thank you I believe in the universal language and power of photography the
language and power of photography the
language and power of photography the art of photography that has the ability
art of photography that has the ability
art of photography that has the ability when combined with journalism and the
when combined with journalism and the
when combined with journalism and the unvarnished reality of life to bring
unvarnished reality of life to bring
unvarnished reality of life to bring people together and to motivate change I
people together and to motivate change I
people together and to motivate change I traveled to four continents and ten
traveled to four continents and ten
traveled to four continents and ten countries to put a human face on the
countries to put a human face on the
countries to put a human face on the staggering statistics that one in every
staggering statistics that one in every
staggering statistics that one in every six people live on less than a dollar a
six people live on less than a dollar a
six people live on less than a dollar a day or in extreme poverty that’s more
day or in extreme poverty that’s more
day or in extreme poverty that’s more than 1 billion people can you imagine
than 1 billion people can you imagine
than 1 billion people can you imagine living in a place where there is limits
living in a place where there is limits
living in a place where there is limits such as not having clean air or water or
such as not having clean air or water or
such as not having clean air or water or an access to an education or healthcare
an access to an education or healthcare
an access to an education or healthcare or all the simple things that we take
or all the simple things that we take
or all the simple things that we take for granted as you look through these
for granted as you look through these
for granted as you look through these image images I’d like you to imagine
image images I’d like you to imagine
image images I’d like you to imagine that this is your reality and ask
that this is your reality and ask
that this is your reality and ask yourself a question could you live in
yourself a question could you live in
yourself a question could you live in this reality and if not wouldn’t you
this reality and if not wouldn’t you
this reality and if not wouldn’t you want to help this is the pristine what
want to help this is the pristine what
want to help this is the pristine what used to be the pristine waterway of the
used to be the pristine waterway of the
used to be the pristine waterway of the Corie lagoon in Ghana West Africa it’s
Corie lagoon in Ghana West Africa it’s
Corie lagoon in Ghana West Africa it’s now an e-waste dump site that is so
now an e-waste dump site that is so
now an e-waste dump site that is so toxic not even worms or fish can survive
toxic not even worms or fish can survive
toxic not even worms or fish can survive this is where impoverished children are
this is where impoverished children are
this is where impoverished children are working and suffering and this is what
working and suffering and this is what
working and suffering and this is what they’re suffering if this is what
they’re suffering if this is what
they’re suffering if this is what they’re doing they’re trying to find
they’re doing they’re trying to find
they’re doing they’re trying to find recyclables and here they are
recyclables and here they are
recyclables and here they are this is some copper they have found and
this is some copper they have found and
this is some copper they have found and maybe they can sell this for like a few
maybe they can sell this for like a few
maybe they can sell this for like a few pennies on the dollar there’s really not
pennies on the dollar there’s really not
pennies on the dollar there’s really not a lot of money they can make and there
a lot of money they can make and there
a lot of money they can make and there there have no idea of what they’re
there have no idea of what they’re
there have no idea of what they’re breathing in and what the toxic chemical
breathing in and what the toxic chemical
breathing in and what the toxic chemical costs it is going to be on their
costs it is going to be on their
costs it is going to be on their healthcare and the pathway is old
healthcare and the pathway is old
healthcare and the pathway is old remnants of our keyboards and our
remnants of our keyboards and our
remnants of our keyboards and our computers and you know when we get our
computers and you know when we get our
computers and you know when we get our new computer and we get our cell phones
new computer and we get our cell phones
new computer and we get our cell phones and we get all of our new TV we never
and we get all of our new TV we never
and we get all of our new TV we never think about where is it going to go when
think about where is it going to go when
think about where is it going to go when it’s you know when it’s time to get a
it’s you know when it’s time to get a
it’s you know when it’s time to get a new one or we’re gonna throw it away
new one or we’re gonna throw it away
new one or we’re gonna throw it away well this place away this is a place
well this place away this is a place
well this place away this is a place where children are suffering and working
where children are suffering and working
where children are suffering and working to survive I’m wearing a mask so that I
to survive I’m wearing a mask so that I
to survive I’m wearing a mask so that I can breathe I’m wearing boots I’m
can breathe I’m wearing boots I’m
can breathe I’m wearing boots I’m wearing protection as I photograph there
wearing protection as I photograph there
wearing protection as I photograph there [Music]
but philomon his eyelashes are singed
but philomon his eyelashes are singed from the fire and his hands are
from the fire and his hands are
from the fire and his hands are blackened when I went home that night
blackened when I went home that night
blackened when I went home that night from working there my shoes the the
