protest against the loss of even a minimum standard of living, and a demand to protect our survival and livelihood.
To realize the demands, we are raising this time, to change existing rules so that everyone's survival is guaranteed, and to propose a new way of social security, it is necessary to mobilize the power of many people. In this way, we believe that the community and society will change through the accumulation of practices and changes one by one, such as speaking out and acting together. This kind of practice is what we call democracy in the true sense of the word, as it means that the residents themselves think about how a prosperous society should be and actively participate in its management. With this project as a starting point, let us work together to create an affluent society in which everyone can use the lifelines necessary for life and "living" is guaranteed.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
What is the Free Lifeline Project?
This project was initiated by Generation Z youth who are active in Food Bank Sendai and Sendai POSSE, and in February we took action against the situation where water supply is easily cut off as the "Can't Live Without Water" project. This time, with the increase in the number of households with delinquent lifeline payments as reported by Food Bank Sendai, new members have joined the project, which is now called the "Free Lifeline Project".
The members are mainly young people in their teens and twenties who are active in addressing poverty and climate change issues. In order to realize this demand, we intend to actually travel around the Sendai area to build a local network and collect signatures. Why don't you join us in raising your voice with us for these signatures and other specific demands and actions in the future? We are looking for others who share this project and want to collect signatures together with us. If you are interested, please contact us at the e-mail address below. We will also be holding volunteer information sessions in September and October, so please join us！
✉：sendai@npoposse.jp
You Can't Live Without Water Project: This project was launched by Generation Z youth in response to the situation where payment is prioritized over human life and lifelines, including water supply, are shut off without consideration. By taking actual action, the project aims to create a society in which everyone's right to life is guaranteed without having their lifelines shut off. New members have joined the project, which will now operate as the Lifeline Free Project.
Food Bank Sendai: Food Bank Sendai is a safety net of mutual assistance by citizens that delivers food free of charge to individuals in need and provides necessary information and links them to support organizations to help them solve their daily problems. It provides not only food assistance but also lifestyle counseling.
NPO POSSE Sendai Branch: The organization is run mainly by university students and working adults in their 20s and 30s, and deals with labor and poverty issues. It conducts a variety of activities, including outreach activities and advocacy for the rights of foreign workers and the working poor through labor and lifestyle counseling.
The Issue
We are the Free Lifeline Project. We demand the following two things from the City of Sendai
① We demand an immediate reduction in the burden of paying for lifelines as an emergency measure to cope with rising prices and increasing poverty.
② We demand not only emergency measures but also permanent free payment for lifelines to ensure that the right to life of all citizens is protected.
(1) The status of consultations with Food Bank Sendai and the expansion of poverty
Food Bank Sendai has already received 1,134 requests for food assistance and consultations during this fiscal year (from the beginning of the fiscal year 2022 until July). The reality that many people are not only unable to purchase food, but also unable to use lifelines has emerged. Some of the people we consult with have had one or more of their lifelines (electricity, gas, and water) cut off. This is just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, in Sendai City, more than 3,000 households per year have their water supply cut off. It is expected that some of these people have become impoverished and unable to pay their water bills.
Amid recent price hikes and utility rate hikes, more and more people are in danger of having their lifelines cut off. Among Food Bank Sendai's clients, about 25% are behind in payments with their electricity, gas, and cell phone bills, and about 20% are behind in payments with their water bills.
It is a very unusual situation to be unable to use lifelines because of an inability to pay water and utility bills. When water and electricity are not available, people are placed in a situation where they cannot wash their hands or gargle, even during the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), cannot drink water, cannot use air conditioners or fans even in extremely hot weather, and have to endure until they suffer heat stroke. Under these circumstances, it cannot be said that they are living a minimum standard of human life. The increase in the number of people who may have their lifelines cut off because they "can't pay the bills" is a social problem that needs to be solved.
Although these problems have often been associated with households that are unable or unwilling to work (e.g., the elderly, the disabled, single parents, etc.), they are no longer just a problem for a few people. Cases have been seen where even those in employment have fallen behind on their lifeline payments due to absence from work, unemployment, shift reductions, etc.
1) Impact of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and subsequent price increases
The impact of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is still undermining society. Approximately 50% of Food Bank Sendai's clients have been forced to cut shifts or lose their jobs as a result of the coronavirus, and approximately 60% of all clients have experienced a decrease in income following the coronavirus. In addition, fuel and food prices have risen due to the weak yen and rising raw material prices; energy prices (electricity and gas) in July were 16.2% higher than in the same month last year.
Case 1: A family of three: a mother and two children.
The mother is employed full-time and works in sales. Her income is unstable due to the spread of corona infection, but she has to manage to live on her salary, which is above the welfare level. The rising cost of living has put pressure on the family's finances to pay for lifelines, and they are one month behind in payments on their electricity and gas bills and two behind in payments on their water bill, and sometimes their lifelines are shut off.
2) Poverty even when working, is a reality
During these four months of FY2022, about 40% of the 1134 cases consulted by Food Bank Sendai were in employment, and of these, about 20% were working in regular employment. However, this does not necessarily mean that households with full-time employment can lead a stable life.
Case 2: A family of four: father, mother, and two children.
The husband is employed full-time, the wife works part-time, and they own a car and a house. Although seemingly a "normal household," the wife's part-time income has been reduced due to COVID-19, which has caused them to fall behind on their lifelines, leading them to use Food Bank Sendai to reduce their food expenses.
The term "working poor," meaning those who are poor even though they are working, living side by side with poverty even though they are working is not an uncommon situation.
