TOM CLARK: Giuseppe Ungaretti: What use are images? / Walking in the dust

Detroit, 2017: photo by andy kochanowski, 15 July 2017

Giuseppe Ungaretti: What use are images?

Waves on sandy beach, Cabo Polonio, Uruguay: photo by Johntex, 2006

Non più m'attragono i paesaggi erranti
Del mare, né dell alba il lacerante
Pallore sopra queste o quelle foglie
Nemmeno più prò contrasto col macigno,
Antica notte che sugli occhi porto.

Le immagini a che prò
Per me dimenticata?

Leaves of European Birch (Fagus): photo by The cat, 2006

No longer captured by the sea's restless

Landscapes, by the piercing candour

Of day breaking over these

Or those leaves, not even by the contrasts

Ancient nights dividing light from shade

Draw against the stone.
Lost, what use

Are images to me now?

Giuseppe Ungaretti (1888-1970): Poem IX (Non più m'attragano i paesaggi erranti) from Cori descrittivi di stati d'animo di Didone (Choruses Descriptive of the State of Mind of Dido), in La terra promessa (The Promised Land), 1950; English by TC

People offer funeral prayers of shooting victims in Quetta, Pakistan, Wednesday, July 19, 2017. Pakistani police say gunmen riding on a motorcycle opened fire, killing four members of a Shiite family and their driver in the country's southwest.: photo by Arshad Butt/AP, 19 July 2017

Bath time [Kolkata]: photo by Saumalya Ghosh, 4 February 2017

Circus. Bejing, China.: photo by Charn High ISO Low IQ, 14 July 2017

#10 the ring-tailed lemur looks on | by watcher330

the red-tailed lemur looks on [Manor House farm Zoo, Wales]: photo by John Ellis, 8 July 2017

Monet [Montreal]: photo by navejo, 14 July 2017

Rosedale, MS.: photo by Andrew Murr, 16 July 2017

[Thailand]: photo by Wikorn R, 24 February 2017

GAZA CITY - A Palestinian farmer collects grapes during the harvest season at a vineyard. Photo @mohmdabed #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 20 July 2017

Bangalore -- The Mart: photo by Santosh Kulkarni, 21 January 2017

Indian women carry their children next to the clothes put up to dry on cement blocks soon after it rained, outside their shanties in Bangalore, India, Wednesday, July 19, 2017. India receives its monsoon rains from June to September.: photo by Aijaz Rahi,/AP, 19 July 2017

[Belgrano, Buenos Aires]: photo by gri2011, 4 February 2017

#10 I've been away from Flickr for a long time. I was glad to see Street & Repeat still going strong. I took this the other day, I think it stands up. | by JimCochrane

the red-tailed lemur looks on [Cardiff]: photo by Jim Cochrane, 18 July 2017

[Belgrano, Buenos Aires]: photo by gri2011, 28 January 2017

LOVE [napoli]: photo by Bizzarro, 8 June 2017

* [Songkhla, Thailand]: photo by Sakulchai Sikitikul, 16 July 2017

no one want to be alone: photo by angkul_sth, 8 May 2017

hong kong: photo by tgnelson17, 20 May 2017

new orleans. early work from the archives.: photo by tgnelson17, 17 July 2017

Güemes, Córdoba, Argentina: photo by Dulce Delía, 17 February 2017

From series "Family album" | by Taras Bychko

From the series "Family Album" © Taras Bychko, Lviv, July 2017: photo by Taras Bychko, 16 July 2017

Walking in the dust

Syrian displaced people who fled the battle between U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and the Islamic State militants from Raqqa city, walk in the dust at a refugee camp, in Ain Issa town, northeast Syria, Wednesday, July 19, 2017. The U.S. military is supporting local Syrian forces in a campaign to drive IS from Raqqa.: photo by Hussein Malla/AP, 19 July 2017

SYRIA - Members of the Syrian Democratic Forces drive on the western front in Raqa during an offensive to retake the city from IS Photo @Kilicbil: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 20 July 2017

Photos show the destruction of AlGhanam Alali town in the eastern of #Raqqa by the international coalition airstrikes: image via Abu Mohammed @Raqqa_sl1, 18 July 2017

Latest figures reveal sharp rise in civilian deaths from airstrikes globally: Jennifer Dathan, AOAV, 20 July 2017

In the first half of 2017, civilian deaths from air-launched explosive violence have risen by 44% compared to the same period in 2016, new figures reveal.

