SAM CAN YOU SEE THAT BIG GREEN TREE ? (2):

WHERE THERE'S CLEAN WATER RUNNING FREE

Sep 27, 2023

“Never, ever doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can Change Our World, indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has” Margaret Mead.

One of the earliest cities to have constructed a sanitation system with indoor baths and toilets, piping and sewage disposal was Mohenjo-Daro, in the Indus valley. That was circa 5,000 years ago. The fabled Roman systems were a poor copy. Victorian Britain rather belatedly woke up to the “Novel ?” concept that Human Excreta was dangerous. The systems they built have been allowed to collapse to the point where, nowadays, the Privately Owned (Thankyou Tories !!) Water Companies simply pump it all into OUR rivers and onto OUR beaches. Profit over People Politics. And it’s not just in the UK where such Ecocidal / Murderous policies are rampant.

WITHOUT CLEAN FREE WATER WE ARE NOTHING…

SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE; BUT BY WHO ? The obscenely high paid execs of the water industry and their foreign conglomerate shareholders care nothing for we the people. The politicians in power care only for party and personal benefits. That leaves us, we the people, we who pay the costs. WE must accept the responsibility to change - via peaceful protest - the systems of governance…… Elections are on the near horizon….

Lets First have a look at the Political Manifestos - and then consider the Possible Personal Actions….

TORIES (Etymology : an old Irish word meaning Robber). The UK Water Industry was sold off by Margaret Thatcher in 1989. Subsequently the service has deteriorated, whilst prices have risen, to feed Canadian Pension Hedge Funds and Kuwaiti Oil Investment. Q: How do the TORIES intend to resolve the issues affecting we the people ? A : THEY DON’T:

LABOUR. In 2017 Corbyn states the plan is to re-nationalize either by buying the shares at market value (ie 12 Billion pounds of OUR money for Thames Water alone), or swapping them for Government Bonds (rather more realistic.) Then along comes Starmer, who in 2022 ditches the idea and now offers a New regulaTORY body to fine companies that pollute the water that WE pay them to protect. The realistic anticipated result is that WE will be paying the fines for them.

LIB-DEMs’ Policy is to force, via the regulator, the For Profit water firms to be run for the “Good of the Environment.” No Radical Improvement there then…..

THE GREEN PARTY’s National Policy states that they are opposed to Private Ownership of Our Natural Resource. That they will bring all water stored and routed for Public Consumption from Reservoirs to Tap, in England and Wales back into Public Ownership at national level. However local water resources will be administered by democratically elected local bodies. Sounds like a plan, yes indeed, but the danger here is that voters, yet again will fall into the trap of NOT voting for the Greens - WHY ? - Because they don’t get enough votes to make real changes happen !! OH Boy, that is no longer the case….. Just look at the recent local by elections they have been winning.

Corollary…. It is also a false argument that Coalition governments don’t work in Britain. Well now, it worked in the 1940’s against the last Far Right Threat. Take a look at compassonline.org.uk They are all for a radical return of Labour to it’s original goals, via a center left coalition. I do believe that this is the route to defeating corporate greed and corruption. So do a lot of Labour back benchers !!

Politics and water need to be purified. Or WE the people are Nothing.

Possible Personal Actions, then. Just a few of many (Apart from Intelligent Voting)

READ, READ, READ. ie:- don’t just take my word for it…. research and decide for yourself, have conversations, filter the rubbish, decide what is right for you and yours. Maybe have a look at water filters, are they any good, are the quality claims honest, will they really remove PFAs ? Plastic water bottles & baby feeders, fast food containers, Toxic Coatings of tin cans and cardboard packaging, all contaminate your food, your liquid intake. They contaminate your ground water both in manufacture and disposal. Producers and the big chain supermarkets actively support these heinous practices. Think about growing your own or buying at open markets, local farm shops, ethnic small traders are far more adaptable to reducing poisons in your food and drink. Walk or cycle to them, re-use your bags.

Water Conservation is important too. Restrictions are being introduced… have you considered collecting glass bottles with good seals ? Did you know that when properly stored water will stay good for months. How many litres would you need to survive a six week drought ?

Household detergents and their containers pollute groundwater, teabags and kitchen rolls are bleached. There are green alternatives. e.g. horse chestnuts contain lots of saponin to wash your clothes. The pine needles from your Xmas trees can be used to make your own air freshener, or deter cats from crapping on your veg patch…..

I am much encouraged by the youth of today who are demanding via legal action in their own countries and via the International Court of Human Rights, to force those Banks and the Governments that plough OUR money into the coffers of Major Polluters to CEASE acting like Lemmings. These kids deserve Our Support.

OKAY; SO NOT ALL OF THE ABOVE IS PRACTICAL FOR EVERYONE……. NEITHER IS DOING NOTHING; Start then by doing what you can, because as you develop a survival mindset, you automatically get better at becoming an example.

ALWAYS REMEMBER : WITHOUT CLEAN FREE WATER, WE ARE NOTHING…..

Brilliant sources of further suggestions and info at :- Greenpeace…. We Own It…. Ecowatch…. and of course many of the courageous writers here on substack, like Kim Van Bruggen who asked four intelligent questions of her readers of Life (Un)Learned on Sept 21st. Please answer her direct, it’ll get you in the mood, I promise !!

Yes, I Author !

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