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Hiroji Kubota - ASIA. Can we feed ourselves?

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - China. Baotou, Nei Mongol. 1984. From about 7:30 a.m., Gangtie Rd. In Baotou is filled with people on bicycles commuting to work at the Baotou Steel Mills. The sixty thousand workers here produce 1.5 million tons of steel a year. As an essential product for Chinas modernization, steel is produced not only here in Baotou, a town on the Huang He River (Yellow River), but also at large-scale steel mills in Shanghai, Wuhan, Beijing, and Anshan. - Hiroji Kubota

China. Baotou, Nei Mongol. 1984. From about 7:30 a.m., Gangtie Rd. In Baotou is filled with people on bicycles commuting to work at the Baotou Steel Mills. The ...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - VIETNAM. 1999. Farmers transplanting rice near Sa Pa, Vietnam. - Hiroji Kubota

VIETNAM. 1999. Farmers transplanting rice near Sa Pa, Vietnam.

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Anzhangxiang, Hunan. 1998. Flooding plagues the northern part of the Hunan Province almost every year and is caused by the water level of its four rivers rising. Land reclamation from lakes also reduces the number of water outlets for the Chang Jiang River. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Anzhangxiang, Hunan. 1998. Flooding plagues the northern part of the Hunan Province almost every year and is caused by the water level of its four rivers

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Jiaxian, Shaanxi.1998. Jiaxian is located about there hundred kilometers northeast of Yan'an. In this area is a large plateau of loess, yellowish-brown loam mainly carried from the northwest region of China by the wind and deposited here. The Huange He River (Yellow River) flows nearby, but a lack of facilities prevents use of the riverÕs water for irrigation. Crops cultivated here on the terraced fields are mainly potatoes, corn, and a little wheat. Because the land is so arid, and a successful harvest depends greatly on rain. The farmers are poor but very proud of the historic role YanÕan played in the revolution. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Jiaxian, Shaanxi.1998. Jiaxian is located about there hundred kilometers northeast of Yan'an. In this area is a large plateau of loess, yellowish-brown l...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Jiaxian, Shaanxi.1998. Jiaxian is located about there hundred kilometers northeast of Yan'an. In this area is a large plateau of loess, yellowish-brown loam mainly carried from the northwest region of China by the wind and deposited here. The Huange He River (Yellow River) flows nearby, but a lack of facilities prevents use of the river's water for irrigation. Crops cultivated here on the terraced fields are mainly potatoes, corn, and a little wheat. Because the land is so arid, and a successful harvest depends greatly on rain. The farmers are poor but very proud of the historic role YanÕan played in the revolution. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Jiaxian, Shaanxi.1998. Jiaxian is located about there hundred kilometers northeast of Yan'an. In this area is a large plateau of loess, yellowish-brown l...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Urumqi. 1999. At the main square of Xinziang's capital, Urmqi. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Urumqi. 1999. At the main square of Xinziang's capital, Urmqi.

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Xinjiang. 1999. Bread vendor in Kashgar's market. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Xinjiang. 1999. Bread vendor in Kashgar's market.

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Xinjiang. 1999. Uygur children near Hotan. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Xinjiang. 1999. Uygur children near Hotan.

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Xinjiang. 1999. Uygur family near Hotan. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Xinjiang. 1999. Uygur family near Hotan.

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - INDONESIA. Wamena. Irian Jaya. 1998. A special dish called Masak, eaten only at funerals and weddings. - Hiroji Kubota

INDONESIA. Wamena. Irian Jaya. 1998. A special dish called Masak, eaten only at funerals and weddings.

