Photographer Salgado tells AFP 'planet near extinction'

World renowned Brazilian photographer Sebastiao Salgado has crisscrossed the globe to document the extremes of globalisation, migration and unchartered territories, but is most troubled by mankind's reckless plundering of the planet, which he says is lethally short-sighted.

On a visit to Hong Kong to promote "Genesis", an exhibition of images which is a result of an epic eight-year worldwide expedition, the 70-year-old said humankind's drive to tame nature was taking the world to the brink of extinction.

"If we don't come back to our planet... we won't be here for too long," Salgado told AFP in an interview. "We are not part of our planet anymore, we have become aliens."

The documentary photographer has travelled to more than 100 countries, including Rwanda, Guatemala and Bangladesh, documenting some of the most gruesome horrors of the modern world: starvation, war, poverty and displacement.

news.yahoo.com...;_ylt=AwrTWf0Jy41U.BUAXZPQtDMD

How about THAT for an epic phrase to remember?
"We are not part of our planet anymore, we have become aliens."

I mean seriously. It's friggen true. Look what's happening with the water shortages in CA, for example.

We have become like locusts, raping this planet for all it's worth. And it appears there's no end in sight. Corporations keep taking, taking, and taking from the earth, with little to no regard for the consequences. And all they give back is pollution. Pollute the air, the water, the food, and to HELL with the next generation!

Uh oh, I'm starting to sound too much like a tree hugging liberal. But liberals are NOT the only ones concerned with the environment. All it takes is to be an understanding human, and not an "alien," as this photographer puts it.

a reply to: TrueAmerican

Why is it so wrong to hug a tree?

You know things are wrong when whole villages are murdered in order to take the resources from where they live and it seems that nothing, no matter how bad the thing being done...nothing is done about it!

I dont think so.... And the water shortages are due to no rain...

a reply to: TrueAmerican

Fifty years from now...planet Earth will be very difficult to survive on; unless we make some serious changes now.

I believe humanity is at a crossroads; it is really scarey to me; what the future may be for all of us.

a reply to: TrueAmerican

So Al Gore was right, his theory was confirmed by a Brazilian photographer. baaaah!

a reply to: TrueAmerican

, were going to need some far far right wing extremity to stop this wantonness , this carbon crazed conundrum , too many people , I wonder what the cull will be this time round, *bagsy lion tamers first in cue, so we can watch*

"We are not part of our planet anymore, we have become aliens."

hmmm , interesting that maybe we always were

funbox

I don't fear for our planet. It is not our planet that is near extinction, it's us. We are the ones #ting on our own doorstep and in the end we are the ones who are going to pay for it. The big question is; how many other species are we going to drag down with us?

That's the real shame here.

Its funny that the ones called savages and uncivilized are the ones that lived in unison with the earth and those that are civilized destroy her.

originally posted by: magnetik
Its funny that the ones called savages and uncivilized are the ones that lived in unison with the earth and those that are civilized destroy her.

Another epic quote. Bravo and immediate star!

Im sure he has concerns, like the rest of us.


So he is 70 years old, and has spent 8 years compiling this photographic record....
Did he help any of these starving people? Give them money or food?
How did he travel the World? By canoe? or by a lovely jet plane in first class.

Does he know his camera equipment is made in a Factory (shock, horror) probably by slave labour wage wise (shock horror again), and made from resources dug out of the ground? Noooooooo.!

I think what he is referring to, is more indicative of human overpopulation and exploitation of the Earth for greed.

Im sure all the Orangutans, tigers, sharks etc etc all agree that greedy life form, the hairless ape...needs to be reeled in a little...before there is noone else left on Earth .

Why have'nt the subterraneans done something by now. (instead of just flying their UFOs around) .

a reply to: magnetik

Its funny that the ones called savages and uncivilized are the ones that lived in unison with the earth and those that are civilized destroy her.

"Savage" does not equate with uncivilized. In fact, civilized has a quite specific meaning, as does "savage." There have been uncivilized cultures which are savage and there have been civilized cultures which are savage. Man seems to "coexist" with nature to the level at which it is expedient.

An uncivilized and savage culture:
www.fandor.com...


The Hawaiians, a culture which existed with ongoing warfare, an example of a culture which wiped out many of the species they found on the untouched islands they discovered.
hmsc.harvard.edu...

a reply to: magnetik

Hey, the brainiacs can pic apart your post all they want, but I understood EXACTLY what you meant.



Like for example: many "savage, uncivilized" cultures only hunted animals for food. Not for sport. And a few left still do.

The bottom line is we cannot keep going the way we have been.

a reply to: TrueAmerican

many "savage, uncivilized" cultures only hunted animals for food. Not for sport.

I think you might find a bit of sport is usually involved with hunting; "Urgh get bigger buck than Mugh! Mugh loser!"

The bottom line is we cannot keep going the way we have been.

I agree.

certainly the current course upon which the good ship mankind is sailing seems plotted with disaster intended. one might argue that such a design couldn't possibly be of human origin and is thusly 'alien'.

I agree with the photographer but can you imagine the solution TPTB have for all of this? The average person will be forced to change their way of life to suit the needs of an environmental agenda. As for the ones who created the mess and introduced the solution, they'll continue to live in luxury...

a reply to: Yeahkeepwatchingme

As for the ones who created the mess and introduced the solution

Nice cop out.

We collectively created the mess. Because we like to burn coal and petroleum. Because we like to eat lots of steak. Because we can. Because it's cheap and easy.

There's a solution? Where?

a reply to: Phage

How is it a cop out? Big industry and politics exploited human needs for profit and now the planet's paying for it. No need for an attitude here.

a reply to: TrueAmerican
If you polled America or any country and asked basic questions like do you think we should take care of the hungry, not give them money but food. How about stop wars and spending money on renewable energy. Not just solar but energy that government taxes pay for and its free for all TAX payers. ideas where it benefits all. You could make a list of things that benefit everyone and a list of thing where every one would want to get rid of it. Torture, war greedy bankers that make 100 million. You could ask this and 95% of people would agree. It isn't going to happen. We can vote but all candidates are the same. the corporations have total control of everything. We are screwed unless we forcibly remove them. It is beyond any point where protest and voting will take care of it. Watch your own and love your fellow man. He isn't your enemy. The enemy is government elected official who don't do their jobs and corporate greed.

a reply to: Yeahkeepwatchingme

Big industry and politics exploited human needs for profit and now the planet's paying for it.

Needs? Or wants? Big industry and politics provided things that people want.

But go ahead, blame "them". If it makes you feel better. But it won't do much else.

a reply to: Phage

What is your problem? Everyone's to blame but don't think corporations and big industry aren't responsible for the practices that are hurting the planet.