Within the first six months of 2017, UK-based charity Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) has recorded at least 2,945 civilian deaths from air-launched explosives as reported in English language media. Of these deaths, 88% took place in populated areas, such as homes, markets, hospitals and schools.

When you include injuries into the total, the figures rise to 4,032; a 29% rise from the same period last year. This lower rise is likely down to difficulties reporting injuries in these conflict areas and reporting fatigue in the face of so many deaths.

12 countries have seen civilian casualties from air-strikes so far this year – three more than in the first half of 2016. The worst impacted countries were Syria, Iraq and Yemen – with 90% of all civilian casualties from air strikes occurring in these three countries alone.

Syria has seen a 42% increase in civilian casualties from airstrikes in this period and Iraq has seen a rise of 34%.

Despite a decrease in the level of civilian harm from airstrikes in Yemen, the number remains significant given the continued humanitarian crisis throughout the country, which is exacerbated by air attacks. 18.8 million Yemenis are now reported to be in need of humanitarian assistance, according to UN figures. Nevertheless, many states, including the UK, continue to support Saudi Arabia’s campaign in Yemen, supplying intelligence and arms, despite significant criticism from the humanitarian community.

The main perpetrators of the civilian casualties from airstrikes are the Saudi-led coalition, Syria, Russia and the US-led coalition. In Syria, with the skies increasingly crowded, it is often difficult to identify the perpetrator.

The US-led coalition has seen a significant rise in the number of reported casualties from their airstrikes. In the first half of 2017, at least 1,218 civilian casualties have been caused by the Coalition. A 190% increase from the same period last year. Remarkably, the British Royal Air Force deny their air-strikes have caused any civilian casualties.

The US are said to have carried out, in total, approximately 95% of all Coalition airstrikes in Syria and 68% in Iraq. There have also been indications that under President Trump, protections for civilians on the battlefield may have been lessened, which could explain the rise in civilian casualties.

Iain Overton, AOAV’s Executive Director, said: “This dramatic rise in civilian deaths from air strikes should be a wakeup call to the international community that peace cannot be delivered with an air-dropped payload. Airstrikes have fuelled the refugee crisis, they drive young men into the arms of extremism, and they have devastated the lives of countless families. The deep reverberating effects of these bombs are yet unknown but they will be terrible.”

AOAV believes states must recognise the civilian impact of explosive weapons with wide-area impacts, and stop using such weapons in populated areas. The charity has consistently found that when explosive weapons are used in populated areas, over 90% of the casualties are likely to be civilians. The harm caused by the use of these weapons in civilian areas not only causes immediate death and injury but also destroys homes and other infrastructure civilians depend upon.

#Raqqa again the International Coalition are targeting #Raqqa city with Phosphorus ammunition #Syria #SDF #ISIS: image via Abu Mohammed @Raqqa_sl1, 18 July 2017

#RAQQA #SYRIA: image via Abu Mohammed @Raqqa_sl1, 17 July 2017

#RAQQA #SYRIA #YPG: image via Abu Mohammed @Raqqa_sl1, 16 July 2017

#RAQQA #SYRIA #YPG: image via Abu Mohammed @Raqqa_sl1, 15 July 2017

SYRIA - Syrians carry a donkey on a trailer on the outskirts of Raqa. Photo @Kilicbil #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAP, 20 July 2017

Syrian displaced youths who fled with their families the battle between U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and the Islamic State militants from Raqqa city, hold their pots as they wait to receive food at the entrance of the main kitchen of a refugee camp, in Ain Issa town, northeast Syria, Wednesday, July 19, 2017. The U.S. military is supporting local Syrian forces in a campaign to drive IS from Raqqa.: photo by Hussein Malla/AP, 19 July 2017

