More Heartache in Ecuador

Photograph by Sebastiao Salgado

Once again there is a tragedy in the rural areas of Ecuador. In this photo a man has just died. He was old and alone (Salgado). He was one of the few men that were still around in this area. If you read my post form last week then you would know that all the men have gone to the cities in order to find work, leaving the women to do the farming, housekeeping, etc. But think how awful it would be to die alone in this man's situation. Because of the world, he has been able to accomplish relatively little as far as wealth and property. His family is gone or possibly dead. I could not imagine that kind of way to go.

I hope that my blog posts have made a difference. I have learned so much about what kind of issues are going on the rest of the world. There are different countries and they have different issues. However, there is one thing that remains the same: these people need our help. You don't have to travel the world, or even visit the places where they need help. Just do your best to change the world around you. Help spread the word so that people are aware that there are things going on in other nations, and not just the United States. Let us get outside ourselves do some service. Lets make someone's load a little lighter.

Works Cited

1. Salgado, Sebastiao. Photograph. Migrations: Humanity in Transition. Aperture Foundation. New York. 2000. 273.

2. ---. Pamphlet. “Abandoning the Land in Ecuador”.Migrations: Humanity in Transition. New York, Aperture. 2000. 273. Pdf.

Where'd All the Men Go?

Photograph by Sebastiao Salgado

This photo was taken in the region of Chimborazo, Ecuador (Salgado). There is a large valley in this region that is good for farming and raising livestock. So why is this young Ecuadorian girl forced to be on these cliffs and high places. The answer is shocking and brutal. The entire valley in this region is owned by one rich cattle rancher (Salgado). Meanwhile hundreds of families are forced to do their farming on inclines up in the mountains. To make matters worse, there is another epidemic that is sweeping Ecuador. The males in the family are all leaving. They are traveling to the big cities, such as Quito, in order to find work. Since they only come back once a year the women are left to take care of the family, cook, clean, and farm all by themselves. Not only are these men leaving to other parts of Ecuador, but they are currently masses of them that head for the United States as well (Freile 1). They travel there simply to make a better life for their families. A tough road for to take.

Works Cited

1. Salgado, Sebastiao. Photograph. Migrations: Humanity in Transition. Aperture Foundation. New York. 2000. 266.

2. ---. Pamphlet. “Abandoning the Land in Ecuador”.Migrations: Humanity in Transition. New York, Aperture. 2000. 266. Pdf.

3. Freile, Juan Carlos. "A Rough Road to Success". Dartmouth College. Winter 2009. 3/11/2010.

Who's Left Behind: The Orphans of Rwanda

Photograph by Sebastiao Salgado

This photograph is one of the most depressing to me so far; compared to the images I have looked at during these blog posts. It takes places in N’Dosho, which is near the city of Goma in Zaire. As you can see it is an orphanage. These are the children of Rwandan parents that just didn’t make it as they were attempting to flee their country amidst the genocide. You can also see that this orphanage, named the S.O.S. Orphanage, is very much underemployed. It is estimated that there are over 4,000 children living in this facility (Salgado). They are without a mother, without a father, and possibly without much hope of a future. Fortunately they can have futures. There are organizations such as the Orphans of Rwanda are trying to get these victims to have a fresh start after the terror of the genocide (Orphans of Rwanda).

Works Cited

1. Salgado, Sebastiao. Photograph. Migrations: Humanity in Transition. Aperture Foundation. New York. 2000. 197.

2. ---. Pamphlet. “Rwandan Refugees in the Area of Goma, Zaire”. Migrations: Humanity in Transition. New York, Aperture. 2000. 197. Pdf.

3. Home Page. Orphans of Rwanda. Orphans of Rwanda, Inc. 2008. 2010.