from working there my shoes the the
from working there my shoes the the black filaments went through my shoes
black filaments went through my shoes
black filaments went through my shoes went through my socks and it was on my
went through my socks and it was on my
went through my socks and it was on my feet and I would I couldn’t help but
feet and I would I couldn’t help but
feet and I would I couldn’t help but think what is this doing to these
think what is this doing to these
think what is this doing to these children’s lungs their orphaned most of
children’s lungs their orphaned most of
children’s lungs their orphaned most of them and this little boy had gone to
them and this little boy had gone to
them and this little boy had gone to third grade most of them aren’t even in
third grade most of them aren’t even in
third grade most of them aren’t even in school they’ve got no protection and
school they’ve got no protection and
school they’ve got no protection and this is Aisha she’s just lost in a sea
this is Aisha she’s just lost in a sea
this is Aisha she’s just lost in a sea of garbage she’s wearing flip-flops and
of garbage she’s wearing flip-flops and
of garbage she’s wearing flip-flops and then I was stopped in my tracks
then I was stopped in my tracks
then I was stopped in my tracks this is Fadi and she has tears streaming
this is Fadi and she has tears streaming
this is Fadi and she has tears streaming down her face from the effects of
down her face from the effects of
down her face from the effects of malaria from the headache she’s holding
malaria from the headache she’s holding
malaria from the headache she’s holding a few little medals in her head so that
a few little medals in her head so that
a few little medals in her head so that she can survive I was barely able to
she can survive I was barely able to
she can survive I was barely able to lift my camera to photograph her I was
lift my camera to photograph her I was
lift my camera to photograph her I was thinking I don’t want her to move I
thinking I don’t want her to move I
thinking I don’t want her to move I don’t want it if they don’t take my
don’t want it if they don’t take my
don’t want it if they don’t take my picture because I wanted to be able to
picture because I wanted to be able to
picture because I wanted to be able to translate her emotion to you this
translate her emotion to you this
translate her emotion to you this photograph has been published everywhere
photograph has been published everywhere
photograph has been published everywhere and since its publication Fadi has been
and since its publication Fadi has been
and since its publication Fadi has been helped and I travelled back to meet up
helped and I travelled back to meet up
helped and I travelled back to meet up with her two years ago and she’s now in
with her two years ago and she’s now in
with her two years ago and she’s now in boarding school and and this is me and
boarding school and and this is me and
boarding school and and this is me and Fatih now
Fatih now
Fatih now and I want all of you thank you I wish
and I want all of you thank you I wish
and I want all of you thank you I wish for all of you to experience the joy
for all of you to experience the joy
for all of you to experience the joy that I had that day when Fatih came up
that I had that day when Fatih came up
that I had that day when Fatih came up to me and I took that selfie she is now
to me and I took that selfie she is now
to me and I took that selfie she is now in boarding school like I said she’s and
in boarding school like I said she’s and
in boarding school like I said she’s and that’s a Isha
that’s a Isha
that’s a Isha she was also helped and so three or four
she was also helped and so three or four
she was also helped and so three or four children were helped from the stump site
children were helped from the stump site
children were helped from the stump site they were taken away and they’re all
they were taken away and they’re all
they were taken away and they’re all learning French and they’re learning
learning French and they’re learning
learning French and they’re learning English and they’re not having to work
English and they’re not having to work
English and they’re not having to work for their food anymore and they’ve got
for their food anymore and they’ve got
for their food anymore and they’ve got mosquito netting so that they don’t have
mosquito netting so that they don’t have
mosquito netting so that they don’t have to worry about you know the harm of
to worry about you know the harm of
to worry about you know the harm of malaria when I traveled to India and
malaria when I traveled to India and
malaria when I traveled to India and there were six hundred families that
there were six hundred families that
there were six hundred families that were living in these tarp like
were living in these tarp like
were living in these tarp like structures many of them were using their
structures many of them were using their
structures many of them were using their children to beg with on the streets this
children to beg with on the streets this
children to beg with on the streets this is Rudy and his little sister Suwannee
is Rudy and his little sister Suwannee
is Rudy and his little sister Suwannee and they’re five and three years old and
and they’re five and three years old and
and they’re five and three years old and they’re searching for a little bit of
they’re searching for a little bit of
they’re searching for a little bit of tea to drink but I love this protection
tea to drink but I love this protection
tea to drink but I love this protection where he’s got his hand around hers and
where he’s got his hand around hers and
where he’s got his hand around hers and their little feet are touching and then
their little feet are touching and then
their little feet are touching and then the Buddhist monks have come in from the
the Buddhist monks have come in from the
the Buddhist monks have come in from the Thailand charitable trust to try to
Thailand charitable trust to try to
