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Monday 2 October 2017

Intersectionality: Was the sky too large for them? / Earth is in the hands of the wrong people / Peligro

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Untitled | by el zopilote

West Mesa, Albuquerque, New Mexico: photo by Jorge Guadalupe Lizárraga, September 2017

Untitled | by el zopilote

West Mesa, Albuquerque, New Mexico: photo by Jorge Guadalupe Lizárraga, September 2017

Untitled | by el zopilote

West Mesa, Albuquerque, New Mexico: photo by Jorge Guadalupe Lizárraga, September 2017

I  Intersectionality: Was the sky too large for them?

Your dream is my nightmare, I said to the unkempt giant barking spider doll who refused to shut up
about intersectionality. But my words went unheard, for this was one of those really weird dreams
where even the screaming is drowned out by the sheer volume of the screaming
itself, which thus drowns itself out if you get what I mean.  But back to intersectionality. 

Everyone was starting to run. Get down! someone yelled. Did you hear that? Firecrackers?  Get down!
Just don't take away my god given gun 
rights, is all I'm saying, somebody on radio said. That screeching halt
you just heard was also caused by intersectionality. I mean, in a way, if you don't shut up I am walking straight out of this class. 

Don't worry about it. The screaming, the glass and shell fragments.
It's probably nothing at all. You know, just another behavioral experiment.
What's that wet stuff? Did you hear something? 
It's getting really dark, I think. Like, almost even darker than before.

There was then an adjustment of the horizon. The mountains seemed
nearer, the desert moved off farther and farther away. 
And yet the traffic, so dense now no one was even noticing... and the ocean...
Do not look at the pavement in that Parking lot. Repeat not.


San Francisco Pastoral | by Robert Ogilvie

San Francisco Pastoral. San Francisco, Ca.: photo by Robert Ogilvie, 1 October 2017

Untitled | by el zopilote

Truth or Consequences, New Mexico: photo by Jorge Guadalupe Lizárraga, July 2017

Untitled | by el zopilote

Truth or Consequences, New Mexico: photo by Jorge Guadalupe Lizárraga, July 2017

Untitled | by el zopilote

Truth or Consequences, New Mexico: photo by Jorge Guadalupe Lizárraga, July 2017

Large Collection | by Beaulawrence

Large Collection [Hamilton, Ontario]: photo by Tyler Wilson, 17 March 2015

San Mateo, CA | by Ivan Echevarria

San Mateo, CA: photo by Ivan Echevarria, 30 September 2017

San Mateo, CA | by Ivan Echevarria

San Mateo, CA: photo by Ivan Echevarria, 30 September 2017

San Mateo, CA | by Ivan Echevarria

San Mateo, CA: photo by Ivan Echevarria, 30 September 2017

West Indian School Road | by GC_Dean

West Indian School Road. Phoenix, Arizona.: photo by Dean Terasaki, 27 August 2017

West Indian School Road | by GC_Dean

West Indian School Road. Phoenix, Arizona.: photo by Dean Terasaki, 27 August 2017

West Indian School Road | by GC_Dean

West Indian School Road. Phoenix, Arizona.: photo by Dean Terasaki, 27 August 2017

Untitled | by Missy Prince

Untitled: photo by Missy Prince, 1 October 2017

Untitled | by Missy Prince

Untitled: photo by Missy Prince, 1 October 2017

Untitled | by Missy Prince

Untitled: photo by Missy Prince, 1 October 2017


Athletes stage on-field protests as President Trump calls for team owners to fire those who refuse to stand: image via AP Images @AP_Images, 1 October 2017

 

Marshawn Lynch arriving in a "Everybody vs. Trump" shirt #RaiderNation: image via Fanatics View @thefanaticsview, 1 October 2017


At least one gunman reported to have opened fire at Las Vegas music festival, hundreds fleeing from the scene: image via BBC Breaking News @BBCBreaking, 1 October 2017


At least one gunman reported to have opened fire at Las Vegas music festival, hundreds fleeing from the scene: image via BBC Breaking News @BBCBreaking, 1 October 2017


At least one gunman reported to have opened fire at Las Vegas music festival, hundreds fleeing from the scene: image via BBC Breaking News @BBCBreaking, 1 October 2017


At least one gunman reported to have opened fire at Las Vegas music festival, hundreds fleeing from the scene: image via BBC Breaking News @BBCBreaking, 1 October 2017


 Multiple victims hospitalised with 'gunshot wounds' after shooting at Las Vegas country music festival: image via BBC Breaking News @BBCBreaking, 1 October 2017

