The Water We Want 2026 - All Other Media

This video is an acoustic song about the importance of water and the future we want for it. Through music, it invites reflection on caring for and valuing water. The song was inspired by stories my grandfather told me about his childhood, when water was cleaner and much more abundant. The video was recorded in a natural setting, and I used traditional clothing from Michoacán to represent my cultural roots.

This project is part of an activity of the Eco-Schools program of the José Régio School Group, in Portalegre. Stop Motion animation was developed in the disciplines of Information and Communication Technologies, Artistic Education and Vocational Training. Six scenarios were created, drawn and painted on scenario paper, later supplemented with the modelling of characters and various decorative elements in plasticine. This was followed by photographic recording, as well as the respective editing and processing of images. The animation depicts a person’s daily life, highlighting common habits such as waking up, toothbrushing without turning off the tap, washing the car with a hose, use the washing machine without full charge and ignore leaks in the plumbing - situations that contribute to water waste and can lead to scenarios
of scarcity, as is seen in the final part of this animation. In this way, it is intended to promote the reflection on the impact of the waste of fresh water, reinforcing that it is up to each of us the responsibility to use in a conscious way such a precious water.

As the River Flows is a striking, introspective poem that gives voice to the river itself—ancient, patient, and burdened. It traces the river's journey from its quiet beginnings in the mountains to its role in human life, where it becomes sacred, useful, and eventually overused. The poem moves through layers of memory—ritual offerings, faith, and devotion—before revealing a harsher truth: the river carries not only prayers, but also pollution, neglect, and silent damage. What makes the poem compelling is its perspective. The river does not protest or accuse; it simply continues, holding everything it is given. Yet beneath that surface flow is a quiet exhaustion, a slow withdrawal. The imagery of fading flowers, still fish, and thickened water reflects a loss that is both physical and symbolic. At its core, the poem questions how something so deeply revered can also be so carelessly treated. It shifts the idea of “sacred” from ritual to responsibility. Instead of asking for worship, the river asks for something far simpler—and far more urgent: the right to exist, to flow freely, and to be left unburdened. Imagine a world without water reimagines a world without water and what a terrible nightmare could it be.

This video is a sensory journey into the heart of the Cheile Nerei-Beușnița National Park, where water is not merely a feature of the landscape, but the very living voice of nature. By weaving together the natural sounds of waterfalls with imagery of pristine rivers, the project highlights the fragility of this vital ecosystem. "Echoes of Water" is a call for awareness and responsibility: the water we want for the future depends on the respect and protection we provide today. It is our liquid legacy, a story that must continue to flow, untainted, for the generations to come.

A sensitive and poetic way, water as the vital essence of the Earth, comparing it to the blood that flows silently through the planet’s depths. From hidden aquifers to great rivers like the Amazon
and the São Francisco, each water source is presented as a sacred link between nature and human survival. Water is not merely a resource, but a living heritage that sustains ecosystems, cultures, and the very future of humanity. At the same time, the work denounces humanity’s destructive actions, marked by relentless exploitation and the contamination of rivers and natural reserves. The “sludge of profit” symbolizes the degradation caused by greed, threatening the continuity of life and disrupting natural balance. There is an urgent call for collective awareness: caring for water is preserving existence itself. The repetition of the verses reinforces the idea that without rivers and springs, there is no possibility of flourishing. Thus, the text invites reflection and responsibility, reminding us that protecting water is ensuring that the future can still germinate as a seed of life and hope.

Reflections of Tomorrow captures the stillness of water as a mirror between nature and the future. The calm surface reflects the hills, trees, and sky, creating a sense of balance and harmony that reminds us of the deep connection between water and the environment. This image symbolizes how water preserves life, landscapes, and memory. Its quiet reflection invites viewers to think about the consequences of human activity on fragile ecosystems. Climate change, water scarcity, and environmental degradation threaten these natural spaces that appear timeless and untouched. Through symmetry, this image encourages us to see water not only as a natural resource, but as a reflection of our responsibility toward future.

