On March 1st, the campaign “Remando Contracorriente por el Agua y la Vida” (Rowing Against the Current for Water and Life) began, a 22-day journey along the Paraná River with the aim of raising awareness about the environmental, social, and economic impacts that the re-concession of dredging the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway could generate. The initiative, which involves more than 180 organizations, will depart from Puerto Pilcomayo, in Formosa, and will conclude on March 22 in Rosario, coinciding with World Water Day.
The delegation from Entre Ríos will be led by Luis “Cosita” Romero, a fisherman and environmental activist from Paraná, who in 1996 led, along with Raúl Rocco, a historic rowing journey to prevent the construction of a dam in the Paraná Medio region. He will be accompanied by the artist Mariano Martínez, the fisherman Nelson Yapura, and the documentarian Francisco Paredes, who will document the journey.
The expedition will visit riverside cities such as Resistencia, Bella Vista, Goya, Esquina, La Paz, Santa Elena, Villa Urquiza, and Paraná, promoting meetings, assemblies, and cultural activities at each stop. The arrival in Paraná is scheduled for March 16, while the conclusion in Rosario will involve the participation of various organizations.
Environmental awareness in Paraná.[/caption>
The Boats and the Fight for the River
The canoes “Yaguarona” and “La del Zurdo,” restored by the participating collectives, will lead the journey, and other boats can join at different points along the route. Beyond rowing, the goal is to raise awareness about the consequences of the privatization of the waterway, which organizers argue poses a threat to the ecosystem and coastal communities.
The Reported Impacts
The organization warns of three main negative impacts of the re-concession:
- Environmental: deepening the draft to 44 feet could alter fragile ecosystems, affect wetlands, and reduce biodiversity, compromising artisanal fishing and water quality.
- Social: riverside communities could face drinking water contamination and forced displacements, exacerbating social inequalities in a climate crisis context.
- Economic: privatized management of the waterway favors large exporters and reduces benefits for local communities, perpetuating an extractivist model.
A History of Struggle
The initiative is inspired by the 1996 rowing journey when Romero and Rocco rowed along the Paraná for 22 days to alert the population about the construction of a hydroelectric dam in the Paraná Medio region. The popular mobilization succeeded in halting the project and led to the Freedom of Rivers Law of Entre Ríos (9092/97), which prohibits the installation of dams in the province.
The organization invites the community to join the rowing and participate in the scheduled meetings and activities. “Remando Contracorriente” is a collective action in defense of water, life, and sovereignty, aimed at raising awareness about the importance of preserving rivers as a common heritage.
“One People, One River”
The organization “Remando contracorriente por el agua y la vida” explains that this initiative is a call to collective action to protect ecosystems, ensuring “sustainable and sovereign” development for all generations.
In this regard, the NGO argues that the Paraná River is not just a river but rather the vital artery that crosses seven Argentine provinces and five countries on the continent. Furthermore, its flow sustains local economies, ancient cultures, and unique ecosystems.
However, the current model of the waterway threatens to deepen environmental and social degradation, endangering biodiversity, wetlands, and the water security of entire cities.
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