PROJECT #1
VOICES FROM THE WATER
2022 | U.S.A. & Canada | 4 featured Rivers
170,000 hours
of research conducted by the LSU Center for river studies.
1,200 volunteers
joined to help make glass recycling more enjoyable, equitable, and accessible.
100 species
of fish call the Patuxent River their home, including bass, catfish, chain pickerel, and bluefish.
Every Voice Matters, Every Action Counts
Rivers connect everything: people, wildlife, climate, culture. Yet today, they are drowning in waste. Voices from the Water, a Rivers are Life film, amplifies the stories of River Heroes standing up to pollution and proving that upstream solutions are possible.
Pollution isn’t just an ocean problem, it starts in rivers. By the time bottles, bags, and debris reach the sea, it’s already too late. That’s why our focus must shift upstream, to the arteries of our planet, where action makes the greatest difference.
Through the voices of leaders and communities on the frontlines, the film sheds light on the global stakes of river health. These River Heroes are educators, activists, scientists, and everyday people who refuse to let their rivers become dumping grounds. From large-scale cleanups to grassroots awareness campaigns, their efforts reveal a blueprint for hope.
Voices from the Water shows that protecting rivers isn’t a side project, it’s central to fighting climate change, restoring biodiversity, and protecting human health. Every voice matters, every action counts, and together we can turn the tide.
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LSU CENTER FOR RIVER STUDIES
The LSU Center for River Studies researches the Mississippi, its sediment loss, and coastal decline, using a large river model to guide restoration while urging simple actions to protect water quality.
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AQUANATH
Nathalie Lasselin, diver and explorer, studies the St. Lawrence, removes debris, trains divers, and inspires action against pollution to protect rivers.
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PATUXENT RIVERKEEPER
Fred Tutman, Patuxent Riverkeeper, fights pollution with legal action, wins major penalties, and champions justice as the only African-American Waterkeeper.
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GLASS HALF FULL
Glass Half Full (Max & Fran) turn New Orleans glass waste into soft sand for coastal restoration, recycling ~98% of input, replacing destructive mining.