A Syrian displaced boy who fled with his family the battle between U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and the Islamic State militants from Raqqa city, carries his cat at a refugee camp, in Ain Issa town, northeast Syria, Wednesday, July 19, 2017. The U.S. military is supporting local Syrian forces in a campaign to drive IS from Raqqa.: photo by Hussein Malla/AP, 19 July 2017

WEST BANK - An Israeli border guard looks through the scope of an assault rifle at the Qalandiya checkpoint near Ramallah. Photo @Abbasmomani: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 20 July 2017

JERUSALEM - Palestinians pray outside the Al Aqsa Mosque refusing to enter because of the detectors installed by Israel Photo @ahmadgharabli4: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 20 July 2017

Palestinians run away from stun grenades thrown by Israeli border police officers during a protest against the metal detectors placed at the entrance to the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Wednesday, July 19, 2017. A dispute over metal detectors has escalated into a new showdown between Israel and the Muslim world over a contested Jerusalem shrine that has been at the center of violent confrontations in the past.: photo by Mahmoud Illean/AP, 19 July 2017

Israeli police officers detain a Palestinian man outside the Lion's Gate, following an appeal from clerics to pray in the streets instead of the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, in Jerusalem's Old City, Wednesday, July 19, 2017. A dispute over metal detectors has escalated into a new showdown between Israel and the Muslim world over the contested Jerusalem shrine that has been at the center of violent confrontations in the past.: photo by Oded Balilty/AP, 19 July 2017

President Donald Trump holds up a Channellock locking plier during a "Made in America," roundtable event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, July 19, 2017.: photo by Alex Brandon/AP, 19 July 2017

Don Jr. Making headlines lately. Fayettevillle, GA. 2016.: photo by Ben Helton, 28 October 2016

When a witch says your tongue has to float in the middle of your mouth without touching anything or you'll die.: image via Matt Roller @rolldiggity, 11 July 2017

Mitch McConnell looks down as President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Senate Republicans on healthcare: image via Reuters Pictures @reuterspictures, 19 July 2017

#JaredKushner profile taken during China trade meeting today. The phantom. Photo @b_smialowski: image via Reading The Pictures @ReadingThePix, 19 July 2017

#Iraq A Displaced Iraqi man, who had fled the violence around Mosul, walks at the Jadaah camp on the outskirts of Al-Qayyarah Photo @safinphoto: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 20 July 2017

A 24-hour national shutdown of private businesses leaves many Venezuelan streets deserted and barricaded: image via Reuters Pictures @reuterspictures, 20 July 2017

Venezuela A masked opposition activist sits on the street during a blockade to protest against Venezuelan President Maduro in Caracas. Photo @rschemidt: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 20 July 2017

#Afghanistan An Afghan woman carries breads for sale on her head early in the morning in Mazar-i-Sharif. Photo @Farshadusyan #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 20 July 2017

#Libya Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar announced the liberation of Benghazi which was overrun by jihadists 3 years ago. Photo Abdullah Doma: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 20 July 2017

A great crested grebe catches a fish in a pond during a summer day in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, July 19, 2017.: photo by Sergei Grits/AP, 19 July 2017

Late night heron hunting | by juliehrudova

Late night heron hunting: photo by Julie Hrudova, 10 July 2017

#Vietnam Cooked Chickens for sale are adorned with pink roses as they are displayed in front of a food shop in Hanoi Photo @robertoindelhi: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 20 July 2017

New Jurassic park looks lit: image via Captain Kidd @kidd_kong78, 20 July 2017

#10 : Submission on the red carpet | by Taieb M

Submission on the red carpet [Paris]: photo by Taieb M, 15 July 2017

Submission on the red carpet [Paris]: photo by Taieb M, 15 July 2017
#10 : Submission on the red carpet | by Taieb M

Submission on the red carpet [Paris]: photo by Taieb M, 15 July 2017

324. Paia.: photo by X_M_B..., 22 November 2016

Lightning strikes "La Cite du Vin" in Bordeaux during a thunderstorm. Photo @nicotucat #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 20 July 2017

TOM CLARK

Thursday, 20 July 2017

Giuseppe Ungaretti: What use are images? / Walking in the dust

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