Argentina: Rooted in Resistance
Donation protected
Many reasons can be attributed to international and domestic conflicts, but at the heart of most of these battles is the struggle for land. It’s the connecting force that brings communities together, but when the land that communities depend on to thrive is threatened or taken away, the impacts on the community continue long after the dust has settled and the headlines have fallen from newspapers.
Those who have land, have power. Where there is power, there are often people that have been stripped of freedom. In an increasingly industrialized world, those that are left still living off of the land’s resources are the first to be targeted by the companies or groups that want the land for political or monetized agendas. Having told stories of displacement, Kyle Merrit Ludowitz and Leslie Cory are now seeking the support to expand this concept of Rooted in Resistance to encompass the indigenous resistance movements against land seizures in South America.
Argentina has become the world’s third-largest soybean producer, but the chemicals being used regularly contaminate homes, classrooms, and water sources for the local people. This is further exacerbated in Chaco where there are problems directly related to agro-toxics and soybean plantations impacting the livelihoods of small farmers. In addition, in Formosa the communities are battling malnutrition and human rights violations related to the handling of public funds, serious infrastructure issues, and corruption. Also prevalent is the Machupe's fight against Bennetton, which owns almost 2 million acres of indigenous lands. We are further planning to cover the Guarani, Wichi and Qom communities dealing with issues of land loss, deforestation, and malnutrition.
Documenting these struggles of indigenous communities will be the latest visual essay in the Rooted series which focuses on the conflict over land and the health effects caused by environmental damage. (However, the documentation of these topics is far but convenient as far as travel is concerned!)
This particular project will live within the space of a larger multimedia sphere that focuses on reintegration into society after traumatic life experiences. The larger project will redefine what trauma really looks like and how the human being functions in a society they can no longer relate to. This particular video and photographic series will depict what it’s like to be forced to change one’s life when an outsider has the power. The only way to tell this story is to document those that are living it. These are the people we are seeking out, in order to tell their personal journeys of unwillingly entering into an unknown world.
As storytellers, we understand the importance of finding and sharing the stories that fill and shape our lives. As citizens of the world, we care about what happens after the cameras leave and the headline drops from the top of the news site. We think good, objective photojournalism can foster better connections between the subjects, creators, and consumers of stories. This project is a step in that direction, and will create a conversation and broaden the conscious of people around this previously under-reported subject. Our goal is to break down walls between medium and audience engagement with the hopes of creating more empathy, understanding, and humanity around the process of reintegration.
THE ASK:
While we are paying personal travel expenses out of pocket, we are not financially able to cover the costs of a fixer and interpreter, both of which are integral elements to this project. We have successfully filled both positions, and have their complete support to move forward with this project, however we need to raise $5,500 to be able to afford the day rates and travel expenses for their journalistic guidance. At times we will be flying on hopper flights and then renting a vehicle to travel in to these off-the-map communities, many of which are in the depths of jungle territories. Other times we will be couch-surfing, hostel-searching, hitchhiking, and tent pitching to make ends meet. Although determined to tell these stories by whatever means available, each of these expeditions will be realistically influenced by our shoestring budget.
We are asking our networks to please consider donating what you can towards this story. While every dollar matters, we understand that not everyone has a dollar to spare. The sharing of this project is free, however, and we'd greatly appreciate help spreading the word as we embark on this journey.
Those who have land, have power. Where there is power, there are often people that have been stripped of freedom. In an increasingly industrialized world, those that are left still living off of the land’s resources are the first to be targeted by the companies or groups that want the land for political or monetized agendas. Having told stories of displacement, Kyle Merrit Ludowitz and Leslie Cory are now seeking the support to expand this concept of Rooted in Resistance to encompass the indigenous resistance movements against land seizures in South America.
Argentina has become the world’s third-largest soybean producer, but the chemicals being used regularly contaminate homes, classrooms, and water sources for the local people. This is further exacerbated in Chaco where there are problems directly related to agro-toxics and soybean plantations impacting the livelihoods of small farmers. In addition, in Formosa the communities are battling malnutrition and human rights violations related to the handling of public funds, serious infrastructure issues, and corruption. Also prevalent is the Machupe's fight against Bennetton, which owns almost 2 million acres of indigenous lands. We are further planning to cover the Guarani, Wichi and Qom communities dealing with issues of land loss, deforestation, and malnutrition.
Documenting these struggles of indigenous communities will be the latest visual essay in the Rooted series which focuses on the conflict over land and the health effects caused by environmental damage. (However, the documentation of these topics is far but convenient as far as travel is concerned!)
This particular project will live within the space of a larger multimedia sphere that focuses on reintegration into society after traumatic life experiences. The larger project will redefine what trauma really looks like and how the human being functions in a society they can no longer relate to. This particular video and photographic series will depict what it’s like to be forced to change one’s life when an outsider has the power. The only way to tell this story is to document those that are living it. These are the people we are seeking out, in order to tell their personal journeys of unwillingly entering into an unknown world.
As storytellers, we understand the importance of finding and sharing the stories that fill and shape our lives. As citizens of the world, we care about what happens after the cameras leave and the headline drops from the top of the news site. We think good, objective photojournalism can foster better connections between the subjects, creators, and consumers of stories. This project is a step in that direction, and will create a conversation and broaden the conscious of people around this previously under-reported subject. Our goal is to break down walls between medium and audience engagement with the hopes of creating more empathy, understanding, and humanity around the process of reintegration.
THE ASK:
While we are paying personal travel expenses out of pocket, we are not financially able to cover the costs of a fixer and interpreter, both of which are integral elements to this project. We have successfully filled both positions, and have their complete support to move forward with this project, however we need to raise $5,500 to be able to afford the day rates and travel expenses for their journalistic guidance. At times we will be flying on hopper flights and then renting a vehicle to travel in to these off-the-map communities, many of which are in the depths of jungle territories. Other times we will be couch-surfing, hostel-searching, hitchhiking, and tent pitching to make ends meet. Although determined to tell these stories by whatever means available, each of these expeditions will be realistically influenced by our shoestring budget.
We are asking our networks to please consider donating what you can towards this story. While every dollar matters, we understand that not everyone has a dollar to spare. The sharing of this project is free, however, and we'd greatly appreciate help spreading the word as we embark on this journey.
Organizer
Leslie Danielle Cory
Organizer
Oakland, CA
