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Sydney Morning Herald
18 hours ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Harbour homes for the wealthy is no fix, premier
Great plan, Chris Minns (' Glebe Island firms as a 'Plan B' for new housing ', June 2). More high rise for the wealthy with sublime harbour views. It is the young, low- to middle-income earners who are crying out for housing they can afford. This plan will provide none of that but it will destroy a working port that has been in operation for decades. When driving on the Anzac Bridge to the city from the western suburbs, the view over the dock to the harbour is so lovely and always reminds me of what a beautiful city we live in. What a terrible shame to take that away. Lynne Egan, Glenbrook New housing is needed in Sydney. Plan B for new housing at Glebe presents the same issue as building any large development in any area. Has the government considered where children will attend school, and will there be adequate medical facilities? I hope there will be enough tradies to cope with building the major development. So many questions, and at this stage I have heard no answers. Robyn Lewis, Raglan While I agree the city needs more housing, what's really needed is public/affordable housing, not homes for rich investors, especially international investors. Glebe Island is currently a key element of the working harbour in Sydney, enabling the bulk transportation of the materials needed for the construction industry. Maritime transportation of bulk raw materials is the cheapest and most environmentally sustainable way to bring cement, sand, gypsum and aggregate to Sydney. The Port Authority is currently undertaking the installation of shore-to-ship power at White Bay, with plans to extend its provision to Glebe Island. It also proposes that the power delivered will be from renewable sources. This NSW government instrumentality is leading the way in terms of reducing both carbon emissions and noise, and it is vital that the government supports its endeavours. If Glebe Island is turned into yet another high-rise residential precinct, articulated lorries will continue to grind their way up the Illawarra escarpment from Port Kembla, slowing traffic and belching pollution into the atmosphere. I implore you to reconsider, premier, and focus your efforts on delivering the homes already proposed for BaysWest and on the Pyrmont peninsula, which is currently being rezoned to provide homes for 8300 people and offices for 23,000 new workers. Perhaps, with demand for office space tanking, these targets could be revised to provide housing for low-income families, and the rich, thus negating the need to close the Glebe Island port. Elizabeth Elenius, Pyrmont While we dither about building houses on racecourses and island ports, we slide perceptibly towards Third World status where housing is concerned. We need to be much more creative. I would suggest we simply build amenity blocks, dump points and camp kitchens to service the growing numbers of our fellow citizens reduced to living in their cars, in parks, under bridges and in abandoned rail cars. This action might induce our political leaders to understand the severity of the problem we face. John Richards, Turramurra Under the flight path Queen Street in the heart of St Marys, where huge housing blocks up to 63 metres high and major new infrastructure is to be built, will be overflown by aircraft using the new 24-hour Nancy Bird Walton airport (' St Marys to gain 'civic heart' and 20,000 residents ', June 2). Using the official government flight path tool, when runway 05 is in use, Queen Street will be 200 metres from the flight path and 900 metres when runway 23 is in use. Remembering that this airport will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, I just hope there will be effective noise mitigation included in the new apartment blocks so that residents' sleep is not unduly disturbed, and that Penrith councillor John Thain's hope that express trains will stop at St Marys to pick up passengers from the new airport metro, will be implemented. Lance Dover, Pretty Beach King/Pope v Trump/Vance George Brandis, commenting on King Charles' 'provocative' speech at the opening of the new Canadian parliament, and criticism of Donald Trump on social media by the then Cardinal Provost, who is now Pope Leo XIV (' Trump v church and head of state ', June 2), points out the irony that, for the Trump administration, 'two of the most influential voices of restraint may be a king and a pope'. Brandis writes that the new pope's 'potential influence in his homeland could be immense, should he choose to use it'. Unfortunately, however, the record of both Donald Trump and his Catholic vice president J. D. Vance, make this hope pretty unrealistic. It's more likely that this power-loving pair would be rudely dismissive of whatever king or pope had the temerity to question or criticise the new and disturbing political and social order they are trying to create, unimpeded by the constraints of the law and justified by the evangelical right. Far from having influence in this brave new world that is the US, King Charles and Pope Leo are much more likely to find themselves labelled as 'nasty', and their criticisms as 'fake news'. Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown I'm certain Trump would love nothing more than to be life-long monarch of the US (and more), unfettered by any personal responsibility that constrains the king, the pope and any other head of state worthy of the title. Trump already behaves as if he is sole ruler, bypassing all norms, conventions and processes that get in his way and using (like all thuggish despots) falsehoods, bullying, tantrums and intimidation to do it. I sincerely hope that the two-term, four-years-apiece constitutional limit on the occupation of his self-built throne brings his dangerously madcap reign to a merciful end before he totally trashes the kingdom. And may sanity return to those who put the crown on his head in the first place, and they never do anything like that again. Adrian Connelly, Springwood George Brandis has written an outstanding essay that should be compulsory reading. The final paragraph of his essay says it all. Marjie Williamson, Blaxland Retaliation incoming The planning may well have been18 months in the making but Ukraine's inflicting this humiliating damage on Russia's firepower, particularly as loosely named 'peace' talks are under way, is bound to incite Vladimir Putin to escalate his retaliatory attacks (‴ Absolutely brilliant': Ukraine destroys $11b work of Russian bomber is surprise attack ', June 2). One thing is certain; Trump won't be happy. Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook Like the driver that speeds up to avoid the red light as soon as the traffic lights he's approaching turn amber, whether you're Russia or Ukraine, how serious are you about achieving peace? 'Hours before the next round of peace talks' both countries decide to launch surprise attacks on the other, and they will probably go into those talks blaming each other for breaching any ceasefire which may have been agreed. Frederick Jansohn, Rose Bay Hear my voice Voices from the backbench should be treated the same way as voices from vested public interests (' Labor's win frees up many voices ', June 2). If they contribute constructively to the debate then they should be listened to and policy modified accordingly. Otherwise, the government should stop trying to appease them in the name of 'unity'. They should just be ignored, and the government should get on with doing what is right. David Rush, Lawson Necessary tax rises a hard sell Not only are we 'kidding ourselves', Ross Gittins (' Let's stop kidding ourselves – taxes will have to go up ', June 2), but our politicians are being deceptive, possibly deceitful and definitely dishonest by continuing to increase spending without any hint of increasing revenue to compensate. Of course, the ALP was on the right track at the 2019 election with measures to address negative gearing, capital gains and franking credits that benefit the more well-off, and many ALP members and supporters would welcome any efforts by the Albanese government to revisit these areas requiring reform. Due to neglect and inaction over many years, and the peddling of myths relating to the tax burden, it is well understood how difficult it is for the government to even whisper taxation increases. Ross Butler, Rodd Point Ross Gittins glosses over the two alternatives to higher taxes. Spending could also go down and productivity could become a priority. The Coalition was onto something, pointing out the blowout in the number of bureaucrats. It's not just wages but all the on-costs and procedure implicit in an expanded public service. On productivity: wage rises have stopped being linked to productivity growth and instead they are linked to to inflation, thereby actually driving inflation. Productivity creates wealth and jobs and those are also taxed. So let's get everything on the table before we mandate higher taxes as the lazy choice over more sustainable alternatives. Peter Comensoli, Mangrove Mountain It is going to take years to wind back the outrageous tax incentives from the Howard era. Everyone talks about the 50 per cent capital gains tax discount, but the refundable franking credits policy is the one to attack. Sure, allow taxpayers to receive the tax credit from what the company has paid, but to give it back to the shareholder, as a refund, was wrong in 2001 and it makes even less sense today. Time to open our eyes to inequities that rort our tax system. Michael Blissenden, Dural Resistance is fertile There seems to be a large gulf between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles in their responses to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's call to Australia to arc up its military response to China's 'belligerent' attitude in our region ('Albanese resists US pressure on China', June 2). Given Hegseth's performance in his job so far, I wouldn't rush to take everything he says as gospel. I think, despite China being a difficult neighbour to deal with, Albanese and Penny Wong have a good handle on our relationship with it, particularly because we have a strong trade relationship. Ian Adair, Hunters Hill On the one hand, Donald Trump wants Australia to lift its defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP, and on the other hand he wants to impose tariffs of 50 per cent on Australia's aluminium and