2. Become a Sponsor:
Increase awareness around one of the world’s most precious resources
and the challenges surrounding seven vitally important rivers.
Water is a precious resource and its value will constantly increase as time passes. Unfortunately, many
of the world rivers face daunting challenges and many countries are fighting over water rich territories.
Most conflicts and water issues involve Transboundary Rivers.
In an effort to increase awareness of these global water issues, photographer Franck Vogel has created
a multi-faceted photography project focusing on seven major rivers, each with its own specific set of
problems. He started investigating on the Nile and its controversial Millennium Dam project in 2012. He
then continued with features on the Brahmaputra in 2013, followed by the Colorado and the Jordan in
2015. The next expeditions will take place on the Mekong, the Amazon and the Ganges.
The images will be displayed in exhibitions, magazines and websites ; featured in lectures given by
Franck Vogel, and published in books, including a two-volume set to be released in 2016 and 2018.
TRANSBOUNDARY RIVERS
Conflicts and Water Issues
BY FRANCKVOGEL
Photojournalist and Green Cross Ambassador
NilE
BrahmaputrA
Colorado
Jourdan
Mekong
AMAZON
GangES
TRANSBOUNDARY
RIVERSLES FLEUVES FRONTIERES
3. 1. The Nile, longest river in Africa, has suffered a major water war between South and North Sudan and a new Ethiopian
dam will only increase tensions in the region.
2. The Brahmaputra - With little concern for environmental risks, China and India have engaged in a race to build
hydroelectric dams on the Brahmaputra and its tributaries in efforts to generate ever greater amounts of electricity.
3.The Colorado is the vital artery of the American Southwest but is also the only river in the world that no longer flows
into the ocean.
4. The Jordan has almost disappeared in recent years. Most of the water is diverted to irrigate agricultural land and
supply Israeli cities. Few rivers have given rise to conflicts like the Jordan.
5. The Mekong is increasingly becoming an issue for the countries it flows through due to the controversial proposal
to construct nearly 30 dams, which would strongly affect fish migration and nurseries in Cambodia.
6. The Ganges is India’s most sacred river but also the most polluted. Millions of Hindus live from its water, bathing in
it, drinking it and finishing their lives on the riverbanks in Varanasi. At the same time companies continue to dump their
industrial waste into it.
7.The Amazon - The Xingu River National Park in the Amazon was created to protect the natural habitat of the 14 tribes
but local farmers are actively resisting the government’s efforts and in their continuous search for more exploitable land.
FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
Featured Rivers
TRANSBOUNDARY
RIVERSLES FLEUVES FRONTIERES
Franck Vogel’s“Transboundary Rivers”features seven of the world’s most important rivers and the issues affecting them.
4. Franck Vogel works as a freelance photojournalist specializing in social and environmental issues for the internatio-
nal press (Paris Match, GEO, Stern, Le Monde diplomatique, NRC Weekblad, Animan, VSD, Discovery).
Since 2007, he has focused on the unique relationship between Man & Nature in an effort to illustrate that it’s
possible to live in harmony. In a world where the media only reports negative stories, Franck has decided to bring
hope. For example, his epic work about the Bishnoi community in India tells the story of some of the world’s first en-
vironmentalists. This work has been published all over the globe, including in GEO magazine’s special 30th anniver-
sary issue in 2009, as well as photos showcased in Parisian Metro stations in 2011 and 2012 (15 million visitors / first
exhibition in France produced with eco-friendly vinyl and inks). In order to reach a wider audience, Franck
Vogel wrote and co-directed a documentary film entitled, Rajasthan, l’âme d’un prophète (The Bishnois, India’s
Eco-Warriors), which was broadcast June 11th 2011 on French TV. The film was awarded the Phoenix d’Or 2011 and
the 2013 Terre Sauvage Prize.
His recent work to denounce the Albino killings in Tanzania has been featured in magazines and exhibited
around the world (Rencontres d’Arles, Visa pour l’Image, Pingyao Photo Festival in China), and his book on Albinos
released in 2012 (Michel Lafon Publishing). His latest book Zeru, Zeru is available on blurb.com
FranckVogel is currently focusing on global transboundary water conflicts and has completed stories on the Nile, the
Brahmaputra and the Colorado. Articles were subsequently published by GEO, Stern and Le Monde diplomatique,
and featured in lectures Vogel gave at Columbia University in partnership with the Earth Institute.
On October 4th, 2013, to reward his tireless efforts to promote the Bishnoi culture, Franck Vogel received the
highest honors from Bishnoi religious and political leaders at a ceremony at the Mukam Festival (India) attended by
thousands of pilgrims.
