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Life in paradise


Life in paradise
Photo Information
Copyright: Thanh Nguyen (ngythanh) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 503 W: 139 N: 2297] (8356)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-03-17
Categories: Daily Life
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 70-200 F4 L, SanDisk Ultra II 2Gg
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/320 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-09-14 1:27
Viewed: 983
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
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To many people, when they are able to make enough to survive, they call such life “paradise”.

This is the community within the Stung Meanchey garbage mountain where the scavengers built their “homes” right on the spot since they could not afford transportation back and forth. They are living in the same zone as flies and a mix-up of swarming larvae and worms, and breathing the fetid smell, 24/7.

Day after day, they survive. And whether you name this hell or paradise, they must live with it. Welcome to the kingdom of Stung Meanchey — the sprawling 100-acre garbage dump where you can see thick plumes of black smoke rise from the stinking pile, choking the air with toxic gasses where more than 250 people (including many children) scavenge through the 900 tons of garbage dumped daily at the site. A recent study found dangerously high levels of dioxin in the soil and large amounts of heavy metals in the metabolism of children who spend their time day after day at this location. Dioxin is a highly toxic chemical that can cause cancer.




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BlkDaffyDuck, mauricet, worldcitizen, grandklaus, thea0211, Davids, wrangell, VictorPhung has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hallo Thanh
i can't call your photo nice cause noone can call something like that nice. Along with the note it is documentary and sad. Life shows only its sad side to some people.
Well captured...
Regards

Hi Thanh
The world is not only made of nice sunsets, beautiful european palaces, cute asian children, or amazing african landscape.
This is partof the real world, and thru TE you show us this reality.
This is a good work.
TFS
Jorge

Hello Thanh,

It's very difficult to comment a picture like that. The shot is good, nothing to tell on that, but the subject is to hard.
the strong point of your picture is she very indeed shown all the sadness and difficulty of their situation.

TFS.
Regards,
Damien.

strong, very strong...and enhanced by that "paradise" statement...well, everything could be seen differently, depending on the pov...paradise...well...
most precious and informative, and engaged photo...
best wishes, j.

Two year ago, I have seen your picture of the Stung Meanchey village.
Now looking at this "updated" photo, I saw the condition was even worse.
Looks to me local government didn't do anything to help, except using it as a tourist point...
But I still hope and pray for these people.
Thanks,

This shot is simply one of the best from your album about Stung Meanchey. While other big photographers focus on faces of individuals, you shared with us their living condition and environment. More than that, you gave us an update of non-improvement on the status of the miser.
Maybe today Stung Meanchey has higher reputation than the name Phnom Penh.
Regards,
Yuan

Hi Thanh, a nice landscape of this dark place... It is very sad there that's true, a place like this should not exist...

:( paradise, indeed ... another very impressive sight you're sharing with us - another way of life - i don't think i would ever get used to sights like this :( - can't even understand/feel/perceive how living there would be - your note brings some light to the subject - well crafted post!
thank you for this testimony and take care,
dora

Thanh, i just read your new intro ... and even if i don't know you - i don't believe your life is a prolonged failure ... please don't loose faith

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