Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1099/31278
From The Socialist newspaper, 2 September 2020
No to polluting incinerator, dumped in working-class Edmonton
Paul Kershaw, North London Socialist Party
A plan to build a giant new waste incinerator in Edmonton Green would produce health-threatening air pollution across north London and Essex. The current incinerator is coming to the end of its life
On 29 August, a diverse range of protestors said 'no'. The incinerator would produce damaging NO2 and a range of pollutants, including small particulates for which there is no safe level in the atmosphere.
Incinerators are typically built in working-class areas, and areas with large black, Asian and minority ethnic populations like Edmonton. Cambridgeshire rejected a plan for an incinerator, citing the threat to historic buildings nearby.
No such concern has been shown by Enfield's Labour council, in an area with some of the highest levels of deprivation in the UK, and high levels of bad health. The plan is being driven through by a waste authority comprising seven boroughs - all but one has a Labour majority.
There has been next-to-no consultation about the project. The new incinerator is three times larger than the needs of the area and will import waste on a commercial basis.
Much of the waste could be recycled. But local boroughs have low rates of recycling.
It also makes a nonsense of local authority declarations declaring a climate emergency. It will add to greenhouse gases.
The Meridian Water for Council Homes campaign is challenging Enfield council's plan to build unaffordable homes in Edmonton. Socialist Party member Mira Glavardanov highlighted the madness of constructing the giant new incinerator next to a planned new housing development, when she spoke on behalf of the campaign.
London mayor Sadiq Kahn has not tried to stop the incinerator, so currently this major threat to health is being rammed through by Labour politicians. The labour movement should spearhead moves to protect the environment and pressure these political representatives to stop the incinerator.
Another protest by Enfield Black Lives Matter (BLM) followed and added support to the incinerator campaign - an example of how black working-class communities are disregarded by politicians.
Speakers gave impassioned accounts of police mistreatment of black people, stop and search and miscarriages of justice. Enfield BLM founder, Delia Mattis, warned Sadiq Kahn not to count on continued support from the black community if he fails to deliver.
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In The Socialist 2 September 2020:
News
Tory schools chaos - unions must fight for safety
Eviction ban extension not enough: make it longer, forgive the arrears!
Don't blame asylum seekers for Tory cuts
Disability and Covid
Capitalism cause of disproportionate disabled deaths and isolation
No going back series
Workplace news
Demand a fightback from the TUC and unions
Tate strike: "Coronavirus - no reason to fire us!"
B&Q worker reinstated: Organised response successfully challenges unfair dismissal
West Midlands journalists strike against pay and job cuts
Support Ikea workers - reinstate Richie Venton
London bus drivers poised for strike action
Join the socialists
International
Fight racism, Trump and capitalism
Mass protests in Israel demand Netanyahu's resignation
Trotsky online rally - watched across the world
Campaigns
No Covid penalty on our future
Black Lives Matter: Fighting injustice, fighting for our rights
Nottingham: Socialists and anti-racists oppose right-wing march
No to polluting incinerator, dumped in working-class Edmonton
Scrap hospital parking charges
Liverpool: Support 15% pay rise for NHS
Fundraising: An example to follow
Reviews
Manctopia: billion pound property boom
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