Voices

During the Atacama Desert leg of the 7 Deserts Run, we met Hugo Cortez, a local from Chañaral, Chile. Hugo has been collecting water from the fog by building a series of nets high up in the hills overlooking his town. He now collects almost 500 liters of water daily from the Pacific-borne sea fog.

“I hope people can see this, and realise that this works,” Hugo said, reflecting on the success of his fog-catching project.

“We have been water producers since 2001,” he shared, demonstrating how simple interventions can make a big difference. His efforts have enabled the community to grow vegetables, farm fish, and thrive in this arid region.

As part of the Run Blue 200 Marathons expedition, we met Ali Shaddinov, a fisherman who once worked along the Aral Sea in Uzbekistan.

"First the sea left the people, then the people left the sea," Ali shared, reflecting on the loss of the sea that once defined his life. He recalled the days when he could smell the sea from his home and caught his first fish. "When I went fishing for the first time, I looked in my net and saw a very big fish. I shouted to my brother, ‘I caught my first fish!’"

Ali's last catch was in the late 1970s, and his words paint a vivid picture of the devastation: "The last time I caught a fish in the Aral Sea was in 1976/1977."

During the #RunningDry expedition, we met the inspiring Aabid Surti, a tireless water advocate and the founder of the Drop Dead Foundation in Mumbai. Aabid’s NGO provides a free plumbing service to repair leaking faucets and prevent water wastage in his community.

"I grew up on the pavement. When you live on the pavement, you have to fight for every bucket of water. Those fights for water remained with me,” Aabid shared, explaining his deep connection to the issue.

Aabid’s efforts have saved around 20 million liters of water by fixing leaks, and he urges others to join the movement. His motto is simple: “Save every drop or drop dead.”

While crossing the Arabian Desert in Jordan as part of the 7 Deserts Run, we met Yousef Hasanat, a local guide who shared a sobering perspective on the future of water.

“The next world war won’t be fought over terrorism or oil, but over water,” Yousef warned, adding, “Maybe not in my lifetime, but definitely in my children’s. They will become the first water refugees.”

As one of the most water-scarce countries in the world, Jordan’s pink sands and Biblical cliffs provided the backdrop for this stark reminder of the growing water crisis. Yousef’s words, spoken while he brewed tea under the only tree for miles, remain a powerful call to action.

In Samburu County, we witnessed the devastating impact of a more than five-year drought. Amid this harsh reality, we met Ntanipi Lemasulani, a local who shared her heartbreaking story.

“The rains used to be predictable, but now it is totally unpredictable, and the catchment areas have degraded, so we have to walk very far to get water,” she explained. “I went to the wells, which are very far, to fetch water and left the young children to watch my baby. The children fell asleep, and my son, who had just started crawling, went to look for me and fell into the fire.”

Ntanipi’s story is a tragic reminder of how water scarcity disrupts lives in unimaginable ways.

In the Richtersveld Desert during the 7 Deserts Run, we met Pieter van Wyk, a Conservation Manager who has identified dozens of new plant and insect species.

“Our biggest problem is that we don’t include ourselves in nature. We exclude ourselves as something different from nature and we’re not. We’re part of nature,” Pieter explained. “That’s the loss of us as humans—we’re missing the joy of what it should be like to live on earth.”

Pieter also highlighted the challenges facing the Orange River, South Africa’s largest river, which has been reduced to a fraction of its former flow due to overuse.

While on the 7 Deserts Run, we met Juan Jose, an olive farmer from Almería in Spain’s Tabernas Desert. Juan shared the challenges of farming in one of Europe’s driest regions: “We don’t have water. We are losing everything and so we need to extract more water.”

Water means “el todo” – everything. For Juan Jose, his small olive farm depends entirely on water from the local well to sustain his trees. “Without this farm, I don’t have anything,” he said. His dream is to pass this land on to his daughter, but ongoing water scarcity threatens his livelihood and future.

Juan Jose’s story highlights how the lack of water doesn’t just impact crops; it affects entire generations and their ability to sustain their way of life.

At the start of the Seine River Run, we met Marie-Jeanne and Jacques, the devoted guardians of the Seine’s source. They visit the springs daily to monitor its worryingly low water levels, a stark reminder of how climate change is threatening even the river’s most pristine point.

Yet their story is one of hope. Marie-Jeanne and Jacques embody the power of community responsibility and unwavering commitment to protecting our waterways.

Their dedication reminds us that if we all valued rivers as they do, we could create a healthier, more sustainable future for our planet.

During #RunningDry, we met Gopal, a 65-year-old farmer from Mehgras, India.

Water scarcity in this region is so severe that despite owning his land, Gopal can’t afford to farm it. Without enough water to irrigate his land, Gopal has to work for other farmers just to make ends meet.

Gopal’s story highlights the harsh reality of water scarcity and how it prevents people from using their own resources to support their livelihoods. Access to water is essential—not only for survival but for sustaining livelihoods and communities.

On our #RunningDry journey, we met Christian, a 24-year-old farmer from Beaufort West. Facing the worst drought of his family’s life, Christian said, “Mina, what hope do I have? Pray for rain, or leave my farm?”

