Photographer's Note
On a hill in Northern Kunming, overlooking the city, is a large area in which workers toil all through the day to make coal cylinders for small stoves and heaters. First they break large lumps into gravel, and throw it into a cement mixer with earth, gravel and water. They then use hand-held tools to compress the resulting material into stubby, perforated cylinders to be used in street stoves and other similar appliances. Such coal products are found throughout China.
Coal plays a major role in China's economic drive, and in 2006 accounted for 60% of the energy produced. The country has the world's third largest reserves, and consumption is expected to expected to "reach 2.9 billion tons in 2020." (http://www.edu.cn/20060310/3177926.shtml)
The worst effects are felt in the northern and Western provinces, where winters are very long and cold, and most buildings remain heated by coal. In Harbin for instance, where I spent some time, huge chimneys bellow out thick black smoke throughout the winter months, leaving heavy smog and dust everywhere - a typical case. In spite of the heavy pollution produced by burning this fuel, China's consumption seems set to increase for some time yet, as economic growth demands ever more energy, and oil reserves around the world deplete.
This girl is one of the children living in this part of Kunming, in not entirely comfortable - or clean - conditions. In the lower right corner are some of the coal bricks produced out here.
More to come later...
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eslmatt
(123) 2007-05-15 9:58
Hey Andre,
Great shot. Living in China it is easy to forget how the city life often runs, and who does the dirty work. Coal is truly the life blood of the poor, and the tool of the rich.
I live in a new apartment complete with a connection to the cities new heating system. A boiler that is located outside the city, that provides heat for an ever increasing # of people. They started to crack down on coal heat after 30 people died one winter form the pollution.
Yes, they do rely heavily on coal, but they are starting to change. The biggest problem I saw was in central China, where they don't need as much heat, so nobody thinks of making the system better.
as for the picture, great focus and use of b&w.
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Andre Holdrinet (Andre-H)
(1271)
- Genre: Pessoas
- Medium: Preto & Branco
- Date Taken: 2007-03-00
- Categories: Ruínas
- Camera: Canon EOS 50 E, 75-300mm, Ilford Delta 400, UV Filter
- Versão da Foto: Versão Original
- Date Submitted: 2007-05-15 9:30