Maria Villa Vine shares news of this upcoming family friendly event. In her own words. Ed
A family-friendly event being held at Yaverland Beach on Saturday 27th November (at 10am) aim to raise awareness of Southern Water pumping storm water and waste water (untreated sewage) into our rivers and coast.
After the widely condemned Parliamentary vote against amending a bill to stop water companies dumping raw sewage into Britain’s seas and rivers ‘Surfers against Sewage’ warned swimmers that we would be at risk from pollution whilst swimming in the south coast.
Tagholm: The truth is out
Hugo Tagholm, CEO of Surfers against Sewage stated that,
“For 30 years water companies have hidden ‘continuous’ raw sewage discharges in less publicly visible places, allowing them to over-claim progress and make vast profits.
“The truth is out. MPs must vote to make it a legal obligation for water companies to end sewage pollution.”
MPs voted in favour of water companies
Whilst there was a U-Turn by the government to overturn the amendment many MPs still voted in favour of the water companies, including Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely.
This does not go far enough to save our waters from pollution and citing that it is too expensive to fix, when the water companies pay fines in excess of £800k in one case, and with the ticking clock of the climate can they really use this as an excuse?
The public are tired of the excuses
After the relentless sewage discharges we have all born witness to recently, I think we can all agree that the public are tired of the excuses that water companies and politicians are coming up with.
Making a stand against sewage in our sea
This week we are witnessing World leaders gathering together to discuss the Climate Change and with this in mind, a group of sea lovers decided to make a stand against Southern Water pumping sewage into our coast and to generate a conversation around how to end sewage pollution.
We recognise that together we are stronger and united we can mobilise others to highlight the recognition that the environment is something that we all enjoy and care passionately about.
Mental health must not be undermined
If Lockdown has taught us one thing than it is that our mental health and the environment is interlinked and must not be undermined by those who would rather profit by it.
