Islands in the (dried up) stream

Despite the campaigns; despite COP-26; despite the talk; the stats aren't good. In fact, the quantities of hot air emitted around the world’s ‘blah, blah, blah’ conferences are probably adding to greenhouse gases rather than solving them. 

In 2021, the Amazon saw its worst rates of deforestation for 15 years: more than 13,000km2 of forest were lost; an area the size of the Bahamas. Deforestation affects rainfall, and in Southeastern Brazil has contributed to the most severe drought in 90 years.

As the water levels have fallen to critical levels in Jurumirim reservoir, the state of São Paulo found itself with an unexpected visitor: a newly appeared desert island with an activist on it.

But ecologist Guto Zorello, doesn’t want help getting off the island – he wants to take the island off the map. As part of AlmapBBDO's #AfundeEstaIlha project, he’s camping out on the 38,880m2 island in order to raise awareness of Brazil's water crisis and spur businesses to follow guidelines in the UN Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative.

Alongside the video, Sink This Island, directed by Cinza through Compañia, are digital activations; you can follow Zurello's daily routine on Jurumirim island on social media, at @gutozorello. There, he’ll post information about the consequences of this ongoing humanitarian crisis.