steel. Thankfully, Anthony Albanese has informally advised him that Australia will make its own decisions on defence spending. I would rather Albanese held friendly discussions with President Xi Jinping than show him how great our military capacity is to fight him. Peter Nelson, Moss Vale I think Albanese was very wise in not being goaded into additional defence spending by the China-baiting and egregiously incompetent US Defence Secretary Peter Hegseth. The Trump administration is not known for its sane and thoughtful evaluation of issues and, as we know only too well, wars are easy to start but hellishly difficult to conclude. Things have reached a lamentable state when China these days often sounds like the only adult in the room. Bernard Moylan, Bronte Win some, choose some What a timely reminder from Michael Carr-Gregg (' Leave concierge parenting at the door to help children ', June 2) regarding sensible parenting. Parents are too quick to blame schools, teachers and other kids when their precious youngster is always in the right. Disappointment is a fact of life and, as stated, we must teach them to accept disappointment with 'courage and curiosity'. Coming second or second last is not failure, it's life. Deal with it, without looking to blame others. Denis Suttling, Newport Beach Experiences in life can be out of personal control. Illness, accidents and domestic violence may happen, so you learn to accept you have no control and use problem-solving skills to get by. Teachers try to develop these skills. Parents should, too. Playing sport engages children in the highs and lows of life. If you break a bone, medical experts try to fix it, but you have to be patient for a long time as the break heals. You use problem-solving to adjust to moving with a limb out of use. Bea Hodgson, Gerringong Lest we forget Your correspondents' defence of Margaret Thatcher's Falklands War (Letters, June 2) is silent on the torpedoing of the General Belgrano, outside England's declared exclusion zone, with loss of 323 lives, many of them young conscripts. A memorial listing the dead was located in Plaza Britannica in central Buenos Aires, lest Britain forget. Michael Britt, MacMasters Beach The teal deal? If the group known as teals do decide to form a party (' Whips and wisecracks: Who will be Lord of Crossbench? ' , June 2), they could still keep that name. The Elected Australian Legislators. Ann Babington, Thornton It is interesting that a group of teals wishes to coalesce into a political party. Interesting, because they ran on a platform of anti-party feeling. Pasquale Vartuli, Wahroonga Heavy thrifting Unable to get the answer to Saturday's Quick crossword clue (8 down) 'Manages one's resources thriftily', my wife nearly choked on her breakfast porridge when I meekly told her yesterday morning the solution was: 'husbands'. She then reminded me, at length, why I am not entrusted with the household shopping. Thanks for nothing Herald and DS; it's going to be a long week. Paul McShane, Burradoo
Observer
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Observer
Sebastiao Salgado, photojournalism elevated to art
Brazilian photojournalist Sebastiao Salgado, who died Friday, spent five decades chronicling the best and worst of planet Earth, from far-flung natural wonders to horrifying human catastrophes. The self-taught photographer crisscrossed the globe throughout his life, from Rwanda to Guatemala, from Indonesia to Bangladesh, documenting famine, war, exodus, exploitation and other tragedies of the so-called Third World with the empathy of "someone who comes from the same part of the world," as he said. His elegant black-and-white universe also celebrated the planet's immense beauty, such as the "flying rivers" of the Amazon rainforest, and served as a warning of nature's fragility in the face of climate change. Sebastiao Salgado, photojournalism elevated to art Sebastiao Salgado, photojournalism elevated to art He leaves an iconic body of work, published in "Life," "Time" and other leading magazines, collected in a stunning series of books, and regularly exhibited in the museums of world capitals such as Paris, where he lived for much of his life. Salgado won a long list of prestigious prizes across his career, including the Prince of Asturias and Hasselblad awards, and was the protagonist of filmmaker Wim Wenders' Oscar-nominated documentary "The Salt of the Earth" (2014), about the photographer's sojourns in distant corners such as the Arctic Circle and Papua New Guinea. Sebastiao Salgado, photojournalism elevated to art Sebastiao Salgado, photojournalism elevated to art - From Africa to Reagan - Born on February 8, 1944 in the rural county of Aimores in southeastern Brazil, Salgado grew up with seven sisters on their father's cattle farm. He recalled it as a place where visiting friends and family meant traveling for days, which he said taught him the patience to wait for the magical "fraction of a second" of the perfect photograph. He earned a master's degree in economics from the University of Sao Paulo, where he was active in the left-wing student movements of the turbulent 1960s. In 1969, he and his wife, Lelia Wanick, fled to France to escape Brazil's military dictatorship. He went on to receive French citizenship. He picked