Since 2011, Franck has been an ambassador for Green Cross, Mikhaïl Gorbatchev’s NGO for the environment.
FRANCKVOGEL
PHOTOJOURNALIST
WWW.FRANCKVOGEL.COM
FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
TRANSBOUNDARY
RIVERSLES FLEUVES FRONTIERES
5. FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
TRANSBOUNDARY
RIVERSLES FLEUVES FRONTIERES
Benefits include:
- Prominent exposure on Transboundary Rivers website, including sponsor page detailing company and reasons for involvement
- Logo inclusion on all Transboundary Rivers printed materials
- Logo inclusion in all online materials and video clips
- Exposure on all Transboundary Rivers social media channels
- 20 select photos from each expedition for use in PR & Marketing
- 1 royalty free photo to be used for adverstising (press, subway, outdoor, TV)
- 1 in-house exhibition and 2 event presentations (per year) by Franck for your company and employees
- Prominent exposure of company logo at exhibitions and conferences
- 1 photo workshop with Franck (10-20 employees)
- Opportunity to do an“incentive”trip with Franck on a selected river
- 20 signed prints per river (7,9”x11,8”on Fine Art paper - 140 prints in total) for your partners, clients or journalists.
- Company logo or banner at all Transboundary Rivers’events worldwide
Special Benefits Associated with the Book Releases
A two-volume book set TRANSBOUNDARY RIVERS will be published by Editions de la Martinière (Sept 2016 and 2018)
- Logo inclusion on the back cover or inside the book
- Quote by the Company’s CEO in the opening pages of the book
- 500 copies for your best clients, top executives, employees and selected journalists
- Invitation to speak at the official press conference
- Opportunity to organize a corporate book launch party
Sponsor Benefits & Budget - $350k
Joining Transboundary Rivers at the $350,000 level gives you title sponsorship in the project. You will maximize your company’s
visibility across all Transboundary Rivers media and partner channels, and be an instrumental part of changing our world.
6. FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
TRANSBOUNDARY
RIVERSLES FLEUVES FRONTIERES
Benefits include:
- Logo on Transboundary Rivers website
- Logo inclusion on Transboundary Rivers printed materials
- Logo inclusion on online materials
- Exposure on Transboundary Rivers social media channels
- 5 select photos from each expedition for use in PR & Marketing
- 1 event presentation by Franck for your company and employees
- Logo at exhibitions and conferences
- 5 signed prints per river (7,9”x11,8”on Fine Art paper - 35 prints in total) for your partners, clients or journalists
- Company logo at Transboundary Rivers’events
Special Benefits Associated with the Books Releases
A two-volume book set TRANSBOUNDARY RIVERS will be published by Editions de la Martinière (Sept 2016 and 2018)
- 100 copies for your best clients, top executives, employees and selected journalists
- Invitation to attend the official press conference
- Opportunity to organize a corporate book launch party
Sponsor Benefits & Budget - $100k
Joining Transboundary Rivers at the $100,000 level gives you a high degree of exposure in this influential project.
8. FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
Ethiopia – Each Epiphany morning,
Lake Tana’s water is consecrated
by a priest and sprinkled over the
crowd. Some pilgrims wade into the
lake to symbolize their baptism.
From the series Nile Water Access, Another War
9. FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
Ethiopia - Since 2005, when the hydroelectric dam on
the Gibe River was completed, Abdou has seen the
water rise and flood his village and crops, but has to
date received no state compensation.
From the series Nile Water Access, Another War
10. From the series Nile Water Access, Another War
FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
South Sudan - This machine
symbolizes the beginning of 25
years of civil war that led to the
birth of South Sudan in July 2011.
It dug the Jonglei Canal that would
dry out the region.
11. From the series Nile Water Access, Another War
FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
South Sudan - Mondare fisher-
men near Terekeka. The White
Nile is plentiful in fish and it’s
easy to feed their families and
earn some money.
12. From the series Nile Water Access, Another War
FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
South Sudan - Mondare boys and
girls light fires of cow dung that will
give off a white smoke all night and
therefore repel mosquitoes from
the camp and cows.
13. From the series The Brahmaputra, New Indo-Chinese Hydroelectric Dam War
FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
Aerial view near the city of Jorhat, Assam,
India. The Brahmaputra River is 1800 miles long
and starts its journey high in the Himalayas near
Mt Kailash in Tibet. Before crossing the Indian
border, it changes to rapids – falling over 6500ft
in 125 miles - and continues into India, passing
the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, be-
fore reaching Bangladesh and the Indian Ocean.
14. From the series The Brahmaputra, New Indo-Chinese Hydroelectric Dam War
FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
35-year old Dulen Mili is fishing with a
traditional net near Modarguri village.
