Losing Everything

 I wonder what kind of person I'd be if I had something life changing happen to me.  What would I be like if everything that I held close to me was gone in an instant?  In 1994, around 25,000 refugees were transported at the refugee camp of Turanj.  They were in an abandoned town where they had sheets covering the windows and had to struggle through a very cold winter.  This "city" they were living is heavily mined and many people, mostly children, were severely injured due to the mines exploding.  This would be really hard because these people had no control over the mining yet they were the ones that were strongly affected by the explosion.

Everyone in the world is greatly effected by things every day that they have no control over, yet they have to suffer the consequences.  Whether it be from war, natural disasters, or just something simple like a car accident, the consequences can change anyone's way of life.  Since we've all been effected by them in one way or another, we should feel obligated to help.  We are so blessed that we haven't had anything major happen in this area for quite a while.  We should share all we've been blessed with to help those that need help.  Yesterday, I was doing homework and there was a knock on our door.  It was some people that were going around finding ways to serve.  They were willing to do anything.  It felt so good to know that someone cared and was willing to help.  Are you?

Photograph: Photograph: Salgado, Sebastiao. Migrations: Humanity in Transition.  New York: Aperture, 2000.

Photo District News. "Migrations: Humanity in Transition." Web. 1999

Running for Freedom

Here is a photo from Salgado's book Migrations.  It's of the border between the United States and Tijuana.  This wall goes for about 2,000 miles hoping to keep immigrants out.  Occasionally, some people are able to climb over the wall and are usually caught by border patrol.  In this picture, you can see a person laying on the ground like they are so tired.  They have probably been waiting so long to be able to climb over the wall and be free.  I can't imagine the fear that they would have.  Fear of getting caught and possibly put in jail.  They risk everything just for the slight possibility of not getting caught and having a chance to start their life over.  It's estimated that over one million migrants, that are undocumented, slip over the wall and it's also estimated that 1 in 4 immigrants are caught by border control (Global Security).  It makes me sad to think that it's gotten to the point that we have to build a wall to keep illegal immigrants out.  I can't imagine always having that small string of hope that one day, if I could just get over that wall, my life would be better.  They are willing to risk everything that they have and about 25% of the migrants, get caught (global security).  I think that this photo shows the emotions that they have.  I don't know details about this man, or his circumstances but it looks like he's probably lost all hope.  I wonder what I would do in his situation.  I don't know if I'd be willing to risk everything I have.  I'm so lucky that I don't have to because of all I'm blessed with.  Everyday we all take for granted the little things in our life and many people all over the world will never have.  It makes you think twice about complaining about your apartment being too messy or cold.  At least I have an apartment and I'm so fortunate to have the life I have.  Putting myself in their situation has made me think twice about my life and the things that I have the most people probably only dream about.  With the recent events in Haiti, I've thought more about my life and how I can help people that are less fortunate than me.  I don't have much to give but I know that the little opportunities that I do have to help, I should take advantage of.  I'm so blessed and I should share all I'm blessed with, with everyone that I possibly can. 

Photograph: Salgado, Sebastiao. Migrations: Humanity in Transition.  New York: Aperture, 2000.

"US-Mexico Border Fence/The Great Wall of Mexico."  Global Security.  global security.org.  2006.

Migrations-Sabastiao Salgado Photographs

This blog will be a place that I post about photographs taken by Sebastiao Salgado and a little about each picture. 

Sebastiao Salgado is from Brazil and is a social documentary photographer and photojournalist.  He went on a mission to Africa for the International Coffee Organization and this is where he began to start taking photographs.  He first starting taking pictures for news assignments and then started to do more documentary type photographs.  He has many books of his work and the one that I’m going to be talking about in this blog is his book Migrations.  Salgado said, "I hope that the person who visits my exhibitions, and the person who comes out, are not quite the same.  I believe that the average person can help a lot, not by giving material goods but by participating, by being part of the discussion, by being truly concerned about what is going on in the world"  Salgado didn't take the pictures because he thought they looked good or it was a good shot.  He took the pictures for everyone else to make them aware of the circumstances of people that aren't in our communities, in our neighborhoods, in our every day lives.  He wanted us to realize that there are people that are less fortunate than me and you and there are things that we can and need to do to help them.  They say a pictures is worth a thousand words, and they are right.

This picture is a orthopedic clinic in Kabul, Afghanistan.  When I look at it, I have many different thoughts going through my head.  As I look at the women helping the young child, I can help but notice and feel the care that she has for this child and that she's helping them do something that they can't do for themselves.  I don't know the relation of the women to the child, but no matter what it is, you can tell that she genuinely cares and wants to help the child. 

Salgado, Sebastiao. Migrations. AMAZONAS Images.  Paris. 2000. photograph 78.

www.unicef.org/salgado/bio.htm

Summertime Family

3 of my Favorites:

I love my family and spending time with them.  

Bear Lake is my most favorite place on earth.  

Boating is the best summertime activity.