Chapter 3: Lifeline, A Water Storytelling Project

Giovanna and Oscarina share their luminous water story of freedom, sisterhood, and love for life in the Po Delta

We arrive at the Po Delta with the setting sun.

I am with my son, Henry and project manager, Marcella Ferrari. Silvio Testa and Luana Castelli, my very dear friends and Red Regatta collaborators, have sailed from Venice to meet us. Red Regatta’s filmmaker, Giovanni Pellegrini is meeting us here. Our collaboration continues with Lifeline and Luana has arranged a very special meeting at daybreak.

At 4am, we set out to meet Giovanna and Oscarina, members of the only all-female team in their local fishing consortium, who have offered to take us clamming in the Po Delta.

There is so much to say about that very memorable experience–the commitment to sustainability, the challenges of this job, navigating the ever-changing delta, and notably a very urgent threat to this area’s biodiversity–the invasive, quickly multiplying and highly destructive Blue Crab /“Granchio Blu”. In the time since our visit, only a matter of months, the situation has become dire.

But the water story in this video is the one that I carry in my heart and that I want to end the year with.

It was shared by Giovanna and Oscarina, sitting side by side on their small fishing boat on an unusually hot day. The sun was glinting brilliantly on their earrings and glittery nail polish (very unexpected details given this line of work), outshone only by the extraordinary light dancing in their eyes as they spoke about the passion they embody for their work and the freedom this highly unusual choice has afforded them. What a joy it is to hear them reflect on the profound sisterhood that has grown between them among the waters of the Po Delta, over the last 19 years. May we all follow our hearts, have the courage to create our paths, and celebrate each other, in love and light, the way they do.

This short video is an excerpt of my interview with Giovanna and Oscarina, filmed by Giovanni Pellegrini.

Giovanna and Oscarina prepare a very special breakfast aboard their fishing boat

Heartfelt thanks to Giovanna and Oscarina, Luana Castelli, Silvio Testa, Marcella Ferrari, Giovanni Pellegrini and to my son, Henry Quinn for their collaboration.

Wishes for peace and joy in 2024 for all and thank you again for being here with me,

XOMM