The Great Amnesia: Giants of the Earth
The situation
The Great Amnesia — a concept coined by our founder, Isidora J. Ramírez Garmendia — describes how we forget that everything is interconnected. This amnesia blinds us to the fact that every mountain, glacier, volcano and dune is vital; that every human action carries consequences; and that the way we live today, immersed in a predatory capitalist system, directly impacts these ecosystems.
Glaciers, dunes and volcanoes appear fragile, but the Earth has existed for 4.5 billion years; countless species have emerged and disappeared, and the planet has always survived. The real question is: will we? Every act of consumption, every choice about how we inhabit and use resources leaves a footprint, and it is our responsibility to acknowledge it.
Protecting these giants means changing our relationship with the Earth, learning from harmonious models of coexistence, and taking individual and collective responsibility so these natural wonders continue to exist for future generations.
What we are doing
At WTTW, committed to defending Pachamama, we propose a photography and documentary project exploring Chile's natural walls — glaciers, dunes and volcanoes. Alongside them we highlight three concrete initiatives showing sustainable ways of living: indigenous practices (Mapuche Williche), permaculture (La Minga Alegre), and regenerative agriculture (Agrícola Los Ulmos). This living documentary features local voices and guardians of the land.
Key actions include the documentary "The Great Amnesia"; supporting local initiatives; educational outreach through screenings and environmental workshops in schools across Patagonia; exposing how mining, climate change and glacier retreat affect communities; revealing ecological interconnections such as glaciers and dunes as water reservoirs, Saharan dust as a natural fertiliser for the Amazon, and volcanoes as regulators of local climates; and influencing environmental regulation by providing the documentary as a policy tool.
How can you help? We need USD 25,000 to produce the documentary, organise logistics and amplify its impact. You can volunteer with local initiatives like La Minga Alegre, support projects such as Agrícola Los Ulmos by buying their regenerative-agriculture products, provide audiovisual equipment, assist on location by connecting us with local guides, and raise awareness by sharing the story.