I’m just back from Tehuacán, Mexico where an entire region’s survival hangs by each liter of water. Beneath the dust plumes that cloud the sky north of town, families shepherd every drop to sustain themselves and their meager crops. The situation for subsistence farmers can be dire — many only grow enough to feed their families for six months of the year. Other times, they must buy their food, and often their drinking water as well. Water means much more than statistics of declining aquifers or the rediscovery of ancient solutions. It’s an axis issue that defines families, sustains or takes away loved ones, lifts or presses down upon poverty. Our team of Brent Stirton, Joseph Contreras, Dr. Scott Whiteford and Brian Robertshaw reported some exceptional stories. Our production team, 12-people strong, will prepare the piece in time to show March 20 in Mexico City.

It’s all systems go for our Circle of Blue pilot in Mexico. We’re all up to the a challenge — create exceptional, fresh, relevant reportage from the frontlines of the global freshwater crisis in time to present in Mexico City on March 20.