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Baotou, Nei Mongol. 1984. From about 7:30 a.m., Gangtie Rd. In Baotou is filled with people on bicycles commuting to work at the Baotou Steel Mills. The sixty thousand workers here produce 1.5 million tons of steel a year. As an essential product for Chinas modernization, steel is produced not only here in Baotou, a town on the Huang He River (Yellow River), but also at large-scale steel mills in Shanghai, Wuhan, Beijing, and Anshan. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Baotou, Nei Mongol. 1984. From about 7:30 a.m., Gangtie Rd. In Baotou is filled with people on bicycles commuting to work at the Baotou Steel Mills. The ...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Xinjiang. 1999. From Hotan, I rode in a four-wheel-drive vehicle and headed for the Kunlun Mountains. About ten minutes after leaving Hotan proper we were already in the mountains, and there wasn't a single tree to be seen. That surprised me, for I had imagined the mountains to e covered with trees. We drove along a deep valley, and the road headed inexorably toward higher mountains. The wind grew stronger, and I had an eerie feeling. We passed a jail and the road to a mind along the way, and eventually reached a pass. Directly below us on the pass opposite side was a village built around an oasis called Kashi Tashi, about 4,800 Uygurs live here. For lunch we age freshly baked nan. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Xinjiang. 1999. From Hotan, I rode in a four-wheel-drive vehicle and headed for the Kunlun Mountains. About ten minutes after leaving Hotan proper we wer...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Nanxian, Hunan. 1998. The flooding damage in Nanxian was also terrible. I talked with Bi Jianjian, whose home was swept away, forcing him and his family to live in a temporary shelter. He's worried about how he's going to get by. He and his wife are old, and he has two sons and five grandchildren to take care of. They all live together, and the only daily assistance the government gives them is food. If Mr. Bi wants to build a new hoe, he can get five thousand yuan (about $725.00) from the government, but that won't be enough. He himself would have to provide another three thousand yuan (about $450.00). - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Nanxian, Hunan. 1998. The flooding damage in Nanxian was also terrible. I talked with Bi Jianjian, whose home was swept away, forcing him and his family ...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 1999. Brisk activity marks mornings near the central market. The citizens of Phnom Penh enjoy a breakfast of noodles and Chinese tea or delicious French bread and coffee. That is how busy days begin for young sleepy-faced shop helpers. Pretty soon the children of the shopkeepers will go off to school in a three-wheeled cycle, the shop helpers gazing longingly after them. - Hiroji Kubota

CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 1999. Brisk activity marks mornings near the central market. The citizens of Phnom Penh enjoy a breakfast of noodles and Chinese tea or de...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - INDIA. Amristar, Punjab. 1999. Amristar is famous as the site of the head temple of Sikhism. Sikhs are deeply religious and many of them succeed in the military and in business. The Main Hall of the head temple is covered with gold leaf, making it literally a "Golden Temple." Marble covers the grounds of the temple and not a speck of dirt is found anywhere. All visitors to the temple are given free meals; preparing thousands of meals a day is one of the services performed by the Sikh adherents. - Hiroji Kubota

INDIA. Amristar, Punjab. 1999. Amristar is famous as the site of the head temple of Sikhism. Sikhs are deeply religious and many of them succeed in the military...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Dali, Yunnan. 1984. The town of Dali is situated on a plateau in the northwest part of Yunnan Province. The people here are mainly of Bin nationality. To Dali's west is Mount Diancang, soaring four thousand meters high. To the east is Erhai, a freshwater lake. Fish are bountiful, and one can even see cormorant fishing. Because a strong wind frequently blows down from the surrounding high mountains, Dali is called the "Windy Town." The lake's waters were exceptionally calm on the morning of this photo. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Dali, Yunnan. 1984. The town of Dali is situated on a plateau in the northwest part of Yunnan Province. The people here are mainly of Bin nationality. To...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Paizhouwuan, Hubei. 1998. Early on the morning of August 1, 1998, during heavy rain, the levee of the Chang Jiang River (Yangtze River) suddenly burst in this area. Forty-four persons lost their lives in the subsequent flooding, including nineteen soldiers of the People's Liberation Army assisting in the area. The buildings of Guangming Elementary School in Zhongbao Village near here were destroyed. Fortunately, all 238 in the school were unharmed. On teacher, however, the wife of the principal, lost her life. The teachers and the children hope that new school buildings will be constructed quickly. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Paizhouwuan, Hubei. 1998. Early on the morning of August 1, 1998, during heavy rain, the levee of the Chang Jiang River (Yangtze River) suddenly burst in...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - INDONESIA. Bali. 1996. Balinese bury their dead soon after they die. Every ten years or so, however, each village exhumes bodies and cremates them in a joint ceremony. The participants, all wearing mourning clothes, form circles around the remains of their family members, and then eat the food they brought with them and drink to the spirit of the deceased. After cremation, the families carry the ashes to a nearby river of to the sea; while offering Hindu prayers, they scatter the ashes on the water. - Hiroji Kubota