up Wanick's camera by chance one day in 1970 and was instantly hooked. "I realized snapshots brought me more pleasure than economic reports," he said. His job with the International Coffee Organization took him frequently to Africa, where he started taking pictures on the side. He would go on to turn down a dream job at the World Bank in Washington to pursue photography full-time. Wanick, who staunchly backed his career, stayed home raising their two sons, Juliano Ribeiro and Rodrigo, who was born with Down syndrome. Sebastiao Salgado, photojournalism elevated to art Sebastiao Salgado, photojournalism elevated to art Salgado's photos of drought and famine in countries such as Niger and Ethiopia landed him a job at renowned photo agency Magnum in 1979. He was working there when he captured one of the biggest news stories of the time, the assassination attempt on US president Ronald Reagan in 1981. Salgado made front pages worldwide with his photos of the shooting -- 76 frames in 60 seconds. But his true rise to fame came with his first book, "Other Americas" (1984) -- a series of portraits taken throughout Latin America -- and his unforgettable photographs of misery and resistance among the hordes of mud-covered miners at Brazil's infamous Serra Pelada, the biggest open-air gold mine in the world. Critics accused him of "beautifying suffering," but Salgado never veered from his aesthetic or his work. Sebastiao Salgado, photojournalism elevated to art Sebastiao Salgado, photojournalism elevated to art - Lens on Bolsonaro - Painstaking and meticulous, he liked to take his time getting to know his subjects, his three Leica cameras hanging from his neck. Photography "is a way of life," he told AFP in 2022, on a trip to Sao Paulo to present his exhibition "Amazonia," the product of seven years shooting the world's biggest rainforest. "It's connected with my ideology... my human and political activity. It all goes together." A dedicated climate activist, he was a fierce critic of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022) for the far-right leader's push to open the Amazon to agribusiness and mining. Salgado also founded an environmental organization called Instituto Terra to revive disappearing forests in his home state, Minas Gerais, a successful project joined by more than 3,000 landowners. —AFP
Daily Maverick
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Secret to turning Africa into the land of gold and honey it once was
During US President Donald Trump's recent tour of the Gulf States – Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – I was reminded of two legendary African figures, Prester John and Mansa Musa. While Prester John was a fictitious character from medieval Europe, imagined as a powerful Christian king in Ethiopia, Mansa Musa was a real historical figure – the actual ruler of the Kingdom of Mali in the 14th century –known for his immense wealth. The land of Prester John, believed to be in present-day Ethiopia, was described in glowing terms in a 14th-century map: 'In the woods of this Abassia, there is such a great quantity of honey that they do not bother to collect it. When winter arrives and the heavy rains wash these trees, the honey flows into nearby lakes, and, thanks to the sun's warmth, that water becomes like wine, which the people of the area drink instead of wine.' An inscription on an unrelated 14th-century map depicting Mansa Musa echoed this sentiment: 'This Black Lord is called Musse Melly and is the sovereign of the land of the black people of Gineva (Ghana). This king is the richest and noblest of all these lands due to the abundance of gold extracted from his territory.' These descriptions illustrate how Africa was perceived by the world in the 14th century. In stark contrast to today, where the continent is viewed as one of backwardness and underdevelopment – associated with wars, poverty – the real Third World. What has happened to the Abyssinia of Prester John? Where is the Mali of Mansa Musa? Where is the honey flowing in the rivers of Abyssinia? Where is the gold of Mali? Countries in Asia, including the Gulf states, that have experienced a history similar to ours have demonstrated that it is possible for a nation to overcome underdevelopment. If approached correctly, this goal can be achieved within a generation, specifically within a span of 30 years. History provides valuable lessons to learn from, but it should not become a prison where you confine yourself like a caged bird, spending your days, years and decades lamenting your situation and dwelling on the wrongs that others have committed against you. Our friends in Asia have challenged four political economy assumptions that have constrained our thinking in Africa since independence. First, the belief that we cannot overcome our colonial inheritance; that our neocolonial and dependent condition is permanent, leaving us doomed forever. Second, the notion that no country can prosper and become an economic heavyweight without exploiting others. Third, the idea that a country cannot escape its colonial legacy without significant financial support from an external benefactor. Finally, the misconception that natural resources are a curse rather than a blessing; that they will bring wars, political instability