Several thousand people marched on Sunday, November 3, in London in response to the call of NGOs to demand more measures from public authorities against water pollution, a phenomenon that has taken on significant proportions in the United Kingdom. Participants in this “March for Clean Water,” many of whom were dressed in blue and displayed banners that read “we are drowning in shit” and asked the government to “Stop poisoning Britain’s rivers”.
Britain’s water sector, privatized in 1989, is in crisis due to a lack of investment in a sewage system that largely dates back to the Victorian era. Their companies are widely criticized for dumping wastewater into nature, causing pollution of coasts and waterways.
Bill to toughen penalties
The authorities have been under pressure for several years to solve this problem and companies have already been fined. The Labor government introduced a bill in September to toughen sanctions against water company executives.
Sunday’s protesters are demanding in particular a reform of the sector regulator, Ofwat, which “It totally failed in its mission to hold water companies accountable”declared on Sunday the British naturalist and presenter Chris Packham, present in the procession, gathered at the call of organizations such as River Action or Greenpeace.
“Taking care of our environment is an investment in our common future”he said on Times Radio.
The contributions area is reserved for subscribers.
Subscribe to access this discussion space and contribute to the discussion.
Contribute
Reuse this content
