An artistic protest by Beatriz Padilla — 21 days of Fasting and Painting, a Hunger Strike in Protest Against the Saguaro Project
"Voices of the Ocean" Combines Art and Science to Protect Marine Ecosystems
I am Beatriz Padilla, a wilderness painter, and I’m about to embark on an artistic demonstration: Voices of the Ocean.
For 21 days, I will be camping in the Aquarium of the World, where I’ll paint the song of the whales while fasting. This hunger strike is a protest against the invasion of our land, the extermination of our wildlife, the annihilation that the Saguaro Energy Project will bring to the Aquarium of the World. They plan to build a maritime route to export tons of gas through the entire Sea of Cortez.
Those interested in supporting this cause can:
Provide financial support to those involved — we are making this journey for nature and with our own resources. We have a GoFundMe account.
https://gofund.me/37f468ff
Follow and share the “Whales or Gas” campaign.
https://whalesorgas.org/
Sign and share the Avaaz petition calling for presidential action.
https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/mexico_whales_and_tankers_1_3/
I have dedicated my life to environmental causes and have painted in situ in threatened and protected wilderness areas during 33 expeditions — from Tierra del Fuego to the Caribbean and the United States, and from Europe to central and southern Africa. Now it is time to protest through an unprecedented artistic and scientific action to raise awareness about the conservation of whales and marine ecosystems threatened by industrial development.
No Mexican should allow this project to go forward. I will be sharing updates from my journey, but also information about why we must all stand against this invasion of our natural world and our freedom. This is a project that will bring nothing good — not for Mexico, not for the world — only the death of our marine life.
This is more than an artistic project: it is an urgent call to action. By combining art and science, we can reach audiences in ways that scientific data alone cannot.
"Art has the power to touch hearts and inspire action in ways that can truly make a difference."
Beatriz Padilla | Visual Artist and Environmentalist