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'Poo-nami' of raw sewage hits English beaches
PRINT ALL READINGS (PDF)Poonami - Level 0
Water companies in the UK pumped raw sewage into the sea. The UK told people not to go swimming or surfing. People could get diseases if they went into the water. Water companies said people should keep their mouth closed in the sea. A woman said: "It's filthy…and it stinks." She called it a "poonami".
People are angry with the water companies. The bosses get million-dollar bonuses for polluting the sea. England's beaches were among the cleanest in Europe. Now they are the dirtiest. A woman said clean water was a human right. She said CEOs cared more about bonuses than about clean water or the environment.
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11 online activities | 8-page printable (PDF)
Poonami - Level 1
Beaches in England closed because water companies pumped raw sewage into the sea. The UK told people to avoid dozens of popular swimming and surfing beaches. People could get diseases if they went into the water. Water companies said people should keep their mouth closed in the sea. A woman said she saw things she didn't want to see floating in the sea. She said: "It's filthy…and it stinks." She called the mess a "poonami".
People are angry with the water companies. England sold its water to private companies. The bosses get million-dollar bonuses while raw sewage is polluting the environment. In 2016, the European Union said England's beaches were among the cleanest in Europe; now they are the dirtiest. A woman said clean water was a human right, and not for companies to make profits from. She said CEOs cared more about their bonuses than the environment.
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11 online activities | 8-page printable (PDF)
Poonami - Level 2
Slowest
Beaches in England closed because water companies put raw sewage into the sea. The UK warned holidaymakers to avoid dozens of beaches. Some of the beaches were popular with tourists, surfers and swimmers. People risked getting diseases if they went into the water. Water companies advised people to keep their mouth closed in the sea. A resident near a beach said she saw things she didn't want to see floating in the water. She said: "It's filthy…and it stinks." She added the sewage was easy to see and smell. She called it a "poonami".
People in England are angry with the water companies. England sold its water to private companies. The CEOs are getting million-dollar bonuses while dangerous raw sewage is polluting the environment. Water companies have pumped raw sewage into Britain's seas for more than nine million hours since 2016. In 2016, the European Union said England's beaches were among the cleanest in Europe; now they are among the dirtiest. One woman said clean water was a human right and not for profits. She said water company CEOs cared more about their bonuses than the environment.
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11 online activities | 8-page printable (PDF)
Poonami - Level 3
Beaches in England and Wales have closed because water companies pumped raw sewage into the sea. The UK Environment Agency issued warnings to holidaymakers to avoid dozens of beaches this week. Some of the beaches were popular places for tourists, surfers and swimmers. They risked catching diseases if they went into the water. Water companies advised people to keep their mouth closed if they swam in the sea. A resident on the south coast town of Bexhill-on-Sea described seeing things she didn't want to see floating in the water when she swam. She said: "It's filthy, murky, and it stinks." She added the sewage was "quite obvious" to see and smell. She called it a "poonami".
Many people in England are angry with the water companies. England sold its water to private investors in 1989. Company CEOs are now getting million-dollar salaries and bonuses while dangerous raw sewage is polluting the environment. Water companies have pumped raw sewage into Britain's seas and rivers for more than nine million hours since 2016. There has been a 2,000 per cent increase in the past five years. In 2016, the European Union said England's beaches were among the cleanest in Europe; now they are among the dirtiest. One Briton said clean water was a human right and not for company profits. She said water company CEOs care more about their salaries than the UK's environment.
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25 online activities | 27-page printable | 2-page mini-lesson
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