DEEP SCRATCH

Tag: Labour

  • Save our rivers

    Save our rivers

    My first dive into UK politics (besides protesting the closure of some local swimming pools) was on my return to Stourbridge, after 5 years living in America. I was drawn to the river Stour, which the town lends its name. On my first trips down the Stour in October 2005 I noticed some nasty looking rusty-coloured liquid coming out of a small but significant pipe, plus various foam formations where the river picked up pace. This is all besides the bicycles, car tires, and shopping trolleys, littering the river. Perhaps I was more sensitive to this, as I’d just been swimming in the feather river, Lake Tahoe, Pyramid lake, and dozens of other waters while in America. All crystal clear, inviting and beautiful.

    The river stour is beautiful, don’t get me wrong, it just depends on the distance you are from it when making such an observation. You really have to get in there to know what’s going on. Analyze the water, run tests and perhaps try a small glass, see what happens. I’m kidding, do not drink a glass of Stour water, it’s mucky and you’ll be on the bog for a wik.

    So here I was, back in town, after a remarkable American adventure. And I’m full of the spirit of protest and confidence, what can I do? I didn’t have a job, had just rented a room, and was at a loose end. I decided to begin a campaign to clean up the river Stour. I took a crappy video camera and got some footage of the river, together with some shots of Stourbridge, and edited it together with a tune I’d made using Reason software. (see blurred video below)

    I made several phone calls to Severn Trent Water Authority, the Environment Agency and the local rivers and canals organizations, trying to find out who I need to talk to about the probable pollutants running into it, and the litter strewn through the relatively small section of river leading from Lye to Stourbridge (approx 2-3 miles of river).

    Remember that in 2005 it was still a Blair Labour government, whom I was generally speaking, furious and angry at, for dragging us into the so called “War On Terror” with George Bush Jnr. However, in a moment of clarity, I decided to reach out to the local MP for Stourbridge, at that time, Linda Walthrow. I arranged a meeting and turned up at the church in Wollaston to put myself out there. I was unemployed at the time, claiming housing benefits and living rather frugally to say the least.       

    I asked the MP to supply me with some equipment, waders and a hook, so I could become the official custodian of the river…if…I was to clean it up. I also turned her onto a white paper by a media theorist, writer, Douglas Rushkoff, the paper was titled Open Source Democracy. 

    Open Source Democracy


    I can’t help but wonder how different things would be if she would have read and understood and shared this document with all of her Labour party, at that point. The coming Digital Revolution, seemed to me to have been highly weaponized by the Conservatives and the right, taking the left off guard and leading to the 14 years of monstrosities and abominations in the UK. Partly, made possible by the digital media landscape and print media landscape domination. Russian interference? I digress.

    I never got my waders of a hook, or a response by email. So I went ahead and started some projects anyway, some of which are documented in film and photographs. This project, started from the river Stour, has expanded and stayed with me on my subsequent travels to Europe. I don’t consider myself an environmentalist or even an activist, for me this was research into poetry and art. Where I pitch my tent. As much as I see the benefits and I admire professional card carry environmentalists, I did not wish to join any political party or movement. I wanted people to see me doing this for another reason, my own selfish reasons.



    My campaign was a success, in as far as I got a print media story, and photograph in the local Newspaper, where I was misquoted but pretty fairly represented as saying words to the effect that, if the government isn’t going to do it, then I’ll do it, look. Trying to draw attention to the issue. Look at the state of the river the town is named after, littered literally with shopping trolleys. What better metaphor for our consumer technology boom of the mid to late noughties? Who cares about the river, fill that trolly up!

    Jump forward nearly 20 years, and Britain’s rivers, waterways, lakes, seas and canals have been repeatedly, perhaps purposefully, polluted with waste sewage water. Meanwhile the major UK Water companies have been enjoying a financial bonanza, profiting from mismanagement, deregulation and the aroma of unaccountability. But no longer. This is coming to a dam. And we have a new chance to re-green and re-clean our waterways, with a different UK government. Once again, we pick up from where we left off, be the change. Turn the tide.


