Recently I shot a campaign for Greenpeace focusing on the
Citarum River, one of the most polluted rivers in the world due toxic
wastes illegally dumped by textile factories. Many of them are direct
distributor to popular international brands such as GAP.
These
industrial wastes contaminated the water supply used everyday by local
residents. Most of them had no choice but to buy water for drinking and
cooking despite their economic limitation, However, they still use the
contaminated water for washing clothes and shower. As a result, many of
them suffer skin irritation including children.
I also met a
fisherman who could no longer fish due to their decline in number, a
farmer that must sell his rice for half the price because the
contaminated water stunted the growth of his crops, a brave activist who
gets threatened constantly for speaking out, a husband and wife
river-crosser for over 30 years that wants nothing but their river back.
For all my friends, families, and colleagues in Jakarta, please be
aware that 80% of our drinking water supply comes from the Citarum
River.
You could see the photos here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.588872244465688.1073741841.114938651859052&type=1
To get more information please visit the links below
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/makingwaves/a-toxic-fairytale/blog/44792/
http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/id/campaigns/toxics/Polluting-Paradise/
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/publications/toxics/Water2013/Toxic-Threads-04.pdf