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From The Socialist newspaper, 27 October 2021
News in brief
Pollution, photo public domain, photo Public Domain (Click to enlarge)
Rivers of sewage
Here's the question. Who does the Tory government support: the privately owned water companies or the public?
It's a no brainer, and if you had any doubt then last week the government batted away a Lords amendment to the Environment Bill to make it illegal under certain circumstances to discharge untreated waste into our waterways.
According to the Environment Agency, the highly profitable water companies dumped raw sewage into rivers in England more than 400,000 times in 2020.
The main government objection to the amendment is that stopping this pollution would cost the companies too much.
The quality of water in our rivers has collapsed in the last five years as a result of raw sewage discharges, industrial chemicals being dumped and slurry run-offs from mega-farms. No river in the country is now certified as safe for swimmers.
If you don't want to swim in an open sewer, then fight to nationalise the water companies.
Britain Thinks - we need socialism
Consultancy 'Britain Thinks' has commissioned the 'Net Zero Diaries'. People are writing their thoughts about tackling climate change, and they make fascinating reading.
Most think:
- The government should fund emergency measures, as it did during Covid
- Cop26 will not achieve very much
- The private companies can't be trusted to lead the move to net zero because they always maximise profits
- Big business should be called on to pay higher taxes, not individuals
- Nationalisation is the simplest way to achieve coordinated national action
More evidence that the Socialist Party's demand for socialist change to combat climate change is the way forward.
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- We must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
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In The Socialist 27 October 2021:
Budget
Public spending under further threat from Tories
Tory NHS funding won't fix staff shortage
Public sector pay thaw - union fight is on for a real rise and funding
Fighting sexual harassment
Fighting sexism and harassment, and for a safe night out
Climate change
Tory climate plans set to fail - socialist planning needed
COP26: protest for Socialist change to reverse climate chaos
Workplace news
Gwent Stagecoach workers driving for victory on pay
Clarks shoe workers strike to give 'fire and rehire' the boot
Royal Mail workers stand against 'unachievable workloads'
GPs vote to reject government plans
Campaigns
The fight for Hackney's children's centres continues
Southampton People's budget Building an alternative to Tory and Labour austerity
Save Southall youth centre - stop all cuts
Carlisle says make the richest pay, not the poorest!
International
Military coup in Sudan - Defiant masses take to the streets
Readers' opinion
TV review The Riots 2011: One Week in August
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2021