The wages of fear: The harrowing plight of the ship breakers of Bangladesh - one of the most dangerous jobs in the world
The sad beauty of these incredible images cast a light on the shipbreaking industry in Bangladesh, where workers face death and injury from accidents and environmental hazards for just a few dollars a a day.
Chittagong Ship Breaking Yard is the largest of its type in the world. Around 80 active ship breaking yards line an eight-mile stretch of the coast, employing more than 200,000 Bangladeshis and accounting for half of all the steel in Bangladesh.
Ship breaking involves the dismantling of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a 25-30 years before there is so much wear that repair becomes uneconomical, but the rising cost to insure and maintain aging vessels can make even younger vessels unprofitable to operate.
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There is little to no concern for the environmental impact of the fluids that are just let go to the grounds in these yards only to be leeched out into the bays where the fishermen are trying to feed their families.
There was a book written a few years back about his ''industry'' in Bangladesh. What an eye opener.
The destruction of the environment and the people is horrifying.
And this is the best they can look forward to everyday. People afraid to even collect their due wages for fear of the company. Just where a guy wants to lay down roots (sarc).
I went to see the movie Waste Land , about the poorest residents of Rio de Janeiro who picked through the trash as it was coming off the trucks for the recyclables contained within. After the movie, I was walking along with my girlfriend of the time, discussing the movie. I said that if they presorted their trash, those people wouldn't have to dig through the heaps of refuse. She thought that it was a good thing that the poor people had something to do..... Face palm.
Scary occupation ...