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“So close to the USA”


“So close to the USA”
Photo Information
Copyright: Thanh Nguyen (ngythanh) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 503 W: 139 N: 2297] (8356)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-06-11
Categories: Daily Life
Camera: Canon EOS 10D, Canon EF 24-70mm L, JPEG 200 ISO
Exposure: f/8, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-08-19 8:23
Viewed: 2319
Points: 12
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I saw this kid combing trash alongside his father for recyclable items at the landfill in North suburban of Muzquiz City, Mexico. He was working on the “fresh” arrival, while his father on the burned area to collect residue from aluminum cans and copper from electric wire.

"ˇPobre México! Tan lejos de Dios, y tan cerca de los Estados Unidos — Poor Mexico! So far from God, and so close to the United States." (José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori, 1830-1915)

On my 4th trip to Mexico, I have not yet been in danger as told in the next passage. Instead, I met poor people whose lives depend on what the city gets rid of.


Ť


Welcome to Mexico. Please read this before booking your ticket:

Tourists are attacked by Volkswagen Bugs in Mexico City. The president’s son is the victim of a carjacking attempt — by a policeman. A policeman actually catches a pair of carjackers — attempting to carjack his car. A pizza vendor is robbed 23 times in a single year. The country’s most violent rebels, the EPR, hold press conferences from their headquarters, only a short bus ride away from a Ferrari dealership. For travelers, Mexico is filled with extremes. It has a little danger for everyone. What can you say about a country that’s rapidly becoming one of Mercedes-Benz’s biggest markets and yet a full quarter of the population lives in extreme poverty? Although Mexico is “just across the border,” it cannot be compared to Canada in terms of safety, health and crime threats. Remember that you are entering a country struggling to leave its Third World status. All tourists are best targets for criminal acts simply because they routinely carry cash and expensive goods.
It's thought that if a mere 5 percent of Mexico's 96 million people took to the streets, Mexico's criminal-laden government would collapse. But why isn't it happening? Namely, because folks are too busy trying to survive. As one Mexican activist commented: "Mexico is a culture of survival." About half of the working-age population in Mexico is unemployed. Families have seen their savings cut in half since 1982. Crime is soaring. Statistics aren't accurately compiled for Mexico's crime rate, but it is widely believed that crime between 1994 and 1999 has jumped an astronomical 80 percent in Mexico City alone. There has been a 100-percent increase in violent car thefts in the capital. Vigilante groups, private security "firms" and government-sanctioned thugs, called "Los Chombos," are doing what the cops won't: offing the bad guys-and also the good guys. (The World’s Most Dangerous Places — Robert Young Pelton)
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Leonie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1031 W: 50 N: 764] (8160)
  • [2005-08-19 16:50]

Hi Thanh,
Thanks for reminding reality..unfortunately the "kids working in trash fact" cannot be found only in Cambodia but in a majority of countries in the world. We really have to fight for a better world..but it is very hard and one feels very weak in comparison to those who hold the money and the power. Still we shoudn't give up the hope!

Best regards!

Léonie

Hi Thanh,
Yes, there are poor people around the world scavenging through city's rejected waste not only in cambodia. Mexico is a very rich country in terms of natural resources but lack of good management and education in rural area has contributed to this problem. Most mexicans are very religious (catholic). They don't believe in abortion or any contraceptives. Many times I see Mexicans with very low income but they five or six kids! So I think the problem is mixture of government mis-managements, religion and ignorance. That's my opinion..
Thank you for posting!

Best Regards,
Skye

you dont have to travel 1/2 the world away to see scene like this. just cross the border. I haven't been to Mexico yet but that is my next place for visit.

  • Great 
  • Drom Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 221 W: 53 N: 175] (1153)
  • [2005-08-20 6:06]

Hello Thanh,
Toujours de superbe photo...celle-ci est un peu cruelle mais reflette bien un aspect de la vie au Mexique.
Amitié
Dominique

  • Great 
  • ishai Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 701 W: 118 N: 309] (4074)
  • [2005-08-20 9:03]

Its hard reality what you show and describe here , Thanh
Photographic wise is a good capture and looks quit hard job for a kid.
It is in a lot of places like this as your title says and it is very good and important to show this.
But people are people and will stay selfish till it happens to them.
As long they are good they do not think of the rest.

It a good serie and you should continue with this material if you have, PP could help to make it more dramatic to catch people attention here

Ishai

  • Needs Improvement 
  • Hiram (30)
  • [2005-08-21 19:40]

hello, good picture, good shot, dramatic!.

i will give my opinion but in my language about the theme that you are comented...

La situacion que presentas en el articulo me parece un poco fuera de lugar, por que si estoy de acuerdo que mexico es un pais con graves problemas como el que muestra en la foto, pero tampoco es para crear esa "conciencia" de lo que tu piensas que es mexico, mexico son muchas cosas, no solo una foto con un nińo en un basurero, hay mas, pero parece ser que a uno nada mas le gusta comentar esos aspectos, y mas se siente uno invadido cuando extranjeros se toman la libertad de dar opiniones y sugerencias sin fundamento.
saludos
have a good day

Impacting and harsh note , very eloquent what you show us both in this expressive portrait and in the note in which you illustrate the image ...I can think many things and feel impotence , try to find clues , answers , but it is useless but saving our own consciences we have enough ...Let me add you to my favourite list , i would like to take my time to read and watch your pictures , the time it deserves , that's much

Greetings from Valencia (east Spain)

PD .Surely Hiram won't have trouble to travel or be fed and won't experience with the task of being murdered as hundreds of women in Ciudad juarez ( i have known many mexicans with unlimited economic resources (a minority ), but my moral code does not allow me to swallow with this sort of comments ...if only 1 child is deprived of the most elemental rights , a country does not work well , and despite that guy´s comments , Mexico does not work well (it has nothing to do with the fact that Mexico is, for me , one of the most interesting places and bolts fascinating cultures and contrasts ...And who talks about Mexico can talk in the same way about the 95 per 100 of the countries in this world )

Es una pena que en mexico aun podamos ofrecer ese tipo de cuadros, un pais rico de corrupcion y de colores impresionantes.
saludos.

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