Many people have asked why we should tackle the issue of the transposition of the São Francisco, a river so far away from us in Belo Horizonte, and not choose to work on the problem of the Rio das Velhas. The answer is simple. Firstly, I grew up with the São Francisco river as a means of entertainment, fishing and a 'big pond' to swim in. It was my childhood reference. Since that time, I could already see that the 'Old Chico' was no longer the same. The waters of that immense river no longer overflowed, the drought was constant and the fish were no longer numerous and large. Something was and is happening. The river is being degraded by and for the benefit of man. And now they want to cross it.