Poverty

[pizzahut88]

#1. Pawn Shop in Hong Kong.
The outline of the sign is actually a bat grasping a coin. I don't know why . . . but all pawn shops have them.

#2. For some, this is the entrance to their home, through the court-yard.

#3. Once inside, the houses are tightly packed together. No front lawn, no back garden.

#4. One of the houses.

#5. It could be disheartening to live here and know that you are at the bottom of social food chain. Most new migrants lives here.
One company has monopoly on fresh pork here, prices has increased alot lately. Some couldn't care less as they eat beef steak flown from Australia.

#6. Then there are the nearby government housing. Packing in thousands of tenants. To them, home ownership is a distant dream.

#7. Most hang their cloths outside to dry after washing. But the air is terribly polluted.

#8. Faded painting on a kindergarten wall. The colors are dull, and the vision is less than inspiring. World travel? Harmony? Class poverty is real. The act of choosing this kindergarten alone limits your choice of high school, not to mention college.

Thanks for looking.
M8 + C Sonnar 50mm F1.5 all taken at F1.5

 

[jbf]

Some lovely DoF going on there. Really makes me wish I could afford an M8 and get rid of this nikon d70.

 

[David Murphy]

This is typical middle/working class life in Hong Kong, I don't think you've been around the world much if you call this poverty. These apartments have running water, air conditioning, plumbing, TV, and phones. The per capita standard of living there is in the top tier of the world.

Try the Philippines if you want to see real poverty.

 

[Ororaro]

I like this series! Well done.

David,
There is extreme poverty in China but I<m not sure it<s been portrayed here. But if you ask, I<m sure someone will come up with unsustainable images. But what would be the point, really?

 

[David Murphy]

Yes of course there's extreme poverty in China, but not in Hong Kong. My point is that this is not poverty, but simple working class life in Hong Kong. A grandmother minding a well-dressed Kinder age child and typical urban HK dwellings don't represent poverty. Perhaps someone only used to the opulence of Canada or the United States might incorrectly judge it so.

 

[Ororaro]

Ya, I get your point...

 

[David Murphy]

Well anyway I don't mean to make a big deal of it. Hong Kong is a fascinating place for urban photography whatever the spin.

 

[craygc]

Try the Philippines if you want to see real poverty.

Look at where the top of the door on the box is.... A [big] family live in here next to thousands of others - no power, no water, no sanitation. This is the Philippines...

 

[pizzahut88]

This is typical middle/working class life in Hong Kong, I don't think you've been around the world much if you call this poverty. These apartments have running water, air conditioning, plumbing, TV, and phones. The per capita standard of living there is in the top tier of the world.

Try the Philippines if you want to see real poverty.

This is certainly not the middle class here.
These people are not even in the tax bracket.
Hence they qualify for the housing, I know.

And yes you are correct, this is not the poorest.
But all things being relative.

 

[steffen]

I picked up an interest for photography when I was in Afghanistan. There you'll find poverty.



These boys aren't poor though.

 

[hipTrip]

David, were you in the Philippines recently? Your avatar photo looks like it was taken at the Mall of Asia complex off Roxas Boulevard.

Yes poverty is at criminal proportions in quite a number of countries across Asia. Aside from the Philippines, there's India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and yes, parts of China. In my country, politicians perpetuate poverty because it's the easiest way to buy votes and retain dynastic power over several generations. The government says progress is impeded by tax cheats and corrupt businessmen, but we all know where the money goes. Today, we have a President whose father was also President , whose 2 sons and brother-in-law are powerful congressmen, and whose husband allegedly puts Marcos and Estrada to shame with his insatiable avarice.

 

[parsec1]

If you need to see real poverty try Malawi. I have been there a couple of times and driven deep into the bush.Once found a small village ,about, 50 or so men women and children who hadn't eaten for 8 days and were just lying about waiting to die. The charity I was with managed to help but for some it was far to late and there was a pall of death hanging over the whole area....very disturbing.

peter 32 on flickr....image ..'suppers ready'

 

[steffen]

all-inclusive world around poverty sightseeing tour! only $ 19 999.

 

[MickH]

all-inclusive world around poverty sightseeing tour! only $ 19 999.

& don't forget to pack your Leica.

 

[kipkeston]

nice series, but they have AC, I don't even have AC!

 

[Ororaro]

Has this thread become a Which country is poorer contest?

 

[bmattock]

Since poverty is an socio-economic condition, and there will always be someone with the least amount of dosh and means, there will always be poor. The definition of what it means to be poor may be moved, but poverty is a fact of life.

And to be quite honest - pyramids are larger at their base. There is a reason for that.

 

[jackal2513]

I picked up an interest for photography when I was in Afghanistan. There you'll find poverty.



These boys aren't poor though.

great shot

 

[marke]

But after many years struggling with that cause, I came to understand that poverty is political and there is little we can do from the outside to eradicate it. The best we can hope to do, and should do, is to help the few that can be helped in a direct way.

I firmly agree with this. There are many ways to help those less fortunate than us, and many times it starts within your own region, or even the same neighborhood. Many of us have poverty existing within our own country, but choose to ignore it for the same in distant lands. A local organization can often do more for humankind than those who help those abroad, since the money/supplies can go much further, in addition, they allow us to form intimate relationships/friendships with the very people we are helping. It's all about relationships, so why not add local needs to one's list of those we help? When you begin to form one-on-one relationships with the people you help, the blessings go far beyond anything you can ever imagine. For both sides.

 

[David Murphy]

Hi hipTrip,

Yes I was there not too long ago - I've traveled around Asia a bit. I don't want to seem to be knocking the Philippines as the people there are just fantastic and I'm certain the country is on the upswing economically despite the political problems there (and in most countries I might add!). I can really recommend the Philippines for tourism. The country has some truly unique places to visit and see. I'm really impressed by the high overall level of education in the Philippines and the generally global awareness of the population.

Economic change is slow, but I'm certain the Philippines is positioned well to be a rich Asian nation in the not-too-distant future.

cheers - David

David, were you in the Philippines recently? Your avatar photo looks like it was taken at the Mall of Asia complex off Roxas Boulevard.

Yes poverty is at criminal proportions in quite a number of countries across Asia. Aside from the Philippines, there's India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and yes, parts of China. In my country, politicians perpetuate poverty because it's the easiest way to buy votes and retain dynastic power over several generations. The government says progress is impeded by tax cheats and corrupt businessmen, but we all know where the money goes. Today, we have a President whose father was also President , whose 2 sons and brother-in-law are powerful congressmen, and whose husband allegedly puts Marcos and Estrada to shame with his insatiable avarice.