INDONESIA. Bali. 1996. Balinese bury their dead soon after they die. Every ten years or so, however, each village exhumes bodies and cremates them in a joint ce...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Kashgar, Xinjiang. 1999. The back streets of the old section of Kashgar are mazelike, though the type of stone used in a road tell you, for instance, whether is a dead end. A feature of the homes in the old city is that each has a small inner yard. A carpet covers the living room floor inside the houses, but there are no seats or sofas. People sit on the floor, stretching their legs, and either eat or join in conversations. A peddler selling fruits and vegetables passes quietly along one of the typical alleys in the old section of Kashgar. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Kashgar, Xinjiang. 1999. The back streets of the old section of Kashgar are mazelike, though the type of stone used in a road tell you, for instance, whe...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - INDIA. Panipat, Haryana. 1999. A chance encounter put me together with a group of herdsmen from Rajasthan State. It was the dry season, and the herdsmen were on the move looking for good grazing for their cattle. The group comprised about ten families. They were herding several hundred cattle, living from place to place as they moved. Included among the cattle were many calves. Perhaps the herdsmen earned a living as they moved by selling mild from the cows. I noticed some children in the group, and knew there was certainly no way for them to be attending school. - Hiroji Kubota

INDIA. Panipat, Haryana. 1999. A chance encounter put me together with a group of herdsmen from Rajasthan State. It was the dry season, and the herdsmen were on...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 1999. Terribly deep scars remain in Cambodia from the long years of fighting. One wonders how the Cambodians, such a gentle race of people, could have been capable of the brutal behavior attributed to them. In fact, most of the Cambodians themselves probably have the most trouble understanding this. The Russian Market, one of the Phnom PehnÕs principal markets, bustles with people buying food and other items. This visually impaired woman sits with her daughter in the same spot every day, begging for alms. - Hiroji Kubota

CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 1999. Terribly deep scars remain in Cambodia from the long years of fighting. One wonders how the Cambodians, such a gentle race of people...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - BANGLADESH. Dhaka. 1999. Sadarghat is the central section of old Dhaka. Many workers commute from across the Buriganga River, landing here and then going on to their offices. A scene is thus created each morning and evening where hundreds of small boats vie for space on the river. Because ferry boats coming from longer distances also berth along this same area, often blocking my view, I was continually nervous looking through the camera lens for good shots. The people were obviously used to their commute, thought, and many stood calmly in the rocking boats. - Hiroji Kubota

BANGLADESH. Dhaka. 1999. Sadarghat is the central section of old Dhaka. Many workers commute from across the Buriganga River, landing here and then going on to ...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Kashgar, Xinjiang.1999. In the center of the old section of Kashgar stands the Id Kah Mosque, built many centuries ago. For the first prayers on Friday afternoon several thousand Muslims assemble. No women are allowed inside the mosque. Around the time the prayers end, women wrapped in chador carry nan and water to the mosque entrances and wait outside for the men to emerge. The men, freshly purified from their prayers, are asked to breathe gently on the nan and water. Doing so is said to bring good health, happiness, and prosperity to those who receive this blessing. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Kashgar, Xinjiang.1999. In the center of the old section of Kashgar stands the Id Kah Mosque, built many centuries ago. For the first prayers on Friday a...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 1999. Victims of landmines are seen in Phnom Penh eking out a living as beggars. Children sell items such as newspapers and cigarettes. In fact, several hundred children were living on the sides of the roads in the area near the central market, and I wondered what circumstances turned them into street children. I felt uncomfortable taking photos of them. - Hiroji Kubota

CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 1999. Victims of landmines are seen in Phnom Penh eking out a living as beggars. Children sell items such as newspapers and cigarettes. In...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - PHILIPPINES. Manila. 1998. Chinatown is one of the business centers of Manila, and Dondo is the citys largest slum area. Recto Avenue, which runs between the two areas is one of the liveliest shopping streets in Manila. Daily necessities are sold at cheap prices. Gaily decorated jeepneys and horse-drawn carriages add to the general congestion in Chinatown from early morning into late evening. - Hiroji Kubota

