EPG/Short  Billing: 

The green transition is already happening—but for the species and ancient cultures atop the lithium fields, it threatens extinction rather than salvation.

Synopsis: 

Lithium is projected as a beacon of hope for renewable energy, but many communities are becoming ghost towns—paying a high price in the name of progress.

Some have no choice but to endure the consequences of lithium extraction. At the same time, scientists are working to understand its impact on the region’s fragile ecosystems. 

Like those vanishing cultures, the flamingos are also disappearing. This area is home to three of the world’s six flamingo species, but lithium mining threatens their survival. Diverting water for extraction risks turning once-thriving lakes into hostile environments. As essential microorganisms die off, the birds may be forced to migrate—or starve. If the trend continues, they may share the same fate as the people who once lived in harmony with these waters—displaced, diminished, and ultimately erased.

This project aims to reveal the diverse, often unseen stories that shape one of the planet’s most valuable regions, while shedding light on the complex trade-offs behind what powers our modern green society.