    Feargal Sharkey has become the face and voice of the campaigns to save UK rivers, and lakes, and the sea, and hold those responsible for their decline, to account. I wish him every success, together with George Monbiot and everybody else pushing the good vibes.


    https://www.cpre.org.uk/stories/feargal-sharkeys-mission-to-protect-englands-rivers-and-streams/

    Steve Fly and John Sinclair at Red Light Radio.

  • Conservative Lies And The Sewage Briefing

    Water companies made £2.8 billion of collective profits in 2020 and discharged raw sewage 400,000 times – for more than 3.1 million hours total. Shockingly, these figures are low-end estimates.

    Liberal Democrats, The Sewage Briefing.

    UK Conservatives seem to be caught up in a net of partygate lies like a gaggle of rotten trout, soaked in the stench of disgrace, the sewage party of neglect under the misdirection of Boris “Crime-minister” Johnson. A party that has failed to protect our rivers and waterways, and stood by as water quality regulations and waste disposal regulations are abused, leading to the current country wide outbreak of algal blooms and so loss of plant and species diversity. (See George Manbiot) If you want to see your local environment thrive vote for a Liberal Democrat or Labour representative. Read their proposed actions concerning the Stour, plus those actions already undertaken, and compare with the current gang of scoundrels and their legacy of environmental neglect. HS2, Brexit, PPE Scandals, etc.

    Our rivers and seas are being transformed into open sewers by greedy business and useless governments.

    George Manbiot, This Stinks.

    My rhetorical questions: Where is the evidence of conservation activity to protect our local waterways? Why are we still allowing sewage and farm waste to flow into rivers and waterways? Who is responsible? How do we bring justice and protect and enforce? Where are the alternative plans for waterside developments and ecological centers, new nature reserves and wildlife habitats?

    With increasing frequency, warm weather brings algal blooms. Water that should be crystal clear becomes a green or brown slop of diatoms (microscopic algae).

    George Monbiot, Shitstorm.

    It’s a fact that most cities and towns in the UK, and worldwide, are often named after or were settled next to a river. Stourbridge is one such town, the river Stour is one such river. There before any human settlement, and treated like a handy public waste disposal system, the river stour has paid its dues throughout the industrial revolution, right up to the present day. From washing the dye from carpets in Kidderminster to the Holloware Metal Industry of lye and the Iron Forgeries and Foundries of the Black Country. We all owe the river Stour for assisting with the local industry neatly moving our waste elsewhere.     

    Rising up by the Clent Hills near St Kenelms Chapel and Well, the water is relatively clean and pollution free, yet on its way east across to Haelsown to the Dudley Metropolitan Borough it picks up waste. It weaves through the past heavy industrial area of Cradley Heath, Lye toward Stourbridge, its namesake, and on through Wollaston, Amblecote to Stourton. From my observations, the bulk of pollution comes from the remaining industrial areas, plus whatever the water authorities allow to be added from sewage outlets and pipes that feed into it. I should know, I’ve climbed up a number of them and witnessed first hand the strange liquids, foams and discoloration in the River Stour, mostly from Stambermill before the Viaduct over 20 years.

    I welcome the new volunteer initiatives to clean up the river, and a healthy competition to show-off your local piece of the Stour, and which can lead to cross party support for the initiatives. Everybody benefits from a clean river, not least the fauna and flora that live in and around the river the gradual return of native species wiped out by industry and neglect over the last 200 years is a cause for optimism. But rivers need active defense units, ever vigilant of plots and schemes to undermine their value, or simply ignore them. They are the life blood of any town or city.  

