it endures every modern indignity

November 13, 2022 2:58 AM

"When @paulpowlesland told me in 2017 that he was going to up-anchor, squat a fucked post-industrial river in East London & try to precipitate its ecological recovery, I thought he was as crackers as his psychedelic cat leggings." — Jon Moses on Twitter. Full article: London's forgotten river and the barrister who saved it. via @ambrosen
posted by taz (13 comments total)

I spent my teenage years one field away from the R. Roding way upstream where it is about two narrowboats wide and all sorts of kingfisher magical. Who is going to assume the mantle of Polly Higgins [Metaprev] and start a few Ecocide prosecutions pro parte Roding [ef]Fluvium? And rather than having Thames Water [poo hiss he's behind you] shoulder all the blame, could more of us think "if it's yellow let it mellow" before flushing?
posted by BobTheScientist at 4:34 AM on November 13, 2022 [7 favorites]

As a USian urban stream ecologist, I find stories about European urban streams fascinating. Most of the impacts to our streams happened in the 20th century, while the poor Roding has been abused for centuries (and most of its siblings piped underground just as long). Even deciding where to start with management is just so different but, yes, 99% of urban stream ecologists agree that getting the poo out is the first step.
posted by hydropsyche at 4:49 AM on November 13, 2022 [6 favorites]

Many people I talk to feel like they can't make a difference in the big global ecological problems facing the world. This story is just one of many examples of why it's important to think local. Local efforts to clean up can take hold, expand and have a huge impact. This was heartening to read.
posted by rednikki at 6:51 AM on November 13, 2022 [8 favorites]

but, yes, 99% of urban stream ecologists agree that getting the poo out is the first step.

I am intrigued by that 1% who disagree.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:58 AM on November 13, 2022 [2 favorites]

That's just Poo Georg, who unlike Ted Cruz is several beings and not one and who really enjoys river poo.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 9:04 AM on November 13, 2022 [6 favorites]

that 1% who disagree

The Wee Folk?
posted by Phanx at 9:30 AM on November 13, 2022 [4 favorites]

Dip Flash: That 1% believe if you use bulldozers to construct the stream into the "correct" shape, then all the other problems are magically solved (because there is a lot of money to be made with that nonsense).
posted by hydropsyche at 9:33 AM on November 13, 2022 [4 favorites]

Thanks for posting taz, wonderful article as I've only read his tweets and chatted a bit. Paul Powlesland is very brave (given the current UK trajectory) - and a refreshing change in the law.
posted by unearthed at 9:48 AM on November 13, 2022 [2 favorites]

Earlier today I was heading home from London after my first visit in a year, sat in a traffic jam on the elevated slip road at the start of the M11, idly staring out of the window in between the start-stops of the cars in front. After admiring a pylon for a bit I spotted a small urban river below, walled in between the motorway embankment and a smaller road. I wondered vaguely what it was called, how polluted it might be, if anyone ever visited it, or if it was completely ignored, before the traffic started moving again.

I would probably have completely forgotten that moment, had I not read this piece just now and discovered that the river I had been looking at is the Roding. I'm very glad to hear that someone is trying to look after it, I hope they succeed.
posted by tomsk at 12:29 PM on November 13, 2022 [8 favorites]

Super encouraging! I recently read about efforts to recover a buried river in Paris, I thought I’d seen it on mefi but it was last discussed in 2018.
posted by ellieBOA at 12:56 PM on November 13, 2022 [3 favorites]

As a USian urban stream ecologist, I find stories about European urban streams fascinating. Most of the impacts to our streams happened in the 20th century, while the poor Roding has been abused for centuries (and most of its siblings piped underground just as long).

You've probably read Rivers of London then, but if not you might enjoy it!
posted by trig at 2:17 PM on November 13, 2022 [6 favorites]

Thank you! I'm a lifelong boater, myself, and a fan, for some few years now, of the English narrowboat community. I am grateful to you for pointing me to this resource. Also, I'm happy to be able to share a link to a video of a walk along the Roding with the founder of the Roding Trust.
posted by soulsailor at 7:24 AM on November 14, 2022 [7 favorites]

That's so great, soulsailor! Exactly the sort of thing I wanted to see.
posted by taz at 12:38 PM on November 14, 2022 [1 favorite]