PHILIPPINES. Manila. 1998. Chinatown is one of the business centers of Manila, and Dondo is the citys largest slum area. Recto Avenue, which runs between the tw...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - VIETNAM. Can Tho. 1997. Can Tho is the largest city in the Mekong Delta. About thirty kilometers sound of Can Tho is Phung Hiep, a town with a floating marketplace. The canal is wide in this area, and before dawn is a large number of boats converge, carrying people to buy and sell all sorts of products, mainly rice, fish, fruits and vegetables. The vendors are mostly women. A Vietnamese friend told me that because an increasing number of people were being injured in boat collisions, traffic regulations have been introduced. - Hiroji Kubota

VIETNAM. Can Tho. 1997. Can Tho is the largest city in the Mekong Delta. About thirty kilometers sound of Can Tho is Phung Hiep, a town with a floating marketpl...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - MYANMAR (Burma).Mandalay. 1986. Because of irrigation problems, most farmers on Myanmar(Burma) grow only one crop of rice a year. After enough rain falls during the monsoon season in May, they use cattle and water buffalo to plow the fields and then plant the rice manually, with everyone participating. In the fall, the farmers harvest the rice as delicately as if they were picking up a baby. - Hiroji Kubota

MYANMAR (Burma).Mandalay. 1986. Because of irrigation problems, most farmers on Myanmar(Burma) grow only one crop of rice a year. After enough rain falls during...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Lhasa, Xizang. 1983. Butter made from the milk of yaks is an essential food for Tibetans. Besides butter-called ma in Tibetan-cheese and yogurt are also make from yak milk. Drinking tea with lots of ma in it and eating zanba, a type of meal made from rye flour, is the favorite food of Tibetans. Many shops in the Octagonal District in the old section of Lhasa are kept busy selling ma (Can We Feed Ourselves? # 67) - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Lhasa, Xizang. 1983. Butter made from the milk of yaks is an essential food for Tibetans. Besides butter-called ma in Tibetan-cheese and yogurt are also...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - NEPAL. Kathmandu. 1998. Many important historic buildings line the area around Durbar Square in downtown Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. In the southwestern section of the square, people come to buy and sell products such as grains, vegetables, spices, and flowers. Here, a young boy and his friend-or maybe they are brother and sister-wait patiently for customers to buy their vegetables. Next to them is a chai (tea) shop, with the shopkeeper preparing for morning customers by boiling tea and milk on a small gas burner. All in all, a typical Kathmandu morning scene. - Hiroji Kubota

NEPAL. Kathmandu. 1998. Many important historic buildings line the area around Durbar Square in downtown Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. In the southwestern se...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Kashgar, Xinjiang. 1999. Kashgar is the most western city of China, located about five thousand kilometers from Beijing. It is also the cultural center of the Uygurs. There is a romantic air to Kashgar, once an essential stop along the Silk Road that enthralled people like Marco Polo and the Swedish explorer Sven Hedin. There are many peddlers along the sides of the road in the old section of Kashgar. The woman here is selling boiled eggs, colored red. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Kashgar, Xinjiang. 1999. Kashgar is the most western city of China, located about five thousand kilometers from Beijing. It is also the cultural center o...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - PHILIPPINES. Manila. 1995. The Philippines has more Catholics than any other country in Asia. In 1995, Pope John Paul II visited Manila and celebrated outdoor Masses on January 14 and 15. This photo is of the first Mass, with about a million people in attendance. On the following day, a Sunday, over four million people crowded the area around Razal Park, where the Pope said the second Mass. - Hiroji Kubota

PHILIPPINES. Manila. 1995. The Philippines has more Catholics than any other country in Asia. In 1995, Pope John Paul II visited Manila and celebrated outdoor M...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - PHILIPPINES. Tawitawi. 1997. The ocean in this area has a coral reef, and the water is perfectly clear, making Tawitawi seemingly a paradise. The fishermen, though, frequently fish unlawfully, using dynamite. Also, if they see a good opportunity to do so, they immediately change from being fishermen to being pirates. It is dangerous for foreigners to visit this area unless escorted by Filipino marines, stationed nearby. - Hiroji Kubota

