THE LAKE IS YOUR COUSIN, THE STREAM IS YOUR SISTER, THE POND IS HER CHILD

"The world is running out of fresh water. Humanity is polluting, wasting, and consuming the source of all life at an alarming rate. The social, political, and economic consequences of water scarcity are rapidly becoming a destabilizing force, as a struggle for water is taking place all over the world."

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Chile, the South American country, is an arena where the battle for natural resources is being waged on a massive scale. The consequences are unmistakable: the parched Atacama Desert, the metropolis of Santiago de Chile slowly dying of thirst, and the destruction of wetlands in the rural areas of the south.

Indigenous communities in Chile, notably the Mapuche, have long been advocating for environmental conservation and fighting against state and corporate exploitation of land and water. This conflict traces back to the 19th century when the Chilean state appropriated Mapuche territory for European settlers, displacing indigenous communities. Since then, the Mapuche have been tirelessly seeking the return of their lands.

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In my project, I aim to explore the various stakeholders involved in this conflict, including the Chilean state, corporations like SQM engaged in lithium mining contributing to water scarcity, agriculture sectors such as avocado production affecting small-scale farmers, industries like copper mining, forestry, and cellulose production disrupting ecosystems, and media portrayal of the conflict and framing of indigenous groups, revealing biases and narratives.

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Through a visual investigation utilizing photography, texts, archival material, videos, and sound, my project aims to provide insight into the complexities of this conflict and raise awareness about the ongoing struggle of indigenous communities like the Mapuche for their natural resources. By avoiding a purely photojournalistic approach, I intend to create a narrative that conveys journalistic content while engaging audiences in a captivating and thought-provoking manner, emphasizing our interconnectedness with nature.

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