TB_23151_08 [USA]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 12 March 2013
TB_23167_10 [USA]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 12 March 2013
TB_19177_04 [Mexico]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 10 April 2013
Donald Trump speaks at a dinner with business leaders at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey on Tuesday.: photo by Leah Millis/Reuters, 7 August 2018
...And the early recruits. Seriously though, the Portland Patriot Prayer shot by @petersonpixs is not at all unrelated to this alienating administration launching an entirely new military branch. @SpaceForce: image via Reading The Pictures @ReadingThePix, 9 August 2018
...And the early recruits. Seriously though, the Portland Patriot Prayer shot by @petersonpixs is not at all unrelated to this alienating administration launching an entirely new military branch. @SpaceForce: image via Reading The Pictures @ReadingThePix, 9 August 2018
GAZA CITY - A fireball explodes during Israeli air strikes in Gaza City.: Photo @MahmudHams #AFP Photo @AFPphoto, 9 August 2018
GAZA CITY - People inspect the rubble of a building following an Israeli air strike.
At least 18 Palestinians were wounded as Israel struck a building in central Gaza. Photo @MahmudHams @AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 9 August 2018
epa
editor's choice 09 August 2018: A view of the damage to the house of
the Khammash family in Deir Al Balah town, central Gaza
Strip, 09 August 2018. According to media reports, the pregnant
23-year-old Enas Khammash and her 18-month-old daughter Bayan were
killed in an Israeli air strike. #Khammash #GazaUnderAttack #Gaza
#Gaza_under_attack #IsraeliAirStrike #KhazarLoveKiss #DeirAlBalah
#GazaStrip #Gaza #epaphotos Photo epa-efe / Haitham Imad: image via epaphotos @epaphotos, 9 August 2018
GAZA STRIP - A relative of 23-year-old Palestinian Enas Khammash, who was killed with her toddler in an Israeli airstrike, inspects their bedroom in Deir Al-Balah Photo @saidkhatib #@AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 9 August 2018
GAZA STRIP - A relative of 23-year-old Palestinian Enas Khammash, who was killed with her toddler in an Israeli airstrike, inspects their bedroom in Deir Al-Balah Photo @saidkhatib #@AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 9 August 2018
Homo Israeli-Americanus putting your tax dollars to work again
Seeing the remains of 23-year-old Palestinian mother Enas Kammash and her infant child
splattered across the wall of their low end shack in Deir Al-Balah on the day
The Space Force officially became a thing
ostensibly to protect you from some figment and me but not really
and we accidentally discovered the place where they're going to put the migrant kids
they haven't killed yet
is a toxic waste site and exploded and unexploded pyro-war-junk medical-chemical military
ordnance dump in the dead zone South Texas desert
might have put the fear of God in me did I not fear Man so much more
A relative of 23-year-old Palestinian Enas Khammash, who was killed along with her 18-month-old daughter in an Israeli airstrike, inspects their damaged home on Thursday.: photo by Said Khatib/AFP/Getty Images, 9 August 2018
GAZA STRIP - A Palestinian man smokes as he waits to receive aid at a United Nations food distribution centre in Jabalia refugee camp Photo @MahmudHams @AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 9 August 2018
Borges said of Maduro: ‘It’s
incredible how he makes a victim of himself when it is he who is
responsible for the exodus of millions of Venezuelans.’: photo by EPA, 9 August 2018
Nikki Haley with Obsidian Thug Posse del Norte at the Simon
Bolivar bridge on the border between Colombia and Venezuela. Haley said
Maduro had ‘created this chaos’.: photo by Schneyder Mendoza/AFP/Getty Images, 9 August 2018
"Got them lil wetback buggers lined up in the crosshairs right now, SIR!" "In that case, sergeant - Fire at will! Blow 'em all back to the Rebar Age!"
