Sacred Waters Action Brings Ceremony to Thames
Environmental groups unite in London for ritual calling for river restoration and renewed relationship with waterways
Activists gathered along the Thames on Saturday, 30 August, for a unique ceremony combining environmental advocacy with ritual, calling for the restoration of Britain's waterways and a fundamental shift in how society relates to its rivers.
The Save Our Rivers Action brought together ceremonial activists from Sacred Earth Activism with campaigners from Extinction Rebellion London, XR Drummers, and the iconic Red Rebels in a series of processions and water dedication ceremonies across central London.
The action began with two parallel gatherings. At Pottersfield, Sacred Earth Activism led a water embodiment ceremony before processing along the Thames towards the river's edge at Thames Beach. Meanwhile, the distinctive red-robed Red Rebels began their own solemn procession from Westminster Bridge, moving silently through the heart of the capital.
Both groups converged at Thames Beach for the day's centrepiece: a ceremonial river dedication that organisers said was designed to honour the sacred nature of water and highlight rivers' essential role in sustaining life, health, and society.
The ceremony drew participation from passers-by, with curious onlookers joining the ritual circle that incorporated the Thames itself as a participant. Many watched from the riverside paths and bridges above as activists called for a transformation from extraction and pollution towards care, reciprocity, and restoration. At the ceremony's culmination, participants ritually offered a willow wreath carrying flowers and prayers to the Thames as a symbolic gesture of reciprocity and gratitude to the river that sustains the capital.
"We gathered to remember that rivers are not just resources to be exploited, but living systems deserving of respect and protection," explained Jonathan Weekes, co-founder of Sacred Earth Activism.
The action was originally planned to coincide with the arrival of Sea Shepherd II, the marine conservation organisation's vessel that had been working in nearby waters as part of their mission to protect ocean ecosystems. However, the ship was unexpectedly called for inspection the night before the ceremony, preventing the planned collaboration.
Rather than cancel, organisers decided the ceremony should proceed as planned. "Our appointment was always with the river as much as with Sea Shepherd," one organiser noted.
The collaboration between Sacred Earth Activism's ceremonial approach and Extinction Rebellion's campaign tactics represents a growing trend in environmental activism, where ritual and protest intersect to create new forms of advocacy. XR Drummers provided a rhythm for the procession of the willow wreath, their beats echoing off riverside buildings and drawing attention from the crowds around. The Red Rebels, known for their powerful silent presence at climate actions, brought their trademark solemnity to the water's edge ceremony.
Britain's rivers face mounting pressures from pollution, over-extraction, and climate change. Recent data shows many waterways failing to meet ecological standards, with sewage discharges and agricultural runoff continuing to degrade water quality across the country. The Thames, while cleaner than in previous decades, still faces significant challenges from urban pollution and the legacy of industrial contamination.
The London action forms part of a broader movement calling for fundamental changes in water policy and management. Activists argue that technical solutions alone are insufficient – what's needed is a cultural and societal shift that recognises water as sacred rather than merely a commodity. Many expressed hope that combining ritual with resistance could help build the deeper connection to nature that environmental campaigns require.