Thailand charitable trust to try to break the cycle of poverty in this
break the cycle of poverty in this
break the cycle of poverty in this encampment and now they’re giving the
encampment and now they’re giving the
encampment and now they’re giving the children meals every day and and 98% of
children meals every day and and 98% of
children meals every day and and 98% of children are living in slump cities are
children are living in slump cities are
children are living in slump cities are malnourished or suffer from anemia and
malnourished or suffer from anemia and
malnourished or suffer from anemia and are underweight but the real heroes are
are underweight but the real heroes are
are underweight but the real heroes are these grassroots programs that are out
these grassroots programs that are out
these grassroots programs that are out there in the trenches every day helping
there in the trenches every day helping
there in the trenches every day helping these children and here they are in a
these children and here they are in a
these children and here they are in a solar-powered shower that’s helping them
solar-powered shower that’s helping them
solar-powered shower that’s helping them with the debilitating heat it was over a
with the debilitating heat it was over a
with the debilitating heat it was over a hundred and seven degrees that day but
hundred and seven degrees that day but
hundred and seven degrees that day but for very little you know this shower was
for very little you know this shower was
for very little you know this shower was set up and these brings so much joy to
set up and these brings so much joy to
set up and these brings so much joy to these children unfortunately they can’t
these children unfortunately they can’t
these children unfortunately they can’t wear the same dirty raggedy clothes they
wear the same dirty raggedy clothes they
wear the same dirty raggedy clothes they can’t get new clothes they have to wear
can’t get new clothes they have to wear
can’t get new clothes they have to wear the same ones because their parents
the same ones because their parents
the same ones because their parents would actually sell the clothes on the
would actually sell the clothes on the
would actually sell the clothes on the streets and that women were working
streets and that women were working
streets and that women were working incredibly hard I had spent a whole day
incredibly hard I had spent a whole day
incredibly hard I had spent a whole day with this woman and she was doing
with this woman and she was doing
with this woman and she was doing construction and
construction and
construction and I’m heavy bricks on her head I couldn’t
I’m heavy bricks on her head I couldn’t
I’m heavy bricks on her head I couldn’t even lift what she was carrying on her
even lift what she was carrying on her
even lift what she was carrying on her head and then she would come home and
head and then she would come home and
head and then she would come home and she would go out and walk miles just to
she would go out and walk miles just to
she would go out and walk miles just to get water so that she could feed her
get water so that she could feed her
get water so that she could feed her family but the most harrowing scene that
family but the most harrowing scene that
family but the most harrowing scene that it came across was think Rita she was 2
it came across was think Rita she was 2
it came across was think Rita she was 2 years old
years old
years old and she only weighed nine pounds and she
and she only weighed nine pounds and she
and she only weighed nine pounds and she was being starved to death on purpose so
was being starved to death on purpose so
was being starved to death on purpose so that her mother could beg with her on
that her mother could beg with her on
that her mother could beg with her on the street so that she could feed her
the street so that she could feed her
the street so that she could feed her other children her depravity was so
other children her depravity was so
other children her depravity was so severe that this is all she could think
severe that this is all she could think
severe that this is all she could think to do can you imagine that can you
to do can you imagine that can you
to do can you imagine that can you imagine being in a situation like that
imagine being in a situation like that
imagine being in a situation like that this is her mother and then this is her
this is her mother and then this is her
this is her mother and then this is her brother who’s being fed and that’s her
immediately after I made this photograph
immediately after I made this photograph she was helped and she was brought to a
she was helped and she was brought to a
she was helped and she was brought to a mobile medical unit clinic and now the
mobile medical unit clinic and now the
mobile medical unit clinic and now the townland Charitable Trust has taken her
townland Charitable Trust has taken her
townland Charitable Trust has taken her away and she’s now by another grassroots
away and she’s now by another grassroots
away and she’s now by another grassroots program in the Forgotten international
program in the Forgotten international
program in the Forgotten international being helped and now she’s in grade
being helped and now she’s in grade
being helped and now she’s in grade school precious right amazing yeah I
school precious right amazing yeah I
school precious right amazing yeah I just got this picture a few days ago and
just got this picture a few days ago and
just got this picture a few days ago and I was just wow
I was just wow
I was just wow so you know the power of the photograph
so you know the power of the photograph
so you know the power of the photograph and and just my just literally being
and and just my just literally being
and and just my just literally being there or has helped these children and
there or has helped these children and
there or has helped these children and but we have to keep this in perspective
but we have to keep this in perspective
