A Legendary Bristol Venue

Screening at Bristol’s legendary Rockaway Park was a dream (can you tell by our grins?!). Our next Bristol screening is at The Tobacco Factory Wed 18th June 7pm.

Thank you our Producer Sonia for moderating a fantastic panel with Founder of Dirty Water campaign Caroline Dennet and Bristol Green New Deal Rising’s Manu Teague-Sharpe.

Manu shared his thoughts of the screening.

Rave on for the Avon beautifully shows the significance of the river to local people. The river helps people with their chronic illnesses and mental health, as well as providing a free place to meet friends and bring the kids. The river is there for everyone, including those, like Frank, that can't afford their heating bills. But the river is full of POO. Swimmers who dunk their head into the murky water are at risk of illness. Wessex Water, the private company that is responsible for sewage services in the region, is to blame. Local people are resisting. From scientists to children to mermaids, we are united in the fight for clean water. Acts of resistance take many forms; from refusing to pay your water bill, to petitioning the former mayor of Bristol, to swimming the Bristol Channel dressed as a mermaid to raise awareness. Rave on for the Avon encapsulates the beauty within people and nature, and inspires all of us to become activists to fight for a better, cleaner future.

If you're feeling inspired, now is the time to get organised! Green New Deal Rising is a movement of 16-35 year olds from across the UK that are demanding the government implement a Green New Deal. In Bristol, we have been raising awareness of how much the private water companies are ripping us off. Since privatisation in 1989, water companies have paid out £72 billion in dividends, sold off 25 reservoirs, and filled our rivers with sewage. Wessex Water have increased bills by £86, or 21%, this year for the typical household, a fair price to pay for the third most polluted river in the UK... This year, we delivered a golden toilet to Wessex Water as their prize for being the best polluter, and joined Surfers Against Sewage for their paddle out protest in Bristol Harbour.

‘Big Oil’ whistleblower Caroline Dennett, an environmental activist committed to corporate accountability gave us incredible insights on the panels panel. After witnessing sewage dumping in her hometown of Weymouth, she launched the #DontPayForDirtyWater campaign in 2023, urging consumers to boycott water bills in protest.

Caroline shared her thoughts on the film:

“Gathering in joyful and creative protest reminds us that we are not alone. It turns frustration into hope, and empowers us to stand up for places we love and values we hold dear. In times of ecological and social crisis, acts of unity and imagination become powerful catalysts for change, and for communities.”

Caroline shared the different ways you can take part in Don’t Pay For Dirty Water campaign which you can find info about on their website.https://extinctionrebellion.uk/act-now/campaigns/dont-pay-for-dirty-water/