For Lefties too Stubborn to Quit
This weekend I?ll mostly be listening to? Spirit 11:05 Sat Mar 20, 2010 | WorldbyStorm
That rotating Minister debate 17:47 Fri Mar 19, 2010 | WorldbyStorm
This week from the Irish Election Literature Blog 08:26 Fri Mar 19, 2010 | WorldbyStorm
Seán FitzPatrick? lest we forget? 17:59 Thu Mar 18, 2010 | WorldbyStorm
Postmodern Paddy?s Day 12:04 Thu Mar 18, 2010 | Garibaldy Cedar Lounge >>
It's a group blog. What more do you need to know?
SO MUCH FOR ME LUCKY CHARMS? 14:06 Fri Mar 19, 2010
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ADVISERS WRITE YOUR SPEECHES 00:50 Fri Mar 19, 2010
ALEX CHILTON, 1950-2010 10:38 Thu Mar 18, 2010
Edward Horgan, Irish Activist, Rendition Critic Has US Visa Revoked 15:57 Wed Mar 17, 2010
Beyond the Classroom - The Communities -Ep2: Tallaght 04:30 Wed Mar 17, 2010 Dublin Opinion >>
Joined up thinking for the Irish Left
Taking Sides| John Mearsheimer | London Review Blog Fri Mar 19, 2010 15:25 | donagh
Haiti Liberte: Hebdomadaire Haitien / Haitian weekly Fri Mar 19, 2010 14:25 | donagh
Look! Is My Mate! Fri Mar 19, 2010 11:05 | Manuel Estimulo
Still Relying on Outsider?s Eyes Thu Mar 18, 2010 19:32 | donagh
Radical Social Responses to the Right to Housing Thu Mar 18, 2010 00:38 | Illan Rua Wall Irish Left Review >>
A shot at bias in the media
'Balancing' the Climate Consensus - Part 2 Sat Mar 06, 2010 22:44
'Balancing' the Climate Consensus - Part 1 Sat Mar 06, 2010 22:36
Favouring the Rich - A Media Prerogative? Wed Dec 16, 2009 17:30
Right turn ahead Thu Sep 10, 2009 13:38
Iran vs Honduras - A subtle difference Mon Aug 10, 2009 18:22 MediaBite >>
|
Making Cents: Life Below the Bottom Rung
international |
workers issues |
other press
Saturday November 28, 2009 23:09 by Caoimhghin Ó Croidheáin - http://gaelart.net/ caoimhghin at yahoo dot com

NAIROBI, Kenya
Kibera Slum
 KIBERA SLUM
'Making Cents: Life Below the Bottom Rung' (2009)
A new series of oil paintings examining the daily existence of people making a living in the worst working conditions in the global economy.
Nations are not communities and never have been. The history of any country, presented as the history of a family, conceals fierce conflicts of interest (sometimes exploding, most often repressed) between conquerors and conquered, masters and slaves, capitalists and workers, dominators and dominated in race and sex. And in such a world of conflict, a world of victims and executioners, it is the job of thinking people, as Albert Camus suggested, not to be on the side of the executioners.
Howard Zinn A People's History of the United States
While reading the International Herald Tribune I came across an article entitled 'Deal near for global pact on ship recycling' (15 May 2009). The article notes that '[t]he dismantling of ships, so that their steel and other materials can be sold as scrap, is often done on or near beaches in poor countries, notably India and Bangladesh. Both nations have pledged to improve working conditions and environmental practices. But labor advocates contend that the process still kills and maims many workers each year and results in the contamination of shorelines with asbestos, oily waste, toxic paint and other dangerous materials.' It struck me that it is rare to see images of people in such working conditions depicted in paintings.
Following Sartre's dictum that 'to reveal is to change' I decided to make a painting that would in a sense 'reveal' this type of work to those like myself who had never come across it before. Like many bad situations they continue without change for a long time because of a lack of awareness of their existence by many who often benefit directly or indirectly from them. I looked at other situations where people worked in very bad and sometimes even horrific working conditions (such as recycling in dumps where children have been buried in the process). I talked about this to friends who told me of other situations (such as sulphur workers in Indonesia who carry 70 - 100Kg's on their backs for 2-3hrs to make $1 causing at the same time burnt skin and lungs).
The globalisation of the world economy has allowed for extremes of exploitation of workers in poor countries. This exploitation is 'hidden' behind advertising and aesthetically designed products. Looking at the people behind the products reminds us that our lifestyle has its negative side too.
A excellent book on this subject is Planet of Slums by Mike Davis published by Verso (2006).
|