In Beaufort West, the taps had run dry, and the town was facing a severe water crisis. “The water crisis is not in the future. It’s here and now,” Mina shared during her 56th marathon in the town. Gamka Dam, which usually supplies 16% of Beaufort West’s water, had been dry for 13 months.

Christian’s story is a stark reminder of the realities of water scarcity and the resilience of communities facing these challenges.

In Machakos County, we met Virginia, a small-scale farmer whose life has been transformed by access to water. During the #RunBlue campaign, we visited Water.org’s initiative in Kenya, where small loans are provided to community members for water storage solutions. Virginia is one of its many beneficiaries.

“Before I got these tanks, my business was down,” she shared. “But through these tanks, through farming, it has enabled me to improve because I plant plants. They help me, I sell them. My business now is growing. These tanks are helping me because I’m getting money through these crops. I sell, I pay school fees. They make my life better than before.”

Virginia’s story illustrates how water access can uplift communities, offering stability, opportunity, and hope for a brighter future.

While on the #RunningDry expedition, we met Li Wei, a man dedicated to cleaning the Yangtze River.

Every day, Li Wei can be found by the river, scooping scraps of garbage from the water with a sieve-like contraption. As he says, "I dream of a river that my children can swim in and drink from, just as I did as a child."

Li Wei’s commitment to protecting the Yangtze is a powerful example of how individuals can make a difference. Despite the river’s pollution, Li Wei remains hopeful, inspired by the changes already taking place. Thanks to the efforts of people like him, and effective policies by China’s government, the Yangtze is gradually becoming cleaner.

In India we met we met 16-year-old Mahya, a young girl who fetches water from a communal well 2km away every day. Her family can’t afford to buy water from tankers, so she makes this long daily journey instead.

In many parts of India, it’s the custom for women to carry the water, often making long treks to wells and carrying heavy pots that hold just 10 to 15 liters, weighing up to 15kg. Mahya’s resilience and infectious smile stood out and it reminded us of why we do this – to change the reality for people like her.

Around the world, women and girls spend an estimated 200 million hours every day collecting water.

On the #RunBlue journey, we had the privilege of meeting Andrew Watson, an Australian cotton farmer. We visited his farm near Narrabri, NSW, a shining example of water efficiency in Australian agriculture.

Since 1991, Australian cotton has led the way in environmental performance, becoming the first agricultural industry to benchmark its water use. Thanks to continuous investment in research and development, Australian cotton is now the most water-efficient and highest-quality cotton in the world.

Andrew’s farm is a testament to the impact of innovation and dedication, and it was incredible to witness this water success story firsthand.

During the Seine River Run, Vincent took us out on the water as we swapped running shoes for paddles and explored the Seine together. Born and raised near Paris, Vincent calls the Seine his “childhood playground” and has spent over 60 years along its banks.

Vincent and the kayaking community work tirelessly to keep the river clean, managing rubbish traps, collecting plastic waste, and even using kids’ stockings to examine microplastics. He shared that Paris’s clean-up efforts have led to a significant drop in plastic pollution, giving hope for a healthier Seine.

Vincent’s passion for the river is infectious, reminding us that protecting our waterways takes effort from all of us. Together, we can achieve healthy, restored rivers worldwide.

While visiting Lake Naivasha during the #RunBlue campaign, we met Chris Ochieng, a dedicated tour guide and conservationist. Chris spoke passionately about the vital role the lake plays in the region’s ecosystem and livelihoods.

“Lake Naivasha is a backbone that every part of life around Lake Naivasha hinges on. It’s very hard to imagine doing anything without mentioning Lake Naivasha. It’s like it plays in your life in every way,” Chris shared. Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic, saying, “I think Lake Naivasha’s future is very good. This is what keeps life here. They need to sustain it.”

Chris’s words are a reminder of the importance of protecting the interconnected ecosystems that sustain life and communities.

In Turkiye’s Konya Region we met Mustafa Acar, a farmer whose land has been directly affected by the region’s worsening water crisis. As part of the #RunBlue campaign, we visited this area where over-extraction of groundwater is causing sinkholes to form at an alarming rate. Mustafa’s story is one of resilience, but also deep concern for the future.

“We farm livestock and agriculture, so water is very important to us. We know that the shortage of water is a danger, and we are especially worried about our children and future generations. There are new sinkholes every year, and we feel there will be more. We spoke to experts who said this is caused by the overuse of water.”

Mustafa’s experience highlights the urgent need to manage water sustainably, not just for today, but for the future of communities who rely on it for their livelihoods.

At Lake Powell in Arizona, we met Noble, a boatkeeper who has lived near the lake since 1970. As part of #RunBlue, we visited to witness firsthand the alarming state of this critical piece of American infrastructure, which experts warn could reach deadpool levels. Noble’s memories painted a vivid picture of how much the lake has changed.

“I remember the spillways; they had to let water out at the spillways. It’s sort of sad seeing where the lake used to be and where it’s at now. I used to water ski around Lone Rock, all the way around it. And if you look real carefully, you’ll see the bathtub ring that was the level of the lake at that time.”

Noble’s reflections underscore the dramatic impact of declining water levels at Lake Powell — a stark reminder of the urgency to address water scarcity in the face of climate change.