but we have to keep this in perspective because 18,000 children under the age of
because 18,000 children under the age of
because 18,000 children under the age of 5 die from preventable causes those are
5 die from preventable causes those are
5 die from preventable causes those are really staggering statistics the United
really staggering statistics the United
really staggering statistics the United Nations Millennium Goals were up for
Nations Millennium Goals were up for
Nations Millennium Goals were up for review in 2015 and they their goal was
review in 2015 and they their goal was
review in 2015 and they their goal was to eradicate extreme poverty they fell
to eradicate extreme poverty they fell
to eradicate extreme poverty they fell very short so now we have these new
very short so now we have these new
very short so now we have these new sustainable goals that are up for review
sustainable goals that are up for review
sustainable goals that are up for review in 2030 and I say one child is too many
in 2030 and I say one child is too many
in 2030 and I say one child is too many right don’t you agree
thank you this is this is kenapa and
thank you this is this is kenapa and this is an India and I was walking the
this is an India and I was walking the
this is an India and I was walking the streets that’s how I find a lot of my
streets that’s how I find a lot of my
streets that’s how I find a lot of my stories and I stopped and I wanted to
stories and I stopped and I wanted to
stories and I stopped and I wanted to spend some time I wanted to know what
spend some time I wanted to know what
spend some time I wanted to know what was her story she was blind she was
was her story she was blind she was
was her story she was blind she was supporting her mother who has asthma up
supporting her mother who has asthma up
supporting her mother who has asthma up in the corner there and her brother who
in the corner there and her brother who
in the corner there and her brother who suffered from fluids in the brain and
suffered from fluids in the brain and
suffered from fluids in the brain and she was the only source of income and
she was the only source of income and
she was the only source of income and she would go out in the morning and she
she would go out in the morning and she
she would go out in the morning and she would beg for a few um enough money to
would beg for a few um enough money to
would beg for a few um enough money to make breakfast or to have breakfast and
make breakfast or to have breakfast and
make breakfast or to have breakfast and then she would go down out in the
then she would go down out in the
then she would go down out in the evening and do the same and then they
evening and do the same and then they
evening and do the same and then they lived close to a mosque and the mother
lived close to a mosque and the mother
lived close to a mosque and the mother after they would eat she was very
after they would eat she was very
after they would eat she was very meticulous about cleaning the area but
meticulous about cleaning the area but
meticulous about cleaning the area but then I went home I wanted to see where
then I went home I wanted to see where
then I went home I wanted to see where was their home and but before that she
was their home and but before that she
was their home and but before that she was combing her hair and she this is
was combing her hair and she this is
was combing her hair and she this is actually the point I want to make all
actually the point I want to make all
actually the point I want to make all these people are more the same than they
these people are more the same than they
these people are more the same than they are different here her mom is combing
are different here her mom is combing
are different here her mom is combing her hair wanting her look just as
her hair wanting her look just as
her hair wanting her look just as beautiful like we would all of our
beautiful like we would all of our
beautiful like we would all of our children but then when I went back with
children but then when I went back with
children but then when I went back with them late at night this was their home
them late at night this was their home
them late at night this was their home they were sleeping on the ground
they were sleeping on the ground
they were sleeping on the ground they had no mat they had no beds they
they had no mat they had no beds they
they had no mat they had no beds they had no shelter and their mother was
had no shelter and their mother was
had no shelter and their mother was Fanning them in this debilitating heat
so I went back the next morning and I
so I went back the next morning and I was completely surprised here they are
was completely surprised here they are
was completely surprised here they are now the two children and they’re singing
now the two children and they’re singing
now the two children and they’re singing and they’re clapping a song for me
and they’re clapping a song for me
and they’re clapping a song for me they’re giving me this extraordinary
they’re giving me this extraordinary
they’re giving me this extraordinary gift of the human spirit
gift of the human spirit
gift of the human spirit despite their depravity and you see this
despite their depravity and you see this
despite their depravity and you see this all over the world where these children
all over the world where these children
all over the world where these children who have nothing they have no toys they
who have nothing they have no toys they
who have nothing they have no toys they have no bed they have no home they have
have no bed they have no home they have
have no bed they have no home they have no electricity
no electricity
no electricity they have nothing and they’re bringing
they have nothing and they’re bringing
they have nothing and they’re bringing me they’re giving back to me now this is
me they’re giving back to me now this is
me they’re giving back to me now this is in Peru and this is Miguel Miguel
in Peru and this is Miguel Miguel