Thus, poverty is no longer a "problem for a few," but a problem that many people who work and have homes, houses, and cars also face or may face. In Japan, a large portion of one's income must be applied to the various payments that arise while living, such as water, utility, food, childcare, and nursing care costs. As a result, an increasing number of people are unable to save enough money or are forced to live off their savings. Living on the edge like this, when there is a reduction in shifts, a reduction in partner's income, or unfair dismissal or termination of employment, even if it is only temporary, the family finances are severely affected. You may be thinking, "I work so hard, but I can't afford it at all. ...... You are by no means alone in this feeling.
Despite this situation, the only lifeline-related relief measures available in Sendai City are water rate exemptions for a limited number of households, including tax-exempt and welfare recipients, and no additional measures are being taken. However, Food Bank Sendai receives an endless number of consultations from households exempt from taxation or above the welfare level and behind in their lifeline payments. This means that there are many people for whom the current water rate exemptions alone are not enough to cover their needs. The current policy of exemptions only for certain households is inadequate and not in line with the current situation.
(2)We need to create a society where everyone's right to survival is protected.
In other countries, people's lives are becoming increasingly difficult due to soaring fuel costs and other factors. In the United Kingdom, the maximum price of utilities has been raised by more than 50% this fiscal year, forcing people to make a hard choice between cutting back on food and saving money on utilities. The reality that emerges from consultations with Food Bank Sendai is that this global situation is being manifested in Sendai as well.
This situation is not the fault of those who are struggling to make ends meet, nor is it a problem that can be solved by them alone. The city of Sendai should take some measures to alleviate the economic burden on its citizens and protect their livelihoods, rather than simply ending the conversation by saying that it is the responsibility of individuals to manage their household finances.
To this end, we call for an immediate reduction in the burden of lifeline payments as an emergency measure to deal with rising prices and increasing poverty. In fact, several municipalities in Japan have decided to offer a free basic water supply for a limited period. (Obu City, Aichi Prefecture; Sapporo City, Hokkaido; Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture...etc.)
Lifelines such as housing, medical care, electricity, gas, and water are indispensable for people to survive. We believe that everyone should have free access to the services they need to live, such as housing, medical care, and lifelines. However, we currently have no choice but to pay to obtain these lifelines. Many people may think, "Isn't it obvious?" However, the current situation where people have to pay for things that are necessary for survival is a violation of the right to exist, which should be a human right that everyone who has no money has.
Among them, electricity and gas are directly affected by the rising prices, and in winter, they are directly related to the danger to life. Furthermore, last year, Food Bank Sendai received a consultation from a person who felt his life was in danger because the water supply was cut off and even if he tried to use the water in the park, it was frozen during the winter. In addition, without access to running water, it is impossible to wash hands and take adequate measures against infectious diseases. Considering this situation, we are calling for not only emergency measures but also for the permanent free provision of lifelines so that the right to life of all citizens can be protected. Even if it is difficult to suddenly make all lifelines free of charge, we believe that we can start by making water supply free of charge, which has been partially made free of charge nationwide.
(3) With our own hands, let's build a new community!
The effects of COVID-19, rising prices, and inflation are continuing and are not expected to subside in the future. On the other hand, the growth of wages has not kept pace with the rise in prices, and the number of people falling into hardship is expected to increase in the future. In response to this situation, residents around the world are holding strikes and demonstrations to protect their livelihoods. For example, in the United Kingdom, a large-scale strike took place in which some 40,000 workers participated over three days. In Korea and Belgium, people are also expressing their frustration and anger at the harsh living conditions through strikes and demonstrations. Our demand for reduced and free lifeline services is also a protest against the loss of even a minimum standard of living, and a demand to protect our survival and livelihood.
To realize the demands, we are raising this time, to change existing rules so that everyone's survival is guaranteed, and to propose a new way of social security, it is necessary to mobilize the power of many people. In this way, we believe that the community and society will change through the accumulation of practices and changes one by one, such as speaking out and acting together. This kind of practice is what we call democracy in the true sense of the word, as it means that the residents themselves think about how a prosperous society should be and actively participate in its management. With this project as a starting point, let us work together to create an affluent society in which everyone can use the lifelines necessary for life and "living" is guaranteed.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
What is the Free Lifeline Project?
This project was initiated by Generation Z youth who are active in Food Bank Sendai and Sendai POSSE, and in February we took action against the situation where water supply is easily cut off as the "Can't Live Without Water" project. This time, with the increase in the number of households with delinquent lifeline payments as reported by Food Bank Sendai, new members have joined the project, which is now called the "Free Lifeline Project".
The members are mainly young people in their teens and twenties who are active in addressing poverty and climate change issues. In order to realize this demand, we intend to actually travel around the Sendai area to build a local network and collect signatures. Why don't you join us in raising your voice with us for these signatures and other specific demands and actions in the future? We are looking for others who share this project and want to collect signatures together with us. If you are interested, please contact us at the e-mail address below. We will also be holding volunteer information sessions in September and October, so please join us！
✉：sendai@npoposse.jp
You Can't Live Without Water Project: This project was launched by Generation Z youth in response to the situation where payment is prioritized over human life and lifelines, including water supply, are shut off without consideration. By taking actual action, the project aims to create a society in which everyone's right to life is guaranteed without having their lifelines shut off. New members have joined the project, which will now operate as the Lifeline Free Project.
Food Bank Sendai: Food Bank Sendai is a safety net of mutual assistance by citizens that delivers food free of charge to individuals in need and provides necessary information and links them to support organizations to help them solve their daily problems. It provides not only food assistance but also lifestyle counseling.
NPO POSSE Sendai Branch: The organization is run mainly by university students and working adults in their 20s and 30s, and deals with labor and poverty issues. It conducts a variety of activities, including outreach activities and advocacy for the rights of foreign workers and the working poor through labor and lifestyle counseling.
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Petition created on October 16, 2022