Transfer-of-authority. Soldiers from 6th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, fire a 75mm howitzer during the Fort Bliss transfer-of-authority ceremony from U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command to U.S. Army Forces Command, June 25.: photo by U.S. Army, 5 June 2009
...And the early recruits. Seriously though, the Portland Patriot Prayer shot by @petersonpixs is not at all unrelated to this alienating administration launching an entirely new military branch. @SpaceForce: image via Reading The Pictures @ReadingThePix, 9 August 2018
#OTD in 1945, three days after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, a U.S. B-29 Superfortress code-named Bockscar dropped a nuclear device ("Fat Man") over Nagasaki, killing an estimated 74,000 people.: image via AP Images @AP_Images, 9 August 2018
@berkeleyside another smoky sunset over Berkeley: image via Fred Werner @SustainableFred, 7:30 PM 9 August 2018
Migrant Detention Centers In Texas Probed For Toxic Waste Threats: Bases slated to house families have a history of radioactive and chemical contamination: Earthjustice, 9 August 2018
Washington, D.C. — Health, labor and environmental
organizations represented by Earthjustice are asking the government via
expedited records request to reveal where exactly it plans to detain
migrant families slated to be housed in Texas military bases known to
have toxic hazards. Filed today, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request comes as the Trump administration is rushing to build migrant detention
centers in Fort Bliss in El Paso, and Goodfellow Air Force Bases in San
Angelo.
Besides separating children from parents, Trump’s “zero-tolerance”
immigration policy created a need for additional capacity to house
migrant families detained at the border. The military is providing the
extra space. But Fort Bliss is riddled with toxic radiological
contaminants and hazardous chemicals including heavy metals and volatile
organic compounds from its munitions burial and burning,
unexploded ordnance and landfills.
Fort
Bliss, in particular, has Superfund sites, which are polluted locations
requiring a long-term response to clean up hazardous material
contamination. At Goodfellow Air Force Base,
the area where tents will be constructed is directly over a former
firing range and adjacent to a closed but uncapped landfill. Exposure to
toxic chemicals from these sites can cause cancer, neurological damage,
developmental harm, and many other diseases. The bases could also have
remnants of polyfluorinated compounds called PFAs stemming from the foams used to douse fires during training.
“Detaining
migrant families with children in hastily constructed tents on military
bases is ill-conceived and dangerous,” said Earthjustice attorney Lisa
Evans.
“Families could be exposed to radiation, toxic chemicals, unexploded
munitions, polluted drinking water and multiple other health hazards.
Migrants fleeing desperate conditions do not belong in cages, let alone
toxic ones.”
Water testing conducted in 2017 showed certain sites in Fort Bliss had chromium and radiological contaminants. Chromium has been associated with increased risk of respiratory system cancers.
Multiple Superfund sites at the base are suspected to contain medical
waste, lead-acid batteries, unexploded ordnance, discarded military
munitions, and munitions constituents.
“The Trump administration can’t be trusted, especially after it
separated families, kept toddlers in inhumane conditions, and then
failed to meet court-imposed deadlines to reunite children with
parents,” said Rosemary Martinez, Sin Fronteras Organizing Project president.
“My father, a veteran, passed away in 2010 because of Agent Orange
exposure and other toxic chemicals while stationed at Fort Bliss. What’s
happening in our borders is a violation of human rights and now
innocent children will continue to pay for the government’s
hatred-driven ineptitude.”
The FOIA also seeks data about ten different polluted sites on the
two bases that include former nuclear weapons storage areas, firing
ranges, open burning, detonation areas and dumping sites. Furthermore,
groups wish to know which other bases besides Fort Bliss and Goodfellow
Air Force Base may be turned into migrant detention centers.
“The
public has a right to know what pollutants are in the base and where
will innocent children be detained,” said David Baake, Southwest
Environmental Center attorney.
“The surrounding community steadfastly opposes the Family Detention
Policy, and should not be forced to contribute to suffering by hosting
new detention centers in their backyard.”
“This
administration first separated migrant families at the border and
detained immigrant children in inhumane conditions,” said Laura M.
Esquivel Hispanic Federation director of National Advocacy. “Now it
could very well detain families together in toxic military sites like
Fort Bliss. We will not let this happen.”
“It is horrifying that the few reunited Latino families are being
exposed to radioactivity from unexploded ordnance, munitions and years
of gunfire training,” said Elena Rios, MD, President and CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association.
“In Fort Bliss, there are still present toxins from past landfills —
which means detained immigrant families with children could be forcibly
exposed to toxicity linked to cancer and development defects.”
“Our nation needs investment in infrastructure and schools, it does
not need detention centers aimed at breaking families apart.