in Peru and this is Miguel Miguel exemplifies the extraordinary good that
exemplifies the extraordinary good that
exemplifies the extraordinary good that one
one
one person can do he had lost his son at six
person can do he had lost his son at six
person can do he had lost his son at six months old and suffered this terrible
months old and suffered this terrible
months old and suffered this terrible loss and was roaming the streets and saw
loss and was roaming the streets and saw
loss and was roaming the streets and saw two little Street children and he said
two little Street children and he said
two little Street children and he said why couldn’t you have taken them why did
why couldn’t you have taken them why did
why couldn’t you have taken them why did you take my boy and then he felt
you take my boy and then he felt
you take my boy and then he felt terrible and he brought them back and
terrible and he brought them back and
terrible and he brought them back and then he brought more children back and
then he brought more children back and
then he brought more children back and then he brought more children back and
then he brought more children back and
then he brought more children back and now he has an orphanage with 830
now he has an orphanage with 830
now he has an orphanage with 830 children and they’re all in school and
children and they’re all in school and
children and they’re all in school and they’re all taking sports and they’re
they’re all taking sports and they’re
they’re all taking sports and they’re all getting a great meal to eat every
all getting a great meal to eat every
all getting a great meal to eat every day and she gives thanks to them and
day and she gives thanks to them and
day and she gives thanks to them and they all he knows them all by name he
they all he knows them all by name he
they all he knows them all by name he hugs them all there it was one of the
hugs them all there it was one of the
hugs them all there it was one of the happiest orphanages I’ve ever visited
happiest orphanages I’ve ever visited
happiest orphanages I’ve ever visited and here he is at the end of the day
and here he is at the end of the day
and here he is at the end of the day he’s collapsed in a couch he’s got all
he’s collapsed in a couch he’s got all
he’s collapsed in a couch he’s got all these stuffed animals behind him they’re
these stuffed animals behind him they’re
these stuffed animals behind him they’re all scruffy and dirty but you know that
all scruffy and dirty but you know that
all scruffy and dirty but you know that they’re loved and you know he’s smiling
they’re loved and you know he’s smiling
they’re loved and you know he’s smiling with such relief because you know he has
with such relief because you know he has
with such relief because you know he has a sense of purpose so in the beginning I
a sense of purpose so in the beginning I
a sense of purpose so in the beginning I asked you could you imagine living in a
asked you could you imagine living in a
asked you could you imagine living in a place with limited resources lacking you
place with limited resources lacking you
place with limited resources lacking you know the things that we take for granted
let’s start with the left side of the
let’s start with the left side of the brain controls the right side of the
brain controls the right side of the
brain controls the right side of the body it also controls things that go
body it also controls things that go
body it also controls things that go with logic science mathematics the right
with logic science mathematics the right
with logic science mathematics the right side of the brain controls the left side
side of the brain controls the left side
side of the brain controls the left side of the body but it also deals with
of the body but it also deals with
of the body but it also deals with creativity and the arts so I put this in
creativity and the arts so I put this in
creativity and the arts so I put this in here because when I do research and when
here because when I do research and when
here because when I do research and when I do stories I really study you know as
I do stories I really study you know as
I do stories I really study you know as much statistics and things that I can
much statistics and things that I can
much statistics and things that I can and here Bill and Melinda Gates give a
and here Bill and Melinda Gates give a
and here Bill and Melinda Gates give a great example of child mortality where
great example of child mortality where
great example of child mortality where they use the charts and the graphics and
they use the charts and the graphics and
they use the charts and the graphics and everything and that’s one great way to
everything and that’s one great way to
everything and that’s one great way to educate but I prefer the way of touching
educate but I prefer the way of touching
educate but I prefer the way of touching your heart and getting to your emotions
your heart and getting to your emotions
your heart and getting to your emotions and showing the sorrow and the joy and
and showing the sorrow and the joy and
and showing the sorrow and the joy and the hope
the hope
the hope so that we can have a shared humanity
so that we can have a shared humanity
so that we can have a shared humanity and I want to leave you with just one
and I want to leave you with just one
and I want to leave you with just one quote from the Dalai Lama who wrote the
quote from the Dalai Lama who wrote the
quote from the Dalai Lama who wrote the foreword for my book living on a dollar
foreword for my book living on a dollar
foreword for my book living on a dollar a day the lives and faces of the world’s
a day the lives and faces of the world’s
a day the lives and faces of the world’s poor unfairness in the human condition
poor unfairness in the human condition
poor unfairness in the human condition can only be remedied when people
can only be remedied when people
can only be remedied when people everywhere care thank you
”
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