and a cycle of coups – a belief that these resources will never truly belong to us but to foreigners. We often attribute Africa's lack of progress since independence to several factors, many of which also apply to Asia. These factors include neocolonialism and the influence of former colonisers, civil wars, the impact of the Cold War and colonial partition. The only significant difference is the Atlantic slave trade, which affected our continent but not Asia. The three Gulf States are unlikely candidates for success. They lack the regime types that Africa has been taught since independence are necessary for development. Additionally, they inherited a desert at the time of independence and do not have a manufacturing powerhouse like China. They also lack the military strength of Russia and the large population sizes of Brazil, India or China. If they were to take an exam based on the textbook lessons Africa received since independence regarding development, they would fail miserably. Africa has been lectured on the dos and don'ts of becoming a prosperous continent. We were given prescriptions complete with indices, scorecards, and key performance indicators to guide us in creating successful nations. Our mentors came from outside our continent. This experiment has failed. The Gulf States demonstrate that there is no magic wand to wave to achieve development, complete with roads and skyscrapers. There is no secret recipe known only to a select few that is passed down through generations. There is no hidden door leading to a wonderland like something out of a Hollywood movie. The answers to what a nation should do to prosper have always been in plain sight, right before our eyes. The answer is: there's no better path to development and prosperity than the one that you must choose yourself. Your mentor is not a development expert from overseas with spectacles, carrying a laptop, but the lessons you must draw from history. Your textbook is in the pages of what history has taught you. Your prescription is simple: be authentic. Trust yourself. Listen to your inner voice. Let's take the example of the UAE, our favourite shopping destination. When the country gained its independence from Britain in 1971, it had no infrastructure, just the surrounding desert. There was little vegetation, and the climate was characterised by scorching heat. The economy relied primarily on date farming and diving for pearls. At that time, the most dependable mode of transport was the camel. In 1971, when the UAE became independent, most African countries had already achieved theirs, except for Portuguese colonies and a few nations in Southern Africa. This included all of North Africa and all former French colonies. Central Africa, comprising the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Burundi and the Central African Republic, was also independent, as was Sudan. Many of these countries were better endowed by nature than the UAE, which primarily benefited from its oil reserves. Africa Month The question that should concern us as Africans this Africa Month in 2025 is why a country like Sudan, which is 15 years older than the UAE, is still at war 69 years after its independence. Similarly, why is the DRC, 10 years older than the UAE, still facing conflict 60 years after gaining independence? It cannot be solely owing to natural resources, as the UAE has its oil. It also cannot be attributed to Western powers, because no Westerner is holding a gun on the streets of Goma or Khartoum, shooting at our people. It is us who are killing each other. The gap between Africa and the three Gulf States has widened since independence, particularly over the past 30 years. It could widen even further unless Africa acts quickly. No African country has a trillion-dollar economy like Saudi Arabia, and none is in the top 10 globally. The largest economies are the US, China, Germany, Japan, India, the UK, France, Italy, Canada and Brazil, representing the Americas, Asia and Europe, but not Africa. CNN reported in the build-up to Trump's Middle East tour: 'In March, the UAE announced a $1.4-trillion investment plan [in the US] over 10 years focused on AI, semiconductors, manufacturing and energy. Its existing US investments already total $1-trillion, according to its embassy in Washington.' No African country can match this. In 2024, Africa's total gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated to be $2.8-trillion, representing the combined economic output of 1.4 billion people across its 54 countries. The combined GDP of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE is projected to be about $2.06-trillion by 2025, with a total population of about 47.3 million. To put this into perspective, these three countries, with a population of about 48 million, generate a GDP of more than $2-trillion. In contrast, Africa, with 1.4 billion people spread across 54 countries, produces a GDP of only $2.8-trillion. Our race as black people is not the cause of our challenges. The two regions that have struggled after gaining independence are Latin America (descended from Spanish and Portuguese settlers) and Africa. It took Latin Americans more than 100 years after their independence to organise their countries effectively. In Africa, we are approaching 70 