Water Holds the Last Light captures a moment of calm where the sea and sky meet in silence at sunset. The fading sunlight reflected on the water reminds us that oceans are more than landscapes — they are sources of life, balance, and hope.
This photograph represents the fragile relationship between humanity and water. The peaceful horizon contrasts with the growing environmental threats facing marine ecosystems: pollution, climate change, and the loss of biodiversity. Despite these challenges, the image also conveys resilience and possibility.
The last light of the day symbolizes both a warning and an opportunity. Water connects people, nature, and future generations, and its preservation depends on the choices we make today. Through simplicity and stillness, this image invites viewers to reflect on the importance of protecting our oceans and valuing water not only as a resource, but as a shared responsibility.

Time flows like water...and waits for no one. Water is the beggining for all things: without water there is no life, only silence. We forget that the water we polute is the same one we drink, but in one day water won’t be a right but a luxury. Water isn’t in danger, we are! The question is not how much time we have left, but what we choose to do with it.

This modern poem takes a forgotten old well as its core image, born from the context of rural ecological changes and water resource issues in contemporary times. As urbanization advances, cement, plastic pollution, and pesticides have damaged traditional water cycles, leaving old wells abandoned as symbols of the rift between civilization and nature.
Through the well’s monologue, the poem traces the water heritage of ancient projects like Dujiangyan, criticizes modern harm to nature, and expresses a longing for the natural cycle where water “knows its way home.” It calls for ecological restoration and cherishing water resources, urging people to reconnect with nature and the roots of rural civilization.

Freshwater is a fundamental natural resource for life on planet Earth. Although it exist in smaller quantities than salt water, it’s indispensable for humans, animals and plants and the proper functioning of the ecosystems. Over time the increase in population and human activities has led to great exploitation of water resources. The discharge of industrial, agricultural and domestic waste has contributed to water pollution, harming its quality. This situation negatively affects aquatic ecosystems, reduces biodiversity and puts the health of population at risk due to the decrease of potable water. This work aims to address the main causes of water pollution, its consequences for the environment and society, as well as highlight the importance of adopting responsible attitudes for the future. Preserving this resource is essential to guarantee a sustainable future for the next generations.

Bubbles of Life in Weary Hands captures a quiet but meaningful moment. It represents a pair of hands held beneath a tap in a place where clean water is scarce. The water seems to be flowing to form delicate bubbles that rest on the skin before they disappear. These bubbles are a symbol of life itself. Life is fragile, fleeting, yet full of hope. In a place where every drop is precious, they reflect the dreams, resilience and quiet patience of those who depend on uncertain access to clean water. While water sustains life, access to clean water is still a privilege for many. Clean water should not depend on geography, wealth, or status. This image hopes to portray the aspirations of all individuals who deserve this basic necessity but have a hard time trying to obtain it. The weary hands are not just receiving water: they are holding onto hope.

This project shows the flow of water and the beauty with which it is preserved, encompassing equally the pollution and disappearance of water and its acosystem.

If we do not take care of the water, we will not live, for without it there is no life.

Life on Earth begins with a single drop. Water is the foundation of life in all its forms: people, animals, plants.. Everything depends on it; it is the essence of life.

A River’s Hidden Heart reveals the quiet strength and beauty of freshwater ecosystems. The waterfall, surrounded by rocks and trees, represents the natural cycle that sustains life and connects landscapes, wildlife, and people. Beneath its peaceful appearance lies the essential role that rivers play in providing clean water, preserving biodiversity, and maintaining ecological balance. The rainbow formed by the mist symbolizes hope and harmony between nature and humanity. However, this beauty is fragile. Freshwater sources around the world are increasingly threatened by pollution, droughts, climate change, and overexploitation. What seems eternal can disappear if not protected.
This photograph invites viewers to look beyond the surface and recognize water as the hidden heart of our planet. Rivers are not only physical landscapes; they are living systems that nourish communities and future generations. Protecting them means protecting life itself. Through movement, light, and nature, the image reminds us that every drop of water carries both power and responsibility.

Soundtrack: G.F. Handel – ”Water Music”.
The script on the video is a poem by Margaret Atwood called Water. Most of the video shows Mureș river flowing in my home village (Chețani). Muddy, clean, at sunset … and a few photos I have taken in other places with clear water (the water I dream of) as opposed to muddy.