WHAT IS “MARE NOSTRUM” ABOUT?

“Mare Nostrum” was first a song written and composed by Jorge da Rocha. He wanted to relate the tragedy that has been going on the Mediterranean sea for too long, where people trying to escape the horrors of war have to face the risk of death in the water, while European governments not only refuse to help but even obstruct the NGOs trying to do so.

The compelling situation and the compelling song made me create an illustrated album. We had two goals with that collaboration: fist of all, try to make society aware of the ongoing situation, ongoing even when it does not make the front page of the papers. And secondly, we wanted to use it to collect money for non profit organizations such as Proactiva Open Arms, who is actively working every day saving people’s lifes in the water. So, all the benefits raised by the song and by the illustrated album will be donated in full to this NGO.

WHERE ARE WE AND WHAT DO WE NEED?

At the present moment we are trying to make a second recording of the song that would involve more musicians and also a refugee choir based in Barcelona. Alina Vega and Alba Comella are two dancers who are also working on a choreography for the song.

Regarding the illustrated album, we would like to get the lyrics translated into as many languages as possible, so we can reach as many people as possible, so we can make as many people as possible aware of what is going on. Speaking their language is a way to help them relate to this situation.

So far, we have the lyrics translated into Catalan, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Greek, Arabic, Russian, Italian, Dutch, Euskera, Turkish, Polish and Hungarian. This has been possible thanks to: Jordi Muñoz, Elisabet Alguacil, Joao Duarte, Camille Parveau, Leila Asfour, Maggie Husseini, Dimitri Sierra, Nicole Moller, Johan Geert Ansink, Ugaitz Zalakain, Elif Burgaz, Magdalena Kaczala, Nóra Kedves and Jorge da Rocha.

We would love to add more languages to the project. Could you help us? We would like to reach at least the ones which are spoken in Europe due to the fact that it is the continent where this tragedy takes place, but we are open to include all languages from all over the world. The more the better, the more the merrier.

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

Please, contact me at martacastroillustration@gmail.com if you would like to be part of this voluntary work.

Another way to help us is just sharing this post 🙂

THANK YOU A LOT IN ADVANCE! <3