    From my research, the Liberal Democrat Party have by far the best plan of action to transform the river and bring highly needed criticism of the current mismanagement and neglect of the Conservative Party. Read The Sewage Briefing now.
    Besides the long list, as long as the river Stour, of repeated failures of the Tory party, their lack of support and unwillingness to protect the Stour and all waterways in the UK is a single reason enough to send your vote elsewhere, either Liberal Democrat or Labour. Register to vote, use your vote, use your voice. Put pressure on those polluting the river and those who support the continued contamination of the UK water-ways, driven by profit over public interest.  

    The privatised water companies, granted local monopolies on supply, extract vast dividends and salaries while investing as little as possible in pipes, sewage systems, reservoirs and pollution control. Instead of stopping leaks or discouraging overconsumption, they draw down the groundwater that feeds our rivers.

    George Monbiot, Watery Grave.

    The future fight to save the planet and humanity starts at home in your locality. The lasting legacy of environmental work and the re-greening of our towns and cities is a lasting legacy to be truly proud of. Your kids will respect you for it. With some imagination, furthermore our waterways can become functional family attractions, the source of food and a habitat for wildlife: fish, insects and plants. Consider Mills have previously been powered by the river too.

    Why not make the environmental crisis a cross-party issue, and the demonstration of looking after it competitive, with incentives, work opportunities and a myriad of social psychological benefits. 

    –Steve Fly

    We will encourage communities to act for their local river and surrounding habitat, creating a legacy of engaged individuals who will help protect it long into the future. In addition, we will generate awareness of small, everyday changes which we can all make to contribute to improving the condition of the river.”

    Love Your River Stour

  • Corbyn vs Johnson – An ITV Debate Scored By Steve Fly

    On The Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson TV Debate 2019.

    I scored it 12-2 to J.C, here’s why and how. I admit this is a subjective review with a lot of conjecture. What have you got? The spin from the media proves very powerful after witnessing the fact of the matter and then hearing people speak as if they watched a completely different debate. #CognitiveBias in action.

    I gave the opening statement to Corbyn for not casting the first stone, and setting out a broad plan for Britain’s future, protecting jobs, the health service and bringing Billionaires to account. Boris, on the other hand, went in with his Brexit theme, putting Jeremy in a divisive position demanding he make a choice either way, are you Leave or Remain. Jezza, responded with a perfectly reasonable answer, in line with Labour policy, that he plans to put the question back to the people. 1-0 to Jezza.

    I give Corbyn another point for providing evidence, in paper form, of the conservative plans to break up and sell off the NHS. Boris responded by repeating his “which side are you on” question. At this point, Jeremy talked over the moderator, which I thought was a little rude at first, but he did have a point he wanted to finish and did, to make his previous statement make sense, to clarify. For Jeremy’s interruptions, I’ll give Boris a point, but remember that Boris goes on to do the same later in the debate.

    I’ll graciously give Boris another point for his direct answer about splitting up the Union, which included the word “No, I wouldn’t” however, his tenure as PM has proven the contrary, Boris and the Conservatives, In my humble opinion, have done more to potentially break up the Union than any previous PM. To be clear, I’m giving Boris a point for answering a question directly, forgetting for the moment that his actions evidence the opposite of his claim.

    Corbyn gets a point for slapping down Boris on his SNP coalition bait, pointing out that Britain’s already suffered 9 years of chaos with the conservative government, and he will not pursue any SNP coalition, if they wish to hand over the vote to the Tories and another round of austerity, let them do it. Current score 4-2 in Corbyn’s favour.

    The trust question was another easy win for Corbyn, I need not extrapolate here, just look at the record of Boris Johnson and his lies, personal, parliamentary and otherwise. Corbyn spoke out against antisemitism and all forms of racism, pointing out it has no place in his party. He made an oath, Boris did not get to make his oath (due to being cut-off) the fact remains. 5-2. And on integrity, a challenge for any and all politicians to answer, Corbyn points out that he “listens to people from all walks of life”. Boris, predictably, like a dog with his dip-stick out, hits another round of “just get Brexit done” and “Which side are you on, Mr Corbyn?”.