years since independence. One obstacle to the success of Latin America was the destructive interstate and intrastate wars fought among Spanish American nationalists. We Africans have three problems. We don't believe in our agency. We are victims of continuous negative self-talk – a favourite pastime of some celebrity public intellectuals. And we are the ones who give Africa a bad name. We have conditioned our subconscious to believe that we lack agency, viewing ourselves as mere victims of history, subject to the whims of powerful countries and the actions of influential transnational non-state actors. However, our friends in Asia have demonstrated that, regardless of colonial legacies, individuals and nations possess agency. The key question is: what do you do with that agency? Despite any neocolonial structures or geopolitical constraints that may hold you back, there is still room for manoeuvre. How can you best use it? Our leaders have their agency but some of them use it differently: sometimes to resolve political differences with their adversaries through military means. Understanding the principle emphasised by top-performing athletes is valuable: a game is not only won on the field but also in the mindset. A negative mindset often leads to persistent negative self-talk, a pattern we frequently master. Afro-pessimism is one example of this negative self-talk. If you want to hear negative perspectives about Africa, just spend time with some Africans. Our mindset, the names we use for ourselves and the negative things we say shape who we become. A few factors can significantly affect countries. First, having a strong sense of history and a connection to historical continuity is crucial. Second, embracing ideas as a foundation for society's success and prosperity, along with a clear development philosophy, is essential. Third, the importance of strong institutions cannot be overstated. Finally, there should be an emphasis on excellence; practising meritocracy and striving for excellence in all endeavours is vital. Finally, pay attention to leadership – the secret ingredient to the success of Asia. Leadership isn't about how leaders are dressed, but rather about their posture towards society. When we examine leadership, we often focus too narrowly on its form and characteristics, overlooking two key components: 1. What leaders do when they hold state power, regardless of how they obtained that position – whether through election, heredity or a coup. Do they invest in building schools or do they misuse state resources for personal gain or to settle scores with their enemies? 2. How they relate to society and their own people. Do they oppress their citizens, look down on them, or do they serve them? Do they boast and show off that 'I have arrived'? DM
France 24
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- France 24
Celebrated French-Brazilian photographer Sebastiao Salgado dies aged 81
Brazilian photojournalist Sebastiao Salgado, who died Friday, spent five decades chronicling the best and worst of planet Earth, from far-flung natural wonders to horrifying human catastrophes. The self-taught photographer crisscrossed the globe throughout his life, from Rwanda to Guatemala, from Indonesia to Bangladesh, documenting famine, war, exodus, exploitation and other tragedies of the so-called Third World with the empathy of "someone who comes from the same part of the world", as he said. His elegant black-and-white universe also celebrated the planet's immense beauty, such as the "flying rivers" of the Amazon rainforest, and served as a warning of nature 's fragility in the face of climate change. He leaves an iconic body of work, published in "Life", "Time" and other leading magazines, collected in a stunning series of books, and regularly exhibited in the museums of world capitals such as Paris, where he lived for much of his life. Salgado won a long list of prestigious prizes across his career, including the Prince of Asturias and Hasselblad awards, and was the protagonist of filmmaker Wim Wenders' Oscar-nominated documentary "The Salt of the Earth" (2014), about the photographer's sojourns in distant corners such as the Arctic Circle and Papua New Guinea. From Africa to Reagan Born on February 8, 1944 in the rural county of Aimores in southeastern Brazil, Salgado grew up with seven sisters on their father's cattle farm. He recalled it as a place where visiting friends and family meant traveling for days, which he said taught him the patience to wait for the magical "fraction of a second" of the perfect photograph. He earned a master's degree in economics from the University of Sao Paulo, where he was active in the left-wing student movements of the turbulent 1960s. In 1969, he and his wife, Lelia Wanick, fled to France to escape Brazil's military dictatorship. He went on to receive French citizenship. He picked up Wanick's camera by chance one day in 1970 and was instantly hooked. "I realized snapshots brought me more pleasure than economic reports," he said. His job with the International Coffee Organization took him frequently to Africa, where he started taking pictures on the side. He would go on to turn down a dream job at the World Bank in Washington to pursue photography full-time. Wanick, who staunchly backed