In a powerful show of public outrage over the state of the UK’s waterways, the March for Clean Water will now take place on Sunday, 3rd November, in central London.
A coalition of the concerned, including river campaigner Feargal Sharkey and celebrities such as Stephen Fry, Bear Grylls and Joe Lycett, are calling on everyone in the country angry at the state of water to take a stand. The march (which has moved from its original date of 26th October, will demand that our new government takes urgent action to address the UK’s alarming and dangerous water pollution crisis by marching through central London.
You’re all invited to join in one simple demand of Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer: to take immediate and decisive action to end the poisoning of our rivers, lakes and seas by the lethal cocktail of raw sewage, agricultural waste and other chemical pollutants, that over recent years have been allowed to leave most of our waterways so filthy that they present major risks to human health and untold damage to nature.
Mental Health Swims, the coalition’s 100th member, joins a diverse array of organisations – both large and small – from across the UK. Other organisations to recently sign up to join the March include smaller groups such as The Blue Tits, The Marine Conservation Society, Friends of the Earth, East Kent Climate Action, the Outdoor Swimming Society, alongside larger organisations such as the National Trust, Greenpeace, RSPB, British Rowing and Wildlife Trusts.
Charles Watson, River Action’s chair and founder and co-convenor of the march, said, “This landmark achievement highlights the immense momentum, public anger, and frustration about the state of our waterways. Environmental charities, anglers, wild swimmers, members of the legal profession and high-profile campaigners such as Chris Packham, Jo Brand and Liz Bonnin are coming together to amplify the urgent call for action from Sir Keir Starmer’s government to put an end to the poisoning of our rivers, seas and lakes.”
Comedian Joe Lycett who made a television documentary about the terrible state of the UK’s sewage network (Channel 4’s Joe Lycett v Sewage) said, “Our rivers and seas are still, literally, s***. I fully support this brilliant campaign.”
Rachel Ashe (MBE), MD & Founder of Mental Health Swims, said, “Mental Health Swims is proud to be part of the coalition for the March for Clean Water. Due to the water quality issues throughout the UK, we are having to cancel some of our mental health peer support swim groups to ensure that participants and volunteers do not get sick. It’s really disheartening for our volunteers and participants who have worked hard to build a support group in their local community that comes together over a love of outdoor swimming. We want to see the new government taking action to address the water pollution crisis.”
The March for Clean Water promises to be a vibrant, family-friendly demonstration that sends a clear message: the public will no longer tolerate politicians who talk tough on water pollution but fail to take meaningful action against human sewage and agricultural runoff in our rivers, seas, and lakes.
Visit March for Clean Water
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