English Version:
MARCH FOR THE WATER
22 March- Portuguese Parliement -16:30
25 March -Eduardo VII Park- 14:30

As a way of honoring water and its importance for life, on March 22nd and 25th, we will gather in Lisbon in response to governmental neglect of protecting ecosystems and safeguarding water resources.
Caring for water is caring for life!
Given the national panorama of recent years, in which we have observed a worsening of the water crisis, forest fires, and extreme weather events, we make a collective call to act for the
protection of water, forests and ecosystems.
Many decisions depend essentially on government management.
Currently we have legislation that does not effectively safeguard the protection of water resources, forests and biodiversity and falls far short of the best practices
instituted at the European level. Added to this is the lack of competence on the part of enforcement authorities: APA (Portuguese Environment Agency) provides us with insufficient results and indicators for a true environmental impact assessment, making us question the motivations for unthinkable projects to go ahead. We are clearly faced with legislation and governmental practices that prevail the predominant model, in which financial interests are placed as a priority over environmental and social impacts.
On the other hand, we have projects implemented in Portugal and in the world that show us that, even in territories with water scarcity, it is possible to restore and even expand water retention, through the regeneration of ecosystems.
Thus, we feel the need to question government entities about why
why more responsible business practices are not being demanded,
why the proper decisions and actions are not being taken to prevent
the drought in Portugal, and to have the proper investment in regenerative projects.

What are the problems we observe?
-Exponential growth of intensive agriculture projects in water scarce territories, lack of legislation for these
projects;
-Lack of investment and efficient management of forests, with the sovereignty of monocultures, especially eucalyptus, which contribute to drought
lack of biodiversity and easy spread of forest fires;
-Authorization for open-pit mining projects for the extraction of lithium
authorization for open pit mining projects for lithium extraction near populations and places of ecological importance-these projects use a huge amount of water, drying up the region’s water resources, and have a major environmental impact – pollution of the air soil, groundwater and nearby rivers, destruction of forests and ecosystems, and noise pollution.
-Pollution of rivers with illegal discharges, often by companies or industries
industries, without proper sanctions.
-Poor water management, in tourist resorts, such as golf courses, without control of water consumption for the maintenance of the fields.

Claims:
-Legislation on intensive agriculture projects, so that they take into account the available water resources, not authorizing projects that consume large amounts of water in places of water scarcity.
-Investment in regenerative projects, which show increased
biodiversity, water retention, organic matter and soil fertility.
-New forest management plansfor more biodiverse forests and the protection of our forests
-Promotion of environmental education appropriate to current issues
-Reassessment of the contracts signed by the government for the prospection and exploitation of lithium in Portugal
– Contribute with your suggestions regarding the problems you observe and provide suggestions for solutions (it is important that they are well grounded with documentation and examples of solutions, the more concrete the better). Until March 18 send your proposals to
movimento@pelasaguaseserras.pt

PROGRAM:
March 22nd – World Water Day
16h30: meeting at the Portuguese Parliament
17h00: open pit soundscape and performance with “Coro dos Anjos”
17h45: Beginning of silent march to Praça do Comércio
18h30: Singing moment to Tejo River at sunset – integrated in the
international movement “Canto al Agua

March 25th – March for Water
14h30: Meeting at Eduardo VII Park
14h45: Sharing of intentions and guide-lines for the march and presentation
of the groups present
15h15: Beginning of the March
16h15: Performance from Cris Marcones in Rossio fountain and reading of the Manifesto
17h00: Posting of Letters of Love to the Water next to the Terreiro do Paço
statue – creation of collective installation
17:15pm: Open mic: Intervention by different groups, music and poetry sharing
18h30: Collective Meditation, Singing to Tejo River at sunset and closing of the
march
*The present program is a proposal with flexibility and the possibility for changes.
If you have proposals for performances and/or awareness actions during the march, contact us through email:
movimento@pelasaguaseserras.pt

COLLECTIVES/ASSOCIATIONS/NGOs/ARTISTS/INFLUENCERS:
For those who want to actively participate in the march, the form for registration and subscription to the march is below. Thank you so much for joining and all support!
https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSdw9PIDYl5…/viewform… See less
Social issues
Lisbon, Portugal
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