Pietro Consolandi, Christiane Bosman
The much-anticipated second edition of the Confluence of European Water Bodies took place from October 3rd to 6th, 2024, hosted by the stunning Venice Lagoon. This gathering brought together over 25 rivers, seas, lakes, glaciers, and lagoons from across Europe, all uniting to seek legal, political, and cultural recognition for their ecosystems. The Confluence was an inspiring showcase of collective action for the protection of Europe’s natural water bodies.
The inaugural Confluence, held in 2023 in the Mar Menor, marked a groundbreaking moment, as it was an unprecedented pilgrimage in which dozens of european water bodies celebrated their sisterhood with the Spanish lagoon, the first in Europe with a legal personhood. Following this historic event, the 2024 Confluence in Venice provided another platform for collaboration, education, and celebration of these critically important water bodies. The event was marked by a diverse and dynamic participation, including watery ecosystems such as the Akerselva, Baltic Sea, Dogger Bank, Drina, Genova Waters, Loire, Mar Menor, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Vistula, Venice Lagoon of course, and many more.
TUESDAY
Throughout the week, participants engaged in a variety of activities, including field trips, presentations, and artistic collaborations. On Tuesday, the group of the Campus “Mountains flow” traveled from Venice to visit the Piave River, a vital water body that is facing significant threats from the planned construction of an artificial expansion basin in the Grave Di Ciano area. This natural basin, home to unique biodiversity, has long been an important biological and cultural landmark for local communities. Despite its crucial role in regulating the river’s flow, the basin is now at risk due to ill-thought water management practices, driven by a backwards approach to climate adaptation. The visit sparked important discussions on how to mobilize citizens and support local activists in resisting the dam project, with important guidance on how to use available legal tools. Art and law were both leveraged to raise awareness and advocate for the protection of this ecologically significant area.
WEDNESDAY
In the following days, the Campus evolved organically into the Confluence, featuring several key presentations from prominent environmentalists, legal experts, and artists. Notable speakers included Neil Williams from the University of Southampton, representing the UK Rights of Nature network, and Massimiliano Montini of the University of Siena. Other influential voices included environmental lawyer Daniele Marra Arts4theCommons’ Rosa Jijon and Léa Corbière, the coordinator of the Global Alliance for Rights of Nature (GARN) European Hub. Their talks emphasized the growing importance of legal frameworks to protect water ecosystems and the power of community engagement in environmental advocacy.
THURSDAY
The Confluence came to its opening at the wonderful church of San Lorenzo, today re-opened as TBA21–Academy’s Ocean Space, through an opening ritual facilitated by Embassy of the North Sea’s Carolijn Terwindt and Maori elder Erena Rhose. Harpo ‘t Hart’s unique “Water Bodies Orchestra”, realised in collaboration with the Venice Climate Change Pavilion, also offered attendees a chance to listen to the sounds of these waters through bracelets, offering a multisensory connection to the ecosystems. The evening concluded with the projection of “I am the River, the River is Me”, connecting the European call for ecosystemic rights to the Maori’s trailblazing battle.
FRIDAY
On Friday, the Confluence spotlighted a series of presentations and panel discussions underscored the collective efforts made in conservation, reaffirming the value of shared experiences in the fight to preserve Europe’s diverse water ecosystems. The Confluence network structure, blending artistic practice and legal research and activism was mimicked in two panel discussions hosted by NICHE, the environmental humanities research center at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, see more details here.
SATURDAY
On Saturday morning, we met local activists from the Venice lagoon, who are fighting to ensure that the lagoon’s ecological interests are better taken into account. Hosted by activist group Poveglia per Tutti and enriched by the presence of the Mar Menor delegation, this was a key moment in which 15 associations from the Lagoon discussed the possibility of adopting rights of nature for the first time. A campaign following this first step is currently being developed.
This gathering was followed by a grief ritual facilitated by the Natural Contract Lab’s Maria Lucia Cruz Correia, in which Confluence members and local activist came together on the banks of the southern lagoon.
The evening of Saturday featured an artistic collaboration that combined creativity and activism. An installation by Jakob Kukula and Leon Lapa Pereira, the “Diplomatic Suitcase” traveled to Venice after being first realised on the Mar Menor. This collective ritual allowed participants to send samples of water from their respective water bodies to be represented at the event. The installation then traveled around Europe, spreading the message of water conservation.
SUNDAY
On Sunday morning, an assembly for the Piave river was held under the patronage of the International Tribunal for the Rights of Nature (GARN) in Ocean Space, gathering evidence and knowledge by the activists and experts we had met during the week.
The event reached its emotional climax with a symbolic ceremony – a “marriage” between water and humanity, held in the traditional Venetian style of the “Marriage of the Sea”. This ceremony,conveyed by artist Jessica Ullevålseter with the participation of local elder activist Tito Pamio as the groom, highlighted the essential bond between humans and water as a source of life. It was a powerful reminder that respect for water ecosystems, rather than domination, is key to ensuring their survival. All the water bodies present at the Confluence served as witnesses to this union, further underscoring the shared responsibility we all bear in protecting these vital natural resources. The marriage was also celebrated through the traditional march of the water bodies, with the beautiful scenography and rituality developed by Polish collective River Sisters.
The Water Bodies Confluence 2024 concluded with a deep sense of solidarity and renewed commitment to safeguarding Europe’s waterways. As participants left the muddy shores of the Venetian Lagoon, they carried with them a strengthened resolve to continue advocating for legal recognition, political action, and cultural respect for the world’s water bodies. The Confluence was not just a celebration, but a pivotal moment in the ongoing fight for earth justice.
To stay updated on future events and learn more about the participating water bodies, visit www.water-bodies.eu. The fight for our water ecosystems continues, and every voice counts.