The net is oriented to catch fish going
upstream. Two families own the net: Mili
fishes in the morning, while Mungal Singh
Noro (42) takes his turn in the evening.
Each gets about 5-10 kg/day ($15-30).
15. From the series The Brahmaputra, New Indo-Chinese Hydroelectric Dam War
FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
Near Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh, collecting
stones in the Brahmaputra riverbed is a good
source of income along with fishing and wood
collecting. With the Lower Siang Hydro Power
Dam Project planned up North they risk losing
up to 30% of their income.
16. From the series The Brahmaputra, New Indo-Chinese Hydroelectric Dam War
FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
The Subansiri dam is still under construction near Dulumu in Arunachal
Pradesh. The Galung village tribe has been corrupted by money, opium and
alcohol. Bhai Chatradhar (34), activist and head of a local NGO, organized
protests and road blocks in Sept 2011 and managed to stop the
construction. NHPC, the main contractor, is working with Suma and French
companies and banned public access to the site when they started in 2004.
17. From the series The Brahmaputra, New Indo-Chinese Hydroelectric Dam War
FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
Since the age of 10, these friends
have been collecting wood from the
Subansiri River during the summer
season. Since the dam was built, they
obtain about 60% less wood. Today,
it takes four to six days to fill a truck
but before the dam’s construction it
took only two. They sell it in North
Lakhimpur and earn 6000Rs ($100).
18. From the series The Brahmaputra, New Indo-Chinese Hydroelectric Dam War
FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
Yanur Hussein fishes on the
Subansiri River to feed his
family but he fears the constant
erosion his village is suffering. In
2005, the government brought
in iron and cement structures,
planned to help stop erosion,
but they are not very successful.
19. From the series The Colorado, The River That Doesn’t Reach The Ocean
FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
Sunset on the Colorado River at the
end of the Grand Canyon near the
Navajo Bridge, Arizona. According to
scientists it took the Colorado River
about 20 million years to create the
Grand Canyon.
20. From the series The Colorado, The River That Doesn’t Reach The Ocean
FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
For about 10 years, Lake Powell has received less water
and thus we can now see white marks which the Navajo
call “bathtub marks”. In January 2013 we saw the lowest
inflow of water in history. Glen Canyon Dam generates
1,3m kW, providing power to several million people. De-
pending on how much water they release to generate
electricity, the Colorado River’s level fluctuates more than
1 foot a day.
21. From the series The Colorado, The River That Doesn’t Reach The Ocean
FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
Huge amounts of alfalfa are produced in the
Imperial Valley, an irrigated desert south of
California, most of which is shipped to Asia.
This plant needs an immense amount of
water in order to grow. Farmers prefer to
use all their water by growing plants that
use enormous amounts of water instead of
losing their water rights.
22. From the series The Colorado, The River That Doesn’t Reach The Ocean
FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
Brandt Cattle and Co. is a family owned busi-
ness operating since 1945 and the largest
cattle farm in the Imperial Valley (California).
The farm is 2 miles long and half a mile wide
and has over 90,000 cows bred for meat. Like
the other farmers they use 90% of the Colorado
River’s water. They get it from the All-American
Canal that runs the Colorado dry at the Mexican
border.
23. From the series The Colorado, The River That Doesn’t Reach The Ocean
FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
In Teesto, a Navajo Reservation in Arizona, Virgil
Nez is sad to see his land getting drier every year
and the water pipe project that should bring wa-
ter from the Colorado River continuously being
postponed. There is ever more sand, dunes are
shifting and roads disappearing. He is trying to
plant desert shrubs to stop the progression of the
dunes but it’s a futile effort.
24. From the series The Colorado, The River That Doesn’t Reach The Ocean
FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
Colorado River Delta, Mexico. 10 years ago
the Colorado River stopped crossing the
Mexican border. The river no longer flows
through its delta and is prevented from
reaching the sea.
25. FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
Press Coverage To Date
Featured press highlights:
- Colorado: GEO magazine (18 pages) December 2015
- Brahmaputra: GEO magazine (16 pages) February 2015
- Nile: GEO magazine, Le Monde diplomatique, Stern...
The four other rivers stories will be completed by December 2017.
TRANSBOUNDARY
RIVERSLES FLEUVES FRONTIERES
26. The aim of this photographic project is to bear witness to a changing world in which Humans can transform their
destiny by preserving their most precious element: Water. The book, exhibitions and publications will serve as an
essential eye-opener in creating awareness. This is my project.”
Franck Vogel
FRANCKVOGEL PHOTOJOURNALIST
“Humanity can live without oil, but without water nothing can exist...
TRANSBOUNDARY
RIVERSLES FLEUVES FRONTIERES