    I should have deduced a point here, this is clearly the sign of a tactical willful blocking of intelligent debate with a meaningless mantra, the likes of which the UK has been subjected too from the likes of Boris, Farage, and the Daily Mail/Sun Newspaper cabals. Corbyn is smashing it, Boris is erring. Who cares what the audience is doing, sounding like, saying, laughing about? Who are they? ITV presenters love to amplify the crowd reactions as if they reflect much.

    On the NHS question, Corbyn scoops up the point with ease. Essentially saying he will not allow it to be sold, and that he will protect it and prevent it from falling into private hands. Boris, more or less said “What Jeremy said,” with the addition of another double-tap of “Which side are you on? Just get it done”. Aggh, this is really getting on my tits now. Say it again Boris, say “Get It Done” again, I dare you.

    Jezza gets a point for pointing out the fake figures and false statement concerning the number of (NEW) hospitals and what exactly will be happening to upgrade existing ones. What is a new hospital? A new hospital? or the doing-up of an old one? Oh, I get it, you lying toad. 7-2. Boris is falling hard.

    Boris gets another point for saying that yes, he would support free social care, and old people should be looked after, wow, he does care. However, I chose to take that point away for his increasingly frantic repetition of the Brexit mantra, for god’s sake leave it alone bloke. #BrexitInsanity

    Jeremy gets another point for clearly stating that he and the Labour party will work to end austerity, which has cruelly affected millions of people during Tory rule. 9-2.

    I’ll give the presenter a point for her Freudian slip, I heard her say “Both you genital…gentleman” she was going to say “Genitalmen” which I think is the best word of the whole debate #Genitalman #ITVdebate lol.

    On the quickfire round Corbyn shot Boris between the eyes like a true-shot from the Westworld TV series. Corbyn showed compassion and support for the victims of Jeffery Epstein and stated nobody should be above the law. Boris once again nodded like a droopy dog, and simply restated a tiny fraction of what Corbyn said, and stared into his non-existent drink.

    On the Christmas question Jezza’ score again with a header to the back of the net. He’d get Boris a copy of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens” and so that Boris can “see how cruel Scrooge was…” lol. Pretty good Jez. Boris, answered with “a copy of my withdrawal agreement” but was put straight by the moderator, and forced to choose a non-political gift, it took a while, but eventually, he got to “Damson Jam”. 11-2. This is a great game for Labour, the Tories under Boris have been out-classed.

    The closing statements were a complete train-wreck for Boris, who again repeated his Brexit paradox. Corbyn laid out another broad vision of what a Labour government will offer, a better future for workers, students, the ill and vulnerable, and healing the divides up and down the country. 12-2 to JC.

    In summary, I deduced a point from Boris for repeating the same thing over and over again, approx. 9 times “The conservatives will get Brexit done”. Every single chance he got he repeated the mantra in the old brainwash trick of simply “repeat often”. Perhaps to get it through the thick skulls of the people, how thick are they? As if Boris were targeting the blinkered Brexit supporters who can see nor hear anything but what they want to hear, the echo of stupid and meaningless… “Just get on with it?”, “Why should we vote again, we voted in 2016?”…

    Well #ArronBanksLeaks is one reason, “The Great Hack” is another. Evidence that not only were you not given an actual choice, or any say on what kind of Brexit you were being sold, but the people and processes behind the official #VoteLeave campaign were criminal at least, and in the pockets of Vlad “Bad” Putin at worse. This is why we need a #PeoplesVote in 2020. A new referendum for a new set of questions, I wonder if those kicking and moaning about a new democratic people’s vote know, deep down that the result would not be in their favour?

    So my conclusion #VoteLabour #JC4PM and #ToriesOut fair and square.

    –Steve Fly

  • Passport To Brexit (Kindle)