PHILIPPINES. Tawitawi. 1997. The ocean in this area has a coral reef, and the water is perfectly clear, making Tawitawi seemingly a paradise. The fishermen, tho...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - NEPAL. Bhaktapur. 1998. Mornings during the winter throughout the Kathmandu basin are often foggy, turning Bhaktapur with its rows of buildings seemingly from the Middle Ages, as well as Kathmandu and Patan, into fantasy cities. After the fog dissipates, the sun emerges to bring out the bright colors of the fruits and vegetables that vendors are selling, but they have few customers. - Hiroji Kubota

NEPAL. Bhaktapur. 1998. Mornings during the winter throughout the Kathmandu basin are often foggy, turning Bhaktapur with its rows of buildings seemingly from t...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Sandouping, Hubei. 1998. Construction of the world's largest dam, the Three Gorges Dam, began in 1993. It is scheduled for completion in 2009. In building the dam, one hundred million cubic meters of rock will be drilled and moved. Plans call for generating 18.2 million kilowatts of electricity per hour, with an artificial lake storing over 39 billion tons of water. This will drastically alter the landscape in the Three Gorges area. Drilling of a hill of tough granite continues, and a lock is being built to allow 10, 000 ton ships to pass as far upriver as Chongqing. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Sandouping, Hubei. 1998. Construction of the world's largest dam, the Three Gorges Dam, began in 1993. It is scheduled for completion in 2009. In buildin...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - MYANMAR (Burma). Inle Shan. 1986. The members of the Intha Tribe in Shan State live on Inle Lake. Because they live on the water and thus don't get much exercise, the men of the tribe are said to have highly developed foot muscles for manipulating their boat paddles. The Intha even grow vegetables in fields floating on the lake. The Phaung Daw U Pagoda on the lake is also famous. All boys in Myanmar (Burma) must undergo a period of Buddhist training, even if only for a short time. Although young, the boys are forbidden to eat anything between noon of one day and the next morning. - Hiroji Kubota

MYANMAR (Burma). Inle Shan. 1986. The members of the Intha Tribe in Shan State live on Inle Lake. Because they live on the water and thus don't get much exerci...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - NORTH KOREA. Pyongyang. 1992. On April 15, 1992, about fifty thousand students and school children were mobilized in a mass game to celebrate the eightieth birthday of President Kim II Sung. The ceremonies were held in a stadium in the capital city of Pyongyang. For the past several years, because of droughts, floods and other reasons, crops have languished in North Korea, and the flood situation is said to be very critical. - Hiroji Kubota

NORTH KOREA. Pyongyang. 1992. On April 15, 1992, about fifty thousand students and school children were mobilized in a mass game to celebrate the eightieth birt...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - PHILIPPINES. Mindanao. 1997. Spraying a banana field. - Hiroji Kubota

PHILIPPINES. Mindanao. 1997. Spraying a banana field.

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - VIETNAM. Hong Gai. 1997. Halong Bay is called the "Guilin of the Sea." It is one of Vietnam's most picturesque spots. Because it is situated just south of the border with China, for a long while it was off limits to foreign visitors. I was told that August is the most beautiful month to visit. A particularly enjoyable eating experience is to boil shellfish in seawater and eat them while cruising among the many islands in the bay aboard a small pleasure boat. Hong Gai is the main port in Halong Bay. - Hiroji Kubota

VIETNAM. Hong Gai. 1997. Halong Bay is called the "Guilin of the Sea." It is one of Vietnam's most picturesque spots. Because it is situated just south of the b...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Shanghai. 1996. On the nights before major holidays, such as National Day (October 1), celebrating the founding of the PeopleÕs Republic of China, and May Day (May 1), buildings are illuminated in the Waitan (Bund) area along the bank of the Huang Pu River, motor vehicle traffic is stopped, and the main road is thrown open to pedestrians. Several hundred thousand visitors crowd the area to enjoy the brightly lit night scenery. Lights from high-rise buildings and the giant TV tower in the Pudong area on the opposite side of the river add to the scene. Families enjoy eating out at the many restaurants in the area. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Shanghai. 1996. On the nights before major holidays, such as National