STURDY SAFE | by akahawkeyefan

STURDY SAFE. Fresno, Ca.: photo by akahawkeyefan, 30 September 2017

STURDY SAFE | by akahawkeyefan

STURDY SAFE. Fresno, Ca.: photo by akahawkeyefan, 30 September 2017

STURDY SAFE | by akahawkeyefan

STURDY SAFE. Fresno, Ca.: photo by akahawkeyefan, 30 September 2017

Elmyra St. | by ADMurr

Elmyra St. [DTLA]: photo by Andrew Murr, 1 October 2017

. | by mathieu.forcier

Morocco: photo by Mathieu Forcier, 27 September 2017

. | by mathieu.forcier

Morocco: photo by Mathieu Forcier, 27 September 2017

. | by mathieu.forcier

Morocco: photo by Mathieu Forcier, 27 September 2017

Naples | by ADMurr

Untitled [Naples]: photo by Andrew Murr, 30 September 2017

Blue car mattress tarp | by ADMurr

Blue car mattress tarp [DTLA]: photo by Andrew Murr, 30 September 2017

Untitled | by ADMurr

Untitled [LA]: photo by Andrew Murr, 30 September 2017

salton sea | by live..simply

salton sea: photo by live..simply, 27 September 2017

salton sea | by live..simply

salton sea: photo by live..simply, 27 September 2017

salton sea | by live..simply

salton sea: photo by live..simply, 27 September 2017

Untitled | by billbostonmass

Ocean Beach, San Francisco: photo by Bill, 30 September 2017

the hunter | by m.r. nelson

the hunter [Tempe, Arizona]: photo by m.r. nelson, 24 September 2017

the hunter | by m.r. nelson

the hunter [Tempe, Arizona]: photo by m.r. nelson, 24 September 2017

the hunter | by m.r. nelson

the hunter [Tempe, Arizona]: photo by m.r. nelson, 24 September 2017

Untitled | by patrickjoust

Untitled [Navajo, Arizona]
: photo by Patrick, April 2017


2017-191 | by biosfear

2017-191. Berkeley, CA.
: photo by biosfear, August 2017


2017-192 | by biosfear

2017-192. Oakland, CA.
: photo by biosfear, 24 September 2017


Downtown Minneapolis, no. 7 | by GC_Dean

Downtown Minneapolis #7. Minneapolis, Minnesota.
: photo by Dean Terasaki, 10 March 2017


Downtown Minneapolis, no. 7 | by GC_Dean

Downtown Minneapolis #7. Minneapolis, Minnesota.
: photo by Dean Terasaki, 10 March 2017


Downtown Minneapolis, no. 7 | by GC_Dean

Downtown Minneapolis #7. Minneapolis, Minnesota.
: photo by Dean Terasaki, 10 March 2017

2017-195 | by biosfear

2017-195. Oakland, CA.
: photo by biosfear, September 2017


Untitled | by patrickjoust

Untitled [Monument Valley, Utah]
: photo by Patrick, April 2017


salton sea | by live..simply

salton sea: photo by live..simply, 27 September 2017

Untitled | by Missy Prince

Death Valley: photo by Missy Prince, 29 September 2017

Untitled | by Missy Prince
 
Death Valley: photo by Missy Prince, 29 September 2017

Untitled | by Missy Prince

Death Valley: photo by Missy Prince, 29 September 2017

the far reaches. mojave desert, ca. 2015. | by eyetwist

the far reaches, mojave desert, ca. 2015. tucked away in the far northwest corner of the antelope valley lies a collection of tumbledown cabins, most abandoned.: photo by eyetwist, 30 May 2015

Untitled | by el zopilote

Linnton, Portland, Oregon: photo by Jorge Guadalupe Lizárraga, February 2013

Untitled | by el zopilote

Linnton, Portland, Oregon: photo by Jorge Guadalupe Lizárraga, February 2013

side view | by benft

side view [Alpena, Michigan]: photo by Ben Thompson, 22 July 2017

side view | by benft

side view [Alpena, Michigan]: photo by Ben Thompson, 22 July 2017
 
side view | by benft

side view [Alpena, Michigan]: photo by Ben Thompson, 22 July 2017

Dry pasture | by ADMurr

Dry Pasture [Coastal CA]: photo by Andrew Murr, 29 September 2017

Who Gets the Middle? | by david grim

Who gets the middle? [Deutschtown, Pittsburgh]: photo by David Grim, 20 April 2017

Who Gets the Middle? | by david grim

Who gets the middle? [Deutschtown, Pittsburgh]: photo by David Grim, 20 April 2017

Who Gets the Middle? | by david grim

Who gets the middle? [Deutschtown, Pittsburgh]: photo by David Grim, 20 April 2017

No Loitering | by ADMurr

No Loitering [Helena, Ark.]: photo by Andrew Murr, 29 September 2017

The loneliness of the short distance driver | by Robert Saucier

The loneliness of the short distance driver [Toledo, Ohio]: photo by Robert Saucier, 29 September 2017

