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Embrace the water
at the subject by recreating Homer’s face as a micropainting portrait on a Calasparra rice grain. This tiny masterpiece, an ode to Homer’s culinary experiment has become a coveted collector’s item. Disney+ said on their social media ‘The Simpsons are great with their predictions, but with paella.... Of course, they have very good taste when it comes to choosing the rice. Because they’ll throw in everything that a paella doesn’t have, but the rice always comes from Calasparra. Thank you, Homer, for your attempt at the homage, here is ours.’
The viral video showcasing artist Hasan Kale creating the micro painting delighted viewers, particularly his signoff quip ‘No chorizo!’
Catherine McGeer
‘MAR MENOR ALIVE’ rang out throughout various corners of Murcia as over 150 groups and individuals united in a unique demonstration of solidarity and environmental consciousness. This powerful initiative, known as ‘Abrazo al agua’ or ‘Embrace the water’, marked its third consecutive year with a profound message: to shed light on the alarming state of the Mar Menor, the saltwater lagoon and other threatened aquatic ecosystems.
Led by organisations such as Abracemos el Mar Menor and Stop Ganadería Industrial, participants formed human chains encircling the Mar Menor and diverse water bodies across the country.
From the Tablas de Daimiel in Ciudad Real to the fountain of Neptune in Madrid, these interconnected demonstrations resonated with a shared concern for water conservation and protection.
Jesús Cutillas, the spokesperson for the Abrazo al Agua initiative, highlighted the expanding social engagement and emphasised that safeguarding water resources is not merely a passing trend. He underscored the urgency of nurturing aquatic ecosystems, citing examples of regions where water scarcity is becoming a reality.
The dire state of the Mar Menor, exacerbated by agricultural pollution, prompted this collective response. The event brought together a diverse coalition of groups including Greenpeace, Ecologists in Action, and SEO Birdlife, all committed to raising awareness about the fragility of these ecosystems.
