Thousands of people took part in the March for Clean Water, calling on the Government to take tougher action to keep UK’s water clean.
Advertised as “Stop the poisoning of Britain’s waters”, thousands of people met on Sunday 3 November at Albert Embankment and marched to Westminster calling on the Government to reclaim the basic human right to clean water across the UK.
In one of the activist talk’s held throughout, biochemist, wild animal biologist and presenter Liz Bonnin addressed how industries, corporate greed and political systems that “aren’t fit for purpose” are “destroying the planet’s systems that we rely on to thrive and blatantly disregarding our fundamental human right for societal wellbeing.”
Britain’s waters are in a perilous state.
In 2023, sewage spills into England’s rivers and seas by water companies more than doubled those of 2022. Contained within the spills is human waste and toxic agricultural run-off that are harmful to wildlife.
At present, 100 per cent of England’s rivers are polluted. In the last year, the number of fish deaths also increased by 176 per cent.
????Today, we're marching for clean water ????
— Rewilding Britain (@RewildingB) November 3, 2024
Rewilding Britain stands with everyone demanding the UK Government keeps its promises to prioritise the health of our rivers, lakes, & seas. Healthy waters are vital for our ecosystems & marine life. #MarchForCleanWater #FloodTheStreets pic.twitter.com/SpPBEnxTGx
The march’s main aims were to call on the Government for reform regulation that puts a complete stop to any industry knowingly polluting waters; to enforce the law that is already in place which is currently being broken more than 1,000 times a day; and to stop polluting for profit, now and in the long run.
The march took place following the 100 days in office of the new Government and the recent budget release by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Speaking during the march, naturalist Chris Packham, addressed how – despite the ongoing floods in Valencia – Reeves “didn’t use the word climate or nature once”, stressing how the omission was “scary”.
The march was organised as a one-off event in London by a coalition of water, wildlife and environmental pressure groups, activists and members of the public.
Today, in the biggest water demonstration in UK history, we marched with a simple message: we need real action for our rivers and ocean – and we need it now ???????????? #MarchForCleanWater
— Lewis Pugh (@LewisPugh) November 3, 2024
????: @RachSalv pic.twitter.com/SmTkdecLD6
Around 8,000 people registered to take part and came from across the UK, according to the organiser.