How UK 'wudu-gate' avoids naming the real culprit for the climate crisis

In mid-August, as the UK grappled with its fourth heatwave of the year, news headlines decried the water regulator’s allegedly wasteful use of public funds in its campaign advising Muslims to use less water for wudu (an ablution or cleansing ritual before prayer), and Asians to reduce water usage when washing rice. It turns out that ferocious heatwaves offer up valuable opportunities for flagging media outlets on slow news days. As is the norm with other manufactured hysterias, “wudu-gate” recycled a years-old initiative to viral effect, through the use of dramatic headlines, head-turning stock images and hyperbolic openers.