This week the regional campaign “Rowing against the current for water and life” was launched in Paraná, Entre Ríos. The initiative’s central activity is a paddling event in defense of the environment and rivers, which will travel along the Paraná River.
The event will take place from March 2nd to 22nd, coinciding with the celebration of World Water Day.
The proposal already has the support of more than 120 organizations from Argentina and several countries in the Plata Basin and other basins in Latin America and the Caribbean.
## “Rowing against the current for water and life”: campaign details
The campaign aims to raise public awareness about the dangers ecosystems face due to the advance of extractivism and water privatization.
The launch event, held on World Wetlands Day, included a video conference with the participation of religious, political, and environmental leaders from across Latin America and the Caribbean.
All representatives reaffirmed their commitment to river defense, emphasizing that “we are water-dependent” and that protecting rivers and wetlands is essential for life.
## How the paddling event will unfold
According to the organization, the paddling event will navigate the Paraná River with activities in each coastal city, where events will take place.
They aim to “bring visibility to the new delivery of the Paraná River,” referring to the re-privatization and the so-called “waterway,” which is the central and main basin of the river through which large vessels transit importing and exporting goods.
“This project jeopardizes ecosystems and the lives of riverside communities in one of the world’s most important rivers,” they emphasized.
## Campaign launch and the waterway issue
Coordinated by Martha Arriola (from Caretakers of the Common Home), the event featured a presentation panel with different speakers.
Among them were Luis “Cosita” Romero (Caretakers of the Common Home – Aangareco Nderejhé Civil Association), Luciano Orellano (Forum for the Recovery of the Paraná and Federal Meeting for Sovereignty), Alejandro Meitin (Río Lab House / Ensenada), Blanca Osuna (National Legislator for Entre Ríos), Nelson Yapura (Civil Association of High Verde Fishermen, member of the National Council of Indigenous and Peasant Agriculture, and advisor to Indigenous Fishermen from Salta and other provinces), Ukai Gladys Do Nascimento from the Charrúa Nation, and Horacio Enriquez from the Eco Urbano Foundation.
“What’s happening that we are not capable of defending our rivers, nature, our children, our grandchildren,” Romero questioned. “Dredging to 44 feet is deepening the ecocide of our basin,” he pointed out.
“Nowhere in the world will you see ships of 80 thousand tons. The Danube that reaches the Black Sea, the Rhine that crosses six countries and all of Europe, how many tons do they circulate with? 4000 to 6000 tons. Here they want to put ships of 80,000 tons,” Orellano expressed.
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