his career, stayed home raising their two sons, Juliano Ribeiro and Rodrigo, who was born with Down syndrome. Salgado's photos of drought and famine in countries such as Niger and Ethiopia landed him a job at renowned photo agency Magnum in 1979. He was working there when he captured one of the biggest news stories of the time, the assassination attempt on US president Ronald Reagan in 1981. Salgado made front pages worldwide with his photos of the shooting. But his true rise to fame came with his first book, "Other Americas" (1984) – a series of portraits taken throughout Latin America – and his unforgettable photographs of misery and resistance among the hordes of mud-covered miners at Brazil 's infamous Serra Pelada, the biggest open-air gold mine in the world. Critics accused him of "beautifying suffering" but Salgado never veered from his aesthetic or his work. Lens on Bolsonaro Painstaking and meticulous, he liked to take his time getting to know his subjects, his three Leica cameras hanging from his neck. Photography "is a way of life", he told AFP in 2022, on a trip to Sao Paulo to present his exhibition "Amazonia", the product of seven years shooting the world's biggest rainforest. "It's connected with my ideology... my human and political activity. It all goes together." A dedicated climate activist, he was a fierce critic of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022) for the far-right leader's push to open the Amazon to agribusiness and mining. Salgado also founded an environmental organization called Instituto Terra to revive disappearing forests in his home state, Minas Gerais, a successful project joined by more than 3,000 landowners.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Maine Sen. Collins questions Secretary of State Rubio about cuts to global health programs
May 20—Sen. Susan Collins asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the Trump administration's cutbacks to global health initiatives during Rubio's appearance before a Senate committee Tuesday. "I am concerned the president's budget requests a 62% reduction for global health," Collins, R-Maine, said to Rubio. Collins asked whether China would potentially fill the void left behind by U.S. cuts to many humanitarian global health efforts, including vaccinating children in Third World countries. Rubio is one of a series of Trump officials to appear in congressional hearings recently to defend the administration's policies and budget cuts. Collins and other senators also questioned Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a separate hearing earlier Tuesday. Rubio, a former senator from Florida, defended the Trump administration's dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development. The agency created during the Kennedy administration has been eliminated and some of its duties folded into the State Department, although lawsuits over USAID's future are pending. "This is not a time for largesse," Rubio told members of the Senate appropriations subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs. "We cannot solve all of the world's humanitarian problems." U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, said the "practical impact" of the Trump administration's quick hobbling of humanitarian programs is children dying. "You can't just come in and light the place on fire and say, 'Well, it was a mess,'" Schatz said. Collins, who is Senate chair of the Appropriations Committee, said she's worried that cutting back on global vaccination programs will lead to more "preventable deaths, like tuberculosis and pneumonia." Rubio defended the moves, saying "we are continuing to do vaccinations" and that the U.S. is "not walking away from foreign aid," but wants to "target it more effectively." "We cannot continue to be the foreign aid provider for everyone on everything," Rubio said. "We do not have unlimited resources." Earlier on Tuesday, Rubio appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he had a combative exchange with Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, about humanitarian aid. "You used to speak with conviction about the importance of foreign aid as a tool to advance American values and interests," Van Hollen said. "Then you stood by while Elon Musk took a chainsaw to USAID and other assistance programs." Also on Tuesday, Kennedy continued to defend cutbacks to the National Institutes of Health before the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education. In one exchange with Collins about what priorities he would fund for research if he had a larger budget to work with, Kennedy went on a series of tangents. One example included a claim he made without evidence that male teenagers have half of the sperm counts of men in their 60s. Kennedy, who is not a scientist or doctor and has no medical training, also said without providing any evidence that the NIH was too focused on looking at removing amyloid plaque to treat Alzheimer's disease. The FDA in 2023 approved medication that removed amyloid plaque from the brain, and that drug, Leqembi, has been proven in clinical trials to slow the progression of Alzheimer's. Collins has shepherded through Congress several bills that prioritize Alzheimer's research, prevention and treatment. Copy the Story Link