Constructing these buildings with the purpose of holding immigrants
captive and at the same time endangering their health is inexcusable,
and what is more, it is a bigoted action geared at targeting our
community,” said Hector Sanchez from the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.
“We will not stand by as this administration divides our families, and
hurts our communities. We will fight against these atrocities.”
“It’s shocking but unfortunately par for the course that this
administration might be on the brink of detaining families with children
next to toxic dumping sites and radioactive firing ranges,” said Mark Magaña, President and CEO of GreenLatinos.”But
this must not stand. Risking poisoning detained families and children
after the Trump administration ripped families apart is beyond the
pale.”
The FOIA was filed on behalf of Hispanic Federation, National
Hispanic Medical Association, Labor Council for Latin American
Advancement, Southwest Environmental Center, GreenLatinos and
Alianza Nacional de Campesinas.
"Got them lil wetback buggers lined up in the crosshairs right now, SIR!" "In that case, sergeant - Fire at will! Blow 'em all back to the Rebar Age!"
Transfer-of-authority. Soldiers from 6th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, fire a 75mm howitzer during the Fort Bliss transfer-of-authority ceremony from U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command to U.S. Army Forces Command, June 25.: photo by U.S. Army, 5 June 2009
...And the early recruits. Seriously though, the Portland Patriot Prayer shot by @petersonpixs is not at all unrelated to this alienating administration launching an entirely new military branch. @SpaceForce: image via Reading The Pictures @ReadingThePix, 9 August 2018
#OTD in 1945, three days after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, a U.S. B-29 Superfortress code-named Bockscar dropped a nuclear device ("Fat Man") over Nagasaki, killing an estimated 74,000 people.: image via AP Images @AP_Images, 9 August 2018
@berkeleyside another smoky sunset over Berkeley: image via Fred Werner @SustainableFred, 7:30 PM 9 August 2018
#Argentina
Activists in favour of the legalization of abortion comfort each other
after senators rejected the bill to legalize the abortion in Buenos
Aires. #AFPphoto by @chatoeitan: image via AFP Photo@AFPphoto, 9 August 2018
#Bangladesh A Rohingya refugee boy looks on as he stands on a fishing boat at Shamlapur camp Photo by @chandanphoto #AFP: image via AFP Photo@AFPphoto, 9 August 2018
#Bangladesh A Rohingya refugee boy carries a load on his shoulders as he walks through Kutupalong camp in Ukhia Photo by @chandanphoto #AFP: image via AFP Photo@AFPphoto, 9 August 2018
#Indonesia Death toll in Indonesia quake hits 319 Photo by @sonny_bali #AFP: image via AFP Photo@AFPphoto, 9 August 2018
#Indonesia Strong aftershock rattles survivors of deadly Indonesian quake Photo Adek Berry #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 9 August 2018
#China A cat sits in a carrier with a window as it waits with its owner for a taxi in Shanghai Photo @johaynz#AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 9 August 2018
#China A man sleeps on the pavement along Nanjing East Road to escape the heat of residential apartments in Shanghai. Photo @johaynz #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 9 August 2018
#Sri Lanka A Sri Lankan mahout washes an elephant in Colombo. Photo @lakruwan7 #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 9 August 2018
#Bangladesh A Rohingya refugee boy looks on as he stands on a fishing boat at Shamlapur camp Photo by @chandanphoto #AFP: image via AFP Photo@AFPphoto, 9 August 2018
#Bangladesh A Rohingya refugee boy carries a load on his shoulders as he walks through Kutupalong camp in Ukhia Photo by @chandanphoto #AFP: image via AFP Photo@AFPphoto, 9 August 2018
#Indonesia Death toll in Indonesia quake hits 319 Photo by @sonny_bali #AFP: image via AFP Photo@AFPphoto, 9 August 2018
#Indonesia Strong aftershock rattles survivors of deadly Indonesian quake Photo Adek Berry #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 9 August 2018
#China A cat sits in a carrier with a window as it waits with its owner for a taxi in Shanghai Photo @johaynz#AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 9 August 2018
#China A man sleeps on the pavement along Nanjing East Road to escape the heat of residential apartments in Shanghai. Photo @johaynz #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 9 August 2018
#Sri Lanka A Sri Lankan mahout washes an elephant in Colombo. Photo @lakruwan7 #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 9 August 2018
TB_1973_52 [Chile]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 15 March 2013
La Victoria shanty, Santiago, Chile: photo by Marcelo Montecino, 8 August 2018
mf_01 [Vietnam, wartime]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 26 November 2013
TB_10940_01 [Vietnam, wartime]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 19 March 2013
I know this picture! The woman
is my best friend's grand mother who was saying goodbye forever to her
nephew. Her nephew died for the peace of Vietnam. He was my friend's
elder brother...
