SURFERS 60-HOUR SEWAGE VIGIL TO BEGIN AT GUERNSEY’S GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS

A 60 hour-long vigil will begin at 9:30pm on Sunday 22nd January by
campaigners from Surfers Against Sewage (SAS). The vigil will take place at
the States of Guernsey’s government buildings (Sir Charles Frossard House)
in St Peter Port.

The vigil, which is being held in protest at the ongoing dumping of all
Guernsey’s sewage raw into the island’s waters, will finish at 9:30am on
Wednesday 25th January when the States of Deliberation meet to debate a
recently published government green paper on sewage.

SAS are calling for a full sewage treatment option to be built to bring an
end to the ‘Victorian style pumping and dumping’ of untreated sewage into
the sea, which many developed countries have now departed from.

The vigil (representing 1 hour for every 1000 of the 60,000 islanders) will
serve as a constant reminder to politicians in the run up to Wednesday’s
States of Deliberation meeting that many islanders want an investment in the
sewerage infrastructure to see it fully modernised. This would not only
allow recreational water users to use the island’s beaches without fearing
for their health but could also bring real benefits to the island’s economy
such as increased tourist visits and water reuse options.

The vigil comes during a period of public consultation in which the States
has asked for the public’s view on the issue. The SAS vigil offers the
public an easy opportunity to have their say and we will be collecting
signatures for our petition during this vigil. So if islanders are looking
to mark their support for the campaign that’s when and where they can do it!
The petition, which has already generated over 2000 local signatures calls
for full sewage treatment and will be presented to the Government during the
public consultation period.

Richard Hardy, SAS Campaign Director says: “This peaceful vigil will add
weight to the campaign for full sewage treatment and cannot be ignored by
the States. Dumping untreated sewage at sea is completely unacceptable and
an embarrassment to an island that otherwise offers so much, not least its
wonderful panoramic landscape. SAS will be expecting a heavyweight
discussion of the report during the meeting of the States of Deliberation,
an acknowledgement that this is an issue of serious public concern needing
urgent attention following far too many years of procrastination and some
political support for a move towards full treatment”.


Check out the 2005/2006 Surfers Against Sewage campaign film at:
www.avthree.co.uk/sascampaigns.htm

The film covers all our campaign topics and includes footage from recent
actions.

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), Wheal Kitty Workshops, St Agnes, Cornwall, TR5
0RD. Tel: 01872 555950 (campaign office)
www.sas.org.uk