His Excellency Mr.

Ban Ki-moon

ID: LFG-2016-UN-0002

Secretary-General of the United Nations

United Nations Headquarters
New York, New York, 10017
bkm@un.org
Sent via: Mail and Email
April 18th, 2016
Re: The Flint, Michigan water disaster in the United States of America
His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon,
My name is Isaiah X. Smith and I am sending you this letter for the purpose of notifying you as to the
Flint, Michigan water disaster. Having access to accessible drinking water is right that I believe that all
individuals should have. I urge you to read this letter and to respond appropriately to my letter to you.
I.

General Information as to the Flint, Michigan water disaster

Around April of the year of 2014 a crisis was discovered in the City of Flint which is located
in the State of Michigan. The crisis involved was a contamination as to the drinking water in
that city. The incidents involved the City of Flint, Michigan changing its water source from
the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to the Flint River. The state government
officials in that region of the United States made the decision to change their residents
water supplier due to their interest in helping to save money.
The Flint, Michigan River had very old pipes which caused lead to spew into the water
supply. The contaminated drinking water was a public emergency due to the fast that there
were extremely high levels of heavy metal in the drinking water. Over six thousand to
twelve thousand children have been exposed to the contaminated drinking water in which
could create extreme health consequences for children, youth and young adults who have
drank the contaminated water.
Deliberate indifference occurred in regards to the Flint, Michigan water disaster
For more than 18 months, government officials of the State of Michigan and municipal
government officials of the City of Flint, Michigan were aware as to the contaminated water
that individuals were drinking and officials with the State of Michigan had failed to respond
appropriately to the contaminated water issue.
Their deliberate indifference as to serving and protecting the public from harm led to a large
amount of toxicity in Flint, Michigans residents water supply and that caused serious and
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dire inquiry and health hazards and property damage. State and local government officials in
the State of Michigan did not properly monitor or take samples of the contaminated water
in the City of Flint, Michigan and they delayed as to notifying the public as to the serious
safety and health risks in a knowingly deliberate effort to conceal the truth from those who
were being poisoned. See Mays, individually and as next friend of three minor children et
al v. Snyder et al
II.

Conclusion
In conclusion I thus request you as the Secretary General of the United Nations to do the
following:
1. To urge the United States of America to ensure safe drinking water and sanitation
are accessible for everyone residing in the United States of America
2. To recommend the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water
and sanitation to open an investigation into the Flint, Michigan water disaster
situation
3. To visit the people of Flint, Michigan and to see firsthand as to the contamination in
their drinking water and the necessity of the enforcement of laws that protect
peoples right to accessible water and water sanitation
4. To urge if necessary the United Nations Human Rights Council to look into the Flint,
Michigan water disaster situation

Please note that to my knowledge the United Nations General Assembly had formed a
declaration that stated that all nations have a duty to ensure safe drinking water and
sanitation in the year of 2012. By the looks of it, the State of Michigan has failed to abide by
that declaration. Therefore all responsible officials of the State of Michigan should be held
accountable for intentional deliberate indifference under the law.
I strongly believe that having access to water in my opinion is not a luxury, but I strongly
believe that having access to clean and safe drinking water is a fundamental human right
that all people should have!
III.

Acknowledgement Letter
An acknowledgement letter to my letter to you would be greatly appreciated. My email
address is at: iscampaign@usa.com. You can send me a letter to the following mailing
address:
Isaiah X. Smith
Isaiah Smith Campaign
P.O Box 163411
Fort Worth, Texas, 76161

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Respectfully,
Isaiah X. Smith

Isaiah Smith Campaign

P.O Box 163411
Fort Worth, Texas, 76161
www.isaiahxsmith.com

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