- Hoang Tung, 2013
Untitled [Hanoi]: photo by Hoang Tung, 6 March 2018
Untitled [Hanoi]: photo by Hoang Tung, 6 March 2018
Untitled [Hanoi]: photo by Hoang Tung, 6 March 2018
Untitled [Long Bien, Vietnam]: photo by Hoang Tung, 6 March 2018
TB_14092_10 [Vietnam, wartime]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 19 March 2013
TB_10921_11 [Vietnam, wartime]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 19 March 2013
TB_10921_11 [Vietnam, wartime]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 19 March 2013
TB_6790_03 [Hanoi, air raid shelter]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 19 March 2013
TB_7117_06 [Vietnam, wartime]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 20 March 2013
TB_14940_04 [South Vietnam]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 22 March 2013
TB_14098_10 [South Vietnam]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 22 March 2013
TB_17711_04 [Palestine]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 20 March 2013
TB_17711_04 [Palestine]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 20 March 2013
TB_2240_06 [Alexanderplatz, Berlin, between 1976 and 1982]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 13 March 2013
TB_295A_01 [Alexanderplatz, Berlin, between 1976 and 1982]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 13 March 2013
TB_2149_06 [Alexanderplatz, Berlin, between 1976 and 1982]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 13 March 2013
23957_4 [Berlin]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 13 August 2009
23964_6 [Berlin]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 18 August 2009
TB_10250_09 [Bangladesh]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 21 March 2013
TB_211_13A [Bali, Indonesia]: photo by Thomas Billhardt, 21 March 2013
Untitled [Hanoi]: photo by Hoang Tung, 6 March 2018
Untitled [Hanoi]: photo by Hoang Tung, 6 March 2018
Untitled [Hanoi]: photo by Hoang Tung, 6 March 2018
Americans do seem to enjoy the old toxic waste. Maybe these sites are dumping grounds for Donald's Cuprinol.
ReplyDeleteIt feels as if there's little left but figments. We have to search out Deir Al Balah (or make our way here) to remember there are bodies that live and laugh and suffer and die, that we are human.
It's when the figments can no longer be told from the fragments we might begin to worry.
ReplyDeleteBut in a longago period in this history there was a sort of slogan, uttered by one Alfred E. Newman, a grinning cartoon idiot, whose motto was:
"What, me worry?"
We have not so much evolved as continued to revolve in an increasingly destructive orbit about whatever is or might once have been signified by those three utterly meaningless little words, our Pole, our Moonstone.
BTW, Thomas Billhardt, official photographer of the DDR, was as is now said "embedded" - w all the good "bad sides" - all through the parlous times and many trials of THAT century ... which in so many ways, though it's been read out and relegated and is now meant to be conveniently forgot, is perhaps not yet done with us after all.
ReplyDeleteHis work in Vietnam shows that war from the side from which it must be seen, if ever to begin to be understood.
Title of post obviously or not so obviously captures text lines from first two Billhardt shots, here.
ReplyDelete(The scenes, of course, come from ancient history. The newspaper the woman is carrying in shot #2 died just last month. Which it does seem is about all newspapers are meant to do, any more. Among other anachronistic persons and devices... )
For me the film The Sixth Sense has always cried out from the faked Hollywood Heart of a faked America, and when the rejoicing (??) over the new "sixth branch of the service" died down (after about 0.2 seconds), and a moment of thought was afforded (by me anyway) the "concept" 'pon which 'tis founded - that is, an even sillier-than-Hollywood idea of inimical objects and forces buzzing ever so dangerously - and doubtless communistically to boot - in the area of Space made sacred and untouchable (another tip of the hat to Disneyesque dreams) - by the presence of "our" previously floated space junk... well, let's come right out and say it.
"Obama only had six".