The Glass Walking-Stick: March For Clean Water 03/11/2024

Last Sunday, Sarah and I went to that there London town to take part in the March For Clean Water. This was a protest arranged by River Action to highlight the shocking state of the UK's waterways, and the obscene and illegal practices of water companies, industries and farmers who have been polluting our rivers, chalk streams, lakes and beaches. The sad fact is that not a single one of this country's rivers is unpolluted, while only about 14% of them are still technically fit for habitation by wildlife. Meanwhile, the equivalent of 3 million hours worth of raw sewage dumping ( literally! ) was carried out by the water companies in the last year, flooding our water systems with actual shit. And, of course, these same companies have been paying huge dividends to shareholders and massive bonuses to bosses, while not reinvesting in infrastructure and simultaneously racking up colossal debts. And who's expected to pay for all this? Why, Joe Public of course. Clearly, this is a national scandal and an ecological disaster, so over 130 organisations got together to raise our voices - conservation groups ( including the RSPB and WWT ), wild swimmers, boaters, anglers, surfers, and lovers of the countryside like us - with the aim to get Britain's waterways off life support.

After some Tube-closure shenanigans, we got to the muster point at Albert Embankment and joined the crowds. We then walked along the Thames, past Vauxhall Bridge and then over Westminster Bridge, from there along the other bank to loop round via Horse Guards and Whitehall, past Downing Street and down to Parliament Square. Here are some of the sights and the like-minded people we met on the way...

The plan was for us all, where possible to wear blue to represent a tide of change, a wave of protest, to #FloodTheStreets ( a slogan which became sadly ironic with the recent news reports of devastating floods in Spain )

I had a brief chat with the guy above, who was very taken by our fish banner. The reverse of his banner mentioned that much-dismissed ( fingers-in-ears, la la la la la la ) but disastrous event, Brexit, which we both agreed couldn't possibly have had any bearing on the current lack of environmental safeguards. You know, the ones that were guaranteed after leaving the EU. ( Sarcasm mode disengaged. )

I really like the photo below: people united together in a deadly serious cause, but still managing to enjoy the experience and stay positive.

Sarah in full-on Fish Person regalia, heading to Westminster to fight the Underwater Menace ( little Doctor Who joke there, for those who know )

And, of course, the Red Rebel Brigade were there to mourn the loss of the world's habitats and wildlife, through the medium of mime. ( Not pictured: the police officer outside Downing Street who was trying desperately not to laugh as they posed in front of him, lol. )

Sarah marching along to the beat of the Brigade's funeral drum. As I said above, most of the march had a feeling of positivity and togetherness, but being near the Red Rebels always reminds us of how grim things really are, here on the brink of environmental collapse.

The tide of blue washing against the symbols of power, church and state.

We assembled in Parliament Square to listen to wonderful speakers such as Chris Packham, Liz Bonnin, Olympic rower Imogen Grant, plus many young activists who were passionate and eloquent in their defence of our environment and what needs to be done to protect it. It's their future, after all.

The final count was around 15,000 people. Maybe not as many as the Restore Nature Now protest, but that was a far more general event, whilst this was solely focussed on the water crisis. Either way, it showed the depth of feeling that exists in this country among people who can see what's really going on, and we felt very proud to be a small part of the movement.