Resources

You can access and download additional resources from the pages in this chapter.

Dirty Water fill-in-the-blanks poster!

Flypost your polluted waterway or coastline with this handy poster, just fill in the blanks.

Do your research to be sure the script you are adding is accurate!!!

Example

This water is polluted with:

RAW SEWAGE

The responsible party is:

WESSEX WATER

Contact them here to register your complaint:

info@wessexwater.co.uk

If you are unsure about flyposting another option is to paste the poster onto cardboard and attach with string?!

To Print Download yellow and black 'Fill in the blanks' WARNING poster - jpeg

To Print Download black & white 'Fill in the blanks' Warning poster - jpeg

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Songsheet

PDF version for downloading and printing here

With thanks to Suffolk, whose MP is Therese Coffey, but you can insert your own/relevant MP surname/water authority/organisation…

To the tune of ‘My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean’

The sewage flows into the river,
The sewage flows into the sea
The sewage flows into the [Deben] [insert own river name here, or just use word 'ocean']
And the blame lies with Therese Covey

Bring back, bring back, oh bring back clean rivers and seas and seas,
Bring back, bring back, oh bring back clean rivers and seas.

The runoffs as bad as the sewage,
With pesticides killing off bees.
They kill off aquatic invertebrates,
And the blame lies with Therese Coffey.

Bring back, bring back, oh bring back clean rivers and seas and seas,
Bring back, bring back, oh bring back clean rivers and seas.

To the tune of ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining’

By the rivers all around the country
You should hold your breath
If you ever dare try to swim there
You are risking death
In the streams that feed the rivers
You can count the turds
As our sewage is no longer filtered
While MPs ignore our words

Chorus:
And at high tide I feel like crying
As all around our coast
We see aquatic life is dead & dying
And so we make this fuss
Because it’s obvious

The Tories voted for pollution
In a solid block
But come the next election
They could get a shock
Coffey, Hunt & Poulter,
Churchill, Aldous too (Insert own MPs here)
Suffolks Conservative MPs,
All voted for more poo!

Chorus:
And at high tide I feel like crying
As all around our coast
We see the scummy crud & crap a-rising
And so we make this fuss
Because it’s obvious

Repeat 1st Chorus

Chords for guitars/ukes:
Intro: G G
Verses:G G C C F C G D x 2
Chorus: G G7 C D G G7 C DC G G

We Need to Build a Better Future

YouTube version here
And here's Belgium singing it!

We need to build a better future
We need to wake up
We need to wise up
We need to open our eyes
And do it now, now, now!
We need to build a better future
And we need to start right now

We’re on a planet
That has a problem We’ve got to solve it, get involved
And do it now, now, now!
We need to build a better future
And we need to start right now

Make it greener
Make it cleaner
Make it last, make it fast
And do it now, now, now!
We need to build a better future
And we need to start right now

No point in waiting
Or hesitating
We must get wise, take no more lies
And do it now, now, now!
We need to build a better future
And we need to start right now.

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Poo Pouring

Poo Pouring

A short video of a poo pouring action from Wave 1.

Rogers Poo Recipe!
I made some porridge, as you would for breakfast but thinner and more watery. Then thickened it up by adding white flour (in cold water) and boiling again till the right consistency achieved. Needs to run slowly down a vertical surface. Then add torn bits of kitchen paper and stir in some water based brown paint. There is plenty of scope for variations!!

Guidelines

A short video of Poo Pouring over the logo of a water polluter will be great for social media!

Some good still pics along with a press release could generate local press coverage.

This action idea could also be a centerpiece for a larger event.

Requirements

Clean up!

It is vital to clean up after your point has been made to avoid any possible charge of criminal damage!
Bring water and cloths to clean up, and place a piece of carpet beneath the target to catch drippage.

Protest Liaison

If police arrive or are present, have a designated person already in place, to explain your peaceful protest and assure them that protesters fully intend to clean up any mess before they leave.

Recce and rehearsal

Practice your pouring ceremony beforehand to be sure it goes right. Most targets will be vertical so practice pouring onto a vertical surface. Use a receptacle such as a squishy plastic bottle to pour from.

Survey the Pouring target beforehand to plan your theatrics, and also to be sure it will cause no lasting damage.

Important Warning - be aware that Poo Pouring on a permeable surface, such as stone, could cause long lasting stains, impossible to clean off on the day. Avoid permeable surfaces due to the possibility of inadvertently causing ‘criminal damage’!

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Dirty Water Scrubbers

Send your own clean up crew?

This style theatrical action idea was developed for dirty banks.

Your local issue around water pollution may have a target suitable for a visit from Dirty Water Scrubbers, maybe with the addition of water pollution themed props?

Bring placards / banners relevant to your local issue. Messaging - ‘CLEAN UP YOUR ACT'.

Take good photos and send them out with a press release.

Here's the basics

Dirty Scrubbers outfit. (All genders):

Plain leggings and tops, headscarf, curlers, heavy makeup, rubber gloves, filter tipped cigarettes!

Props: cleaning equipment, ideally colourful- if there’s a choice then green gold or leopard print!

If you want the full monty with scripts and useful links for resources
How to be a Dirty Scrubber

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Useful Publications

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Maps

Maps

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Newpaper Articles

Articles (in date order/newest at the bottom)

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Other Useful Bits for Resource

Feargal Sharkey on Twitter For all the latest information about what the water companies and the UK government are doing about our waterways and seas, we do recommend that you follow Feargal Sharkey on twitter here

Jenni Russell on Twitter

Columnist, The Times; contributing writer, the New York Times; book reviewer, the Sunday Times. Winner of the Orwell Prize for political journalism 2011.

“Please read; the most important piece I've written. Mass poisoning has suddenly killed off most sea life for 30 miles by the Tees. The govt claims it's natural; ind scientists warn it's [hu]manmade. The govt is desperate not to inquire too deeply as its freeport policy is at stake.” Read here

This is quite interesting - was posted by rebels near River Wey [![RIVERWEYFACTSsmall.jpg](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2023-03/scaled-1680-/RIVERWEYFACTSsmall.jpg)](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2023-03/RIVERWEYFACTSsmall.jpg)

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Poo Tea Party

Wivellers (XR Wiveliscombe) Poo Party


River Creatures Party by Taunton's River Tone but Raw Sewage in the Water turns it into a Poo Party - YouTube
Brief Action Plan for Sharing

Location - busy park, Saturday morning, polluted River Tone in background.

Props and Costumes - long table so we can all sit behind, in shot. Tablecloth smeared in sewage with banner "Stop the Poo-lution" and "crockery" which is bits of old plastic taken from the river plus "Crisis, What Crisis?" tea-pot.

Guests are wearing animal heads and human colourful clothing to match their creature.

Workshop on how to make animal heads being run on Wednesday 1st March on Zoom, with local artist Jenni Dutton, all welcome! (link to follow)

Also at the party are citizen scientists in hazmat suits (under a fiver at builders merchants) with clip boards, testing the river water in jugs on table, which animals are drinking.

Soundtrack

Swimming In It by Beans on Toast - perfect length and really added something. Whilst it's playing - creatures dance around table, drink lots of river water, eat turd and poo cakes and gradually all die. Citizen scientists express angst and grief. Final scene is a tableau of dead creatures, debris and banners.

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Dirty Water - Art & Design Assets

You can find all the Dirty Water assets for the different Waves here