Thursday, September 15, 2011

Dignity in Labour: Beijing 1/2

Here is my latest series from the streets of Beijing. Dignity in Labour was inspired partly by one of my favorite graffiti artists (Stage One WCB) and his piece entitled Dignity in Labour that he did on a wall in North Vancouver in 1999. It was also influenced by all of the laborers I met during my travels around the world. I wanted others to get an understanding of their jobs and the vital role they play in allowing society to function in working order. Beijing seemed to be the ideal setting with a great majority of the population being in the labour sector and many of them leaving their rural homes in search of the dream in the big city.

Thanks to Chingy for the translations and to Moxely for the hookup.

Dignity in Labour
This fisherman attempts to carve up a 200 kg shark in the bustling port in Muscat, Oman. In recent years, the Omani fishing industry has expanded to supply the greater demand that has been placed by countries from around the world. The workers at this pier are vital to the Omani economy and play a valuable role in the worldwide fishing industry.
这个渔夫试图在繁华的阿曼马斯喀特港口膛开一条200公斤的鲨鱼。近年来,阿曼渔业扩大到供应来自世界各国的大量需求。该码头工人对阿曼的经济发展非常重要。他们在世界各地的捕鱼业中也发挥着宝贵的作用。
Photograph 1/18

Original Photo Location: Muscat, Oman

Found this discarded frame in the alley and it was a perfect fit for the photo but I had no place to hang the explanation until.....

I found a volunteer. She held it for people passing by wondering what was going on. The reward? Ice cream

Dignity in Labour
At the age of twelve, this girl and three of her friends carry large stacks of bricks on their heads up four flights of stairs. These girls are forced into labour to help support their families and must discontinue school to do so. Between the scorching heat of the Burmese sun and the constant trips up and down the flight of stairs, this girl somehow manages a smile.
年馑十二岁,这个女孩就和她的三个朋友们头顶着一大堆砖往四楼爬。 这些女孩由于家庭贫困只能退学出来挣钱。在缅甸灼热的太阳下,以记不清上上下下跑了多少次,但这个纯真的女孩仍然微笑。
Photograph 7/18

Original Photo Location: Mandalay, Burma

The response to this project was overwhelming, with people taking time out of their days to read the stories and ask questions.
Dignity in Labour
In many parts of Jamaica, the locals rely on tourism as their only sources of income. As this man explained to me, there is little help from the government to promote other sectors of business other than tourism. The tourism sector is over saturated with vendors and it has become a do or die business in some parts. As he puts the last coats of lacquer on Bob Marley figures he reminisces about days of old when he still could support his entire family on his wages.
在牙买加,许多当地人只依靠旅游作为他们唯一的经济来源。这个人告诉我,政府并没有帮助促进旅游业以外的其他业务。 旅游业中的小商贩超饱和,在某些地区它已成为不做就等吃西北风的地步。一边上这鲍勃 • 马利人像上最后一层漆,他一边回忆着那个他仍能用他的工资支持他的整个家庭的年代。
Photograph 10/18

Original Photo Location: Jamaica

All Smiles

Dignity in Labour
This fisherman is set to sail off onto a 3 month journey. The boat will venture into international waters along the Vietnam coast rounding the South China Sea before it returns to Taiwan. 45% of the catch is exported to various countries with big-eye tuna, yellow-fin tuna, tilapia and squid being the major exports.
渔民将出发航行3个月。船将沿着越南海岸驶入国际水域,然后在中国南海掉头回台湾。其中45%的捕获会出口到世界各国, 其中主要有大眼金枪鱼,黄鳍金枪鱼,罗非鱼和鱿鱼。
Photograph 16/18

Original Photo Location: Kaohsiung, Taiwan

People just kept coming to check it out


Dignity in Labour
After a strenuous shift in the bustling market located on the outskirts of Kaohsiung, this butcher takes a well-deserved break. His shift starts at 3 am and finishes around noon. He is regarded as one of the top butchers at the market and is quite popular with the locals.
在位于高雄郊区的繁华市场工作了一整天后,屠夫稍事休息。他的一天工作从凌晨 3 点开始知道次日正午才结束。他可是这个市场上最受欢迎的屠夫。
Photograph 5/18

Original Photo Location: Kaohsiung, Taiwan


I asked these people if I could put up a photo, they not only let me, but hooked me up with some watermelon on a +34 day! Beijing Hospitality
This man takes a brief break in the action of repainting a boat to pose for a photograph. The ship building and repair yards in Kaohsiung, Taiwan are a vital part of the economy and provide thousands with jobs. This man was perched atop a slim piece of wood, gently balanced by two ladders and twenty feet in the air.

Original Photo Location: Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Dignity in Labour
This man enjoys a quick cup of tea on his break from rebuilding one of Yazd's many old buildings. The restoration and maintenance is vital to keep the ancient city's history alive for many years to come. One of the world's oldest cities it has been visited by Marco Polo in 1272 and provided a safe haven for those fleeing the destruction of Persia at the hands of Genghis Khan and his warriors.
这名男子正在重建亚兹德的许多老建筑之一, 在他短暂的休息时间里喝一杯茶。修复和维护古建筑是一项至关重要的保持古城的历史的工程,让古文化流传下去。这是世界上最古老的城市之一,马可波罗在1272年是访问过,之后,这做城市又成为那些逃离成吉思汗和他的战士摧毁波斯时的避风港。
Photograph 18/18照片1 8/18

Original Photo Location: Yazd, Iran

Got a nice treat and found a small train yard in Beijing.
Dignity in Labour
As these women take a quick lunch break their contribution to the days work is evident from the train tracks that are dug up from the ground and stacked into a large pile off to the side. They are helping transform Kaohsiung from an industrialized city into a modern one. Many of the old industries are being replaced by modern technologies, bike paths, parks, subway lines and an overall 'greener' lifestyle is being promoted and is made possible by workers such as these.
这些妇女正在午餐休息。 但从那一大堆从地里挖出来的铁轨显然可以看出她们已经辛苦了大半天天了。她们正在为高雄市从工业化城市转变成一个现代化城市作贡献。很多旧工业已被现代技术所取代。 自行车道, 公园, 地铁线和整体 '绿色环保' 的生活方式正是由这些工人所兴建。
Photograph 8/18

Original Photo Location: Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Dignity in Labour
This man works to dig out a plumbing problem with pipes located far beneath the ground. In many countries heavy machinery is not a viable option, so primitive like tools are used to dig up asphalt to reach the pipes.
Although Iranian workers have, in theory, a right to form labor unions, there is, in actuality, no union system in the country. The right of workers to strike is generally not respected by the state, and since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, strikes have often been met by police action. With no real labour rights, this man is likely to make the minimum wage of $303 USD a month.
这个人工程正在挖开地面去检修一条远位于地面深处的管道。在很多国家重型机械不是一个可行的办法,所以只能用原始工具来挖开沥青检查管道。在理论上来说伊朗工人是有权组成工会的。 但在现实中,该国是没有一个工会系统的。一般来说工人是没有权利罢工的,自 1979 年伊斯兰革命以来,罢工往往会遭到警方的制止。没有实质的劳工权利,这个工人大有可能每个月只挣得了个最低工资,也就是 303 美元。
Photograph 9/18

Original Photo Location: Yazd, Iran

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