Ian Dury and water companies

on

Updated 22nd August.

We are seeing frequent discharges of raw sewage into rivers and onto our beaches. These have caused a great deal of hurt to very many people, and anger about the lack of new infrastructure despite profits being shared with stakeholders. 

They are another symptom of sell offs, under investment and the failure of the government.


Even today, raw sewage is pouring onto beaches, even though this is only supposed to happen rarely and only after extreme weather.

Yesterday, 40km of beaches on the south coast were off limits due to contamination.

There is a useful interactive map from Surfers against Sewage which shows where there are particular problems as red crosses. Thankfully most of the Norfolk coast seems to have been OK.

A reminder from this GeogPod with Jamie Woodward that not only is this a public health issue, but it also links with ocean plastics as many of the items flushed through the sewers are plastic, or contain microplastics which then end up in the sea as a result.

Here's a relevant song that came to mind:

Lyrics are not suitable for work, and are by Ian Dury

I took a sudden notion
To go down to the ocean
I'd got my sun-tan lotion
My flippers and my mask

In proper distribution
Of fully-formed ablutions
Formed an ocean of pollution
In which I daredn't bask

Video here, click at your own risk:


And another wonderful Ben Jennings cartoon from this weekend's i newspaper. He has created some memorable cartoons over the last few months.


Also check out the Top of the Poops website. 

And some advice from TV doctor Amir Khan.


And a good column by Mark Steel on the situation, or should that be... 


 

Comments

Post a Comment