The loneliness of the short distance driver | by Robert Saucier

The loneliness of the short distance driver [Toledo, Ohio]: photo by Robert Saucier, 29 September 2017

The loneliness of the short distance driver | by Robert Saucier

The loneliness of the short distance driver [Toledo, Ohio]: photo by Robert Saucier, 29 September 2017

John and Andrew Fox's house, after eviction, Clongorey, Co.Kildare | by National Library of Ireland on The Commons

John and Andrew Fox's house, after eviction, Clongorey, County Kildare: photo by Robert French, c. 1888 (Lawrence Photographic Collection National Library of Ireland)

John and Andrew Fox's house, after eviction, Clongorey, Co.Kildare | by National Library of Ireland on The Commons

John and Andrew Fox's house, after eviction, Clongorey, County Kildare: photo by Robert French, c. 1888 (Lawrence Photographic Collection National Library of Ireland)

John and Andrew Fox's house, after eviction, Clongorey, Co.Kildare | by National Library of Ireland on The Commons

John and Andrew Fox's house, after eviction, Clongorey, County Kildare: photo by Robert French, c. 1888 (Lawrence Photographic Collection National Library of Ireland)

II  earth is in the hands of the wrong people -- horrors on another level, if that's even possible 


Rohingya refugee Minara Begum, 18, holds her sick nine-day old-daughter, in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton: image via Cathal McNaughton @Cathal1978, 1 October 2017
 

 Rohingya refugee and mother of eight Shalida Begum, 25, waits to be transferred to a camp in Cox's Bazar. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton: image via Cathal McNaughton @Cathal1978, 2 October 2017


Newly arrived Rohingya refugees board a boat as they transfer to a camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton: image via Cathal McNaughton @Cathal1978, 2 October 2017
  
Rohingya collapse exhausted from trip and from fear. Then they get up, pick up their children and start walking into miserable unknown: image via Damir Sagolj @damirsagolj, 2 October 2017

  
Of almost 500K Rohingya refugees who recently fled Myanmar more than half are children. Fled with fear and trauma. And now what?: image via Damir Sagolj @damirsagolj, 2 October 2017
 

Just off the Inani beach where their boat capsized yesterday a Rohingya man buried his three daughters, another one three children and wife.: image via Damir Sagolj, 29 September 2017


To hear about horrors on another level, if that's even possible, there is a special Rohingya ward at hospital in Cox's Bazar: image via Damir Sagolj, 30 September 2017


Rohingya Muslim refugee walks on the shore after crossing the Naf River to Bangladesh from Myanmar. #afp @freddufour: image via Fred Dufour @freddufour_afp, 29 September 2017


Rohingya refugees react before the funeral of a family member who they say died from injuries sustained in Myanmar. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton: image via Cathal McMaughton @Cathal1078, 29 September 2017


A Rohingya boy stands next to his father, whose family say succumbed to injuries inflicted by the Myanmar Army. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton: image via Cathal McNaughton @Cathal1078, 29 September 2017



TEKNAF, Bangladesh (AP) — He trekked to Bangladesh as part of an exodus of a half million people from Myanmar, the largest refugee crisis to hit Asia in decades. But after climbing out of a boat on a creek on Friday, Mohamed Rafiq could go no further.

He collapsed onto a muddy spit of land cradling his wife in his lap — a limp figure so exhausted and so hungry she could no longer walk or even raise her wrists.

The couple had no food, no money, no idea what to do next. Their two traumatized children huddled close beside them, unsure what to make of the country they had arrived in just hours earlier, in the middle of the night.

Rafiq said their third child, an 8-month-old boy, had been left behind. Buddhist mobs in Myanmar burned the child to death, he said, after setting their village ablaze while security forces stood idly by — part of a systematic purge of ethnic Rohingya Muslims from Buddhist-majority Myanmar that the United Nations has condemned as “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.”

Five weeks after the mass exodus began on Aug. 25, the U.N. says the total number of arrivals in Bangladesh has now topped 501,000.

And still, they keep coming.

“We don’t ever want to go back,” a stunned Rafiq said, describing his family’s ordeal as Bangladeshi volunteers stuffed a small wad of cash into his hand and gave their children biscuits. Another man offered a bottle of water, and Rafiq poured some into his wife’s mouth as she lay in his arms, staring blankly at the sky.

“This is not our home. It is not our country,” Rafiq said. “But at least, we feel safe here.”

Not all those who have fled over the last few desperate weeks have survived. The International Organization for Migration said more than 60 refugees were confirmed dead or missing and presumed dead after one vessel capsized on rough seas in the area Thursday.

The crisis began when a Rohingya insurgent group launched attacks with rifles and machetes on a series of security posts in Myanmar on Aug. 25, prompting the military to launch a brutal round of “clearance operations” in response. 

Those fleeing have described indiscriminate attacks by security forces and Buddhist mobs, including monks, as well as killings and rapes.

