ONE OCEAN
ONE FIGHT
ONE FUTURE
Join climate champion Xiye Bastida on a journey
A tale of intertwined destinies between gray whales and humans, a pivotal campaign to save Laguna San Ignacio in Baja California, Mexico in the late ’90s, and a profound exploration of our world’s climate crisis.
Laguna San Ignacio is such a special natural place that it has been designated to be protected under four different Mexican laws. Yet in 1996, Mitsubishi and its Mexican Government partner proposed constructing a giant industrial saltworks on the shores of the lagoon.
Sparked by concerns of local fishermen, the initial efforts of a few scientists and environmental advocates quickly grew into a global campaign which reached millions of people – one of the very first to make full use of the new internet.
Through Xiye’s impassioned pursuit, witness the enthralling bond forged between people and majestic marine creatures, underscoring the urgent need to preserve nature’s sanctuaries for a sustainable future.
One most spectacular and landscapes on the planet
But this sacred nursery nearly vanished. A proposed multimillion-dollar industrial salt factory by the Mitsubishi Corporation and the Mexican government threatened its existence.
At the heart of the 1990s battle to save this haven was the legendary Mexican biologist and ecologist, Julia Carabias Lillo. What started with local fishermen’s fears and the voices of a few environmentalists exploded into a worldwide movement. With the emerging power of the internet, millions united in a fight that culminated in a mysterious, awe-inspiring encounter with a 30-ton whale—an event that swayed a nation’s president and stopped the world’s largest corporation in its tracks.
Twenty-Five years later, this story takes on new life. Julia Carabias passes this legacy to the next generation of environmental warriors. She presents this victory to Xiye Bastida, the new leader of youth environmentalism. Inspired by this tale, Xiye embarks on a majestic and unique journey, following the migratory path of the gray whales—from the California coast to the Washington coast, and up to the fragile Arctic waters of Alaska, where the whales feed.
As Xiye faces the frontline of the climate crisis, guided by Julia, the deep roots and connection with her Otomi – Toltec ancestors and leading scientists, she forges a profound bond with the gray whales, learning from their resilience. Their journey becomes her own.
This is not just a documentary—it is a call to action, a powerful legacy of hope passed from one generation to the next, in a race to protect our planet.