Crucial Natural Resource Threatened
The Amazon River drainage basin covers approximately 40 percent of South America carries 20% of the world's freshwater, produces 20% of the world's oxygen, and is home to the largest rainforest in the world. It's a powerhouse of global atmospheric circulation.
The Amazon River Originates at Peru’s Rio Marañon
Right now, plans for twenty hydroelectric dams along the Rio Marañon, the main stem source of the Amazon River, imperil not only the thriving communities along the river edge, but also the ecology of the Amazon Basin and rainforests that are linked to environmental stability worldwide.
We're Asking For Your Help
A group of Peruvian and International rafters and activists are crowdfunding to produce an awareness-raising documentary this summer along the Rio Marañon, often referred to as the Grand Canyon of the Amazon. Our aim is to call attention to the likely displacement of thousands of residents along the river, to the deforestation that accompanies unbridled development, to the ruin of habitat and migration patterns among wildlife, and most importantly to the inevitable disturbance of the ecological balance in the globally important Amazon Basin.
So Far, Development Plans Unknown Across Peru
Very few in Peru and the wider international community are aware of the proposed and approved dams to be built along the Rio Marañon. Most of the power may be exported to Brazil; or sent to some of the worlds largest and most controversial Gold Mines, such as Conga (1). Corruption (2) within mega-dam building has been rampant; environmental impact and public comment in Peru have been incomplete. Challenges to water quality and environmental stability have been made with impunity throughout the world. For example: Three Gorges Dam (3) in China, and Belo Monte Dam (4) in Brazil have been permitted to negatively affect communities and river conditions up and downstream.
"No a Chadin II" is a protest against the Chadin II dam that would displace these children living along the Rio Marañon. They will lose their homes and likely live in poverty after relocation by the government. Historically, this has been the resulting impact of destroying the natural environment around rivers worldwide.
Who Is Making This Film?
Eddy Out Productions is joining Paddling with Purpose (PwP) this summer in advocating to keep the mainstem source of the Amazon River in its free flowing state!
Paddling With Purpose was created in 2013 to begin an advocacy movement based on the belief that the Rio Marañon, and the communities and ecosystems it supports, are too important to lose: it is more valuable in it’s free flowing state than stagnating behind a series of mega-dams. PwP is orchestrating projects for the Rio Marañon at local, national and international levels.
Krista De Mille, Director of Eddy Out Productions, was selected by PwP as a river guide for the journey. Krista will produce a short English language film emphasizing the efforts of the international crew and the Peruvian team — all of whom are raising funds to make the expedition, the main Spanish film, and its political impact felt.
Your Generous Donations Will
- Bring the Remando Juntos (means “paddling together”) Team to the Rio Marañon, where we will film our journey downriver and reconnect urban Peruvians with riverside communities.
- Fund a short documentary in both English and Spanish to raise awareness of the 20 dams planned to inundate this important river valley in the Andes- destroying not only endemic plant and animal species, but whole communities up and downriver, sending thousands of residents on a course toward poverty.
Eddy Out Projected Stretch Goals: $15,000
Eddy Out's overall target goal is $15,000, which will include higher film production value and some distribution. Eddy Out's base fundraising goal is $3,000 – this will help get the project off the ground for this summer.
50% of Eddy Out's fundraising dollars will go toward production of the English language short Krista is directing for submission to film festivals, with the other 50% going to the Peruvian Spanish language short to create awareness in Peru. Let's go Class V on this fundraising: greater production value and reach equals a more significant impact on the preservation of the Amazon ecosystem and the maintenance of life along the Rio Marañon.
The Overall PwP Fundraising Plan
The Peruvian and International Team, of 19 Super Volunteers, has been fundraising alongside me with a total cash goal of minimum 40K to cover the bare bones expedition and filming. Donations of In-Kind time and services for PwP so far = 135K! People are passionate about this river. Super Crew Volunteers are buying their own plane ticket and donating their skills to support the cause, so that all dollars donated go straight to PwP to get the documentary onto the streets of Peru.
Our Team
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Krista De Mille — Storytelling River Lover (Director, Eddy Out Productions)
"The Amazon has always been a mythic place to me. It is a dream to engage with it so directly and contribute to this river, land, and nation as both storyteller and river guide."
Krista is a professional actor in NYC, a seven-time grant recipient, director of previous water conservation theater projects, a filmmaker, and a veteran river guide currently working with Whitewater Challengers on the Upper Hudson River.
The Rio Marañon is a paddling classic, and the enthusiastic embrace of the project by a highly skilled volunteer Super Crew is a testament to their commitment to keeping the river flowing and the Amazon Basin thriving.
Super Crew
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Benjamin Webb — Executive River Liberator (Director PwP)
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Adriana Troncoso Gomez — Ace Marine Scholar
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Alonso Sanchez Maltese — The Altruistic Explorer
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Jorge Jesus Chavez Ortiz — World Traveling Mining Watchdog
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Lizbeth Nelva Diaz Redolfo — Our Lawyer with a Heart
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Luigi Marmanillo — Liman Adventure Facilitator Extraordinaire
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Luis "Camote" Herrera Masias — Lens Glass Visionary
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Samuel Paucar Ochoa — Audio/Visual Enviro Champion
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April McEwen — Riperian Sage, Dam Juke
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Adam Pedicini — Active Adam! Party Inspirator
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Stefanie Nicole Wessel — Hotshot Ledge Dropper
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Daphnee Tuzlak — Our Geology Wizard
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Nicholas Gottlieb — Master of the Playboat
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Memo Ruiz — Maestro of the Stand Up Paddle Board
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Jake Risch — Swift Water Rescue Virtuoso
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Lacey Anderson — Cool Cat River Gypsy
Our Partners
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Sierra Rios Non Profit 501(c)(3). US tax deductible donations can be made through Sierra Rios by clicking here. Please mark the donation "Paddling with Purpose/Krista De Mille," and please send me a note that you are doing so.
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Conservamos Por Naturaleza, our Non Profit partner on the ground in Peru.
Challenges
- Coordinating 26 people on the river, while making sure the filming, interviewing and river safety are all happening to the highest standard.
- Reaching the maximum audience in Peru, on a shoestring budget.
- Keeping a pile of film equipment charged and ready to roll on a 17 day raft expedition.
The River
If you've never been down a mountainous whitewater stretch of river by boat, I hope one day you will try it (see the perks!). There is just the moment, looking only where you must go, feeling the water carving beneath your paddle and almost wrestling it from your grasp. You're moving synchronously with the person next to you, leaning into giant waves on a second's notice to keep your boat upright, and holding your ground as the waves crash into your body. Oh, the life lessons! Then, you reach the pools, and its quiet, peaceful, sublime... your companion cracks a ridiculous joke and the canyon is filled with laughter.
Thank You
Creating a film that raises awareness is always a challenge. And yet the stories we tell shape our experience, inspire change, and ultimately make a difference. We appreciate your help in supporting this project and look forward to sharing the results with you.
Whether a financial donation is currently possible for you or not, we appreciate any assistance in spreading the word to your social networks through the buttons below.
“One love, one heart, Let’s get together and feel alright.” — Bob Marley
Eddy Out Productions is Paddling With Purpose
1. Conga: http://www.internationalrivers.org/resources/8331
2. Corruption: http://amazonwatch.org/news/2015/0305-massive-corruption-scandal-implicates-brazils-amazon-dam-builders
3. Three Gorges Dam: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/chinas-three-gorges-dam-disaster/
4. Belo Monte Dam: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/dec/16/belo-monte-brazil-tribes-living-in-shadow-megadam