While the international community has condemned the violence and called on Myanmar to protect the Rohingya, Sufi Ullah, a police officer in Teknaf, said nothing has changed.

“We’re seeing them come across whenever they get the chance,” Ullah said. 

“They’re hiding themselves in the forests and hills (inside Myanmar) in the daytime. And when they get the chance, they run. The Myanmar army is putting pressure on them. These people are afraid.”

Ullah said several thousand new refugees arrived by boat in Bangladesh on Friday, and authorities were not expecting the flow to let up any time soon.

On Friday, dramatic scenes played out over and over as hordes of Rohingya who had crossed into Bangladesh overnight tried to make their way further inland. They trudged out of boats and through mud that in some places was knee deep. Men carried babies and old women on their backs. Everyone was exhausted.

Sonabanu Chemmon was among those too weak to walk. Her son-in-law had carried her to one of Bangladeshi’s inland creeks, near Shah Porir Dip. But he then abandoned her along with several of her adult daughters.

Asked why, Chemmon covered her eyes as tears fell down her cheeks.

“He said he had carried me far enough, that he couldn’t carry me anymore,” she said. “He told me, ‘You can make it from here. I have to look after my own children.’”

Chemmon was finally helped by several Bangladeshis who are among a small army of local citizenry collecting donations, food and clothing, and handing it out to desperate new arrivals.

“Some of these people haven’t eaten or slept in days. They’re so weak, they can’t even walk,” said Mohamed Ismail, a Bangladeshi volunteer who traveled here from the city of Chittagong.

“I’ve never seen anything like it. They have nothing. It’s painful to watch,” he said, turning away, overcome with emotion. “Bangladesh is not rich, but we have to help.”

Karim Elguindi, who heads the U.N. World Food Program office in Cox’s Bazar, described the scene Friday as “distressing.”

“There’s more and more people coming and there’s not enough space in the existing camps” to accommodate them, said Elguindi, who was touring the area after hearing a new influx was underway. “I don’t know how many Rohingya are left in Myanmar ... but there’s more on the way.”

Elguindi said many of the refugees had been traveling for five days or more, and many were not carrying food during the journey. “These people are very vulnerable, very hungry ... they need shelter, they need water.”

Myanmar’s government, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, and its still powerful military do not allow independent media free access to northern Rakhine state, from where the Rohingya are fleeing. While fires are no longer visible from the Bangladeshi border, some refugees told The Associated Press that their homes had been burned as recently as two days ago.

Rafiq said he and his wife, Noor Khatum, fled their home in the Maungdaw village in Khai Dar Para in the first week of September, after police and soldiers moved in and Buddhist mobs, including monks, set fire to homes there in the middle of the night.

Rafiq managed to get his 5-year-old daughter out, while his wife carried their 2-year-old son. But their house, made of wood and sticks, burned quickly, collapsing on their baby boy before they could save him.

After fleeing, they took shelter with relatives in another village, but several days later that village, too, was torched by Buddhist mobs. Rafiq and his family then hid with others in an abandoned house near the border for two weeks, but had no money to pay boatmen to take them across the Naf River to Bangladesh.

So for two days, Rafiq helped other families escape, carrying them and their goods in exchange for amounts of cash. On Friday at 3 a.m., his own family finally made it out.

Now, in Bangladesh, a far more uncertain chapter of their lives has begun.

“We don’t know where we will go,” Rafiq said forlornly, as a long line of families trudged single file toward the town of Teknaf, where authorities were assessing the new arrivals and trucking them to camps further north. “We have nothing. We don’t know what we will do.”

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3 comments:

TC said...

Iggy Pop: Lust for Life + Pumping for Jill (live, Cabaret Tour, Encore, SF 1981)

Unknown said...

Hey Tom. We've travelled to Chicago, Baltimore & Pittsburgh in recent weeks. Enjoyed the pictures of those places, esp. Pittsburgh -- Dive Bar, the opposing steps & Mexican War Streets on the North Side. Your daily work here on the relentless cruelty on the Rohingya people is heartbreaking. You've been watching that emerge for years. Now there is evidently a film on the breadth of Wirathu's evil. Maybe it will help but maybe not as it does appear the earth is indeed in the hands of the wrong people. John Vachon's pictures are a dream turned into our nightmare, no? Another paradise lost, as per Borges? Finally, had to laugh at the Marquis de Favras' last words. I can say for sure I didn't write the edict, Boss.

TC said...

Thanks, Tom. Sounds like an interesting trip. If you were tempted to suspect the Pittsburgh photos I've posted of late were meant for you... you'd be right.

Yes, Vachon, another lost paradise, as he found it (pave paradise and put up a parking lot). A beautiful dispassionate survey of the protracted expropriation of the island as playground/factory, by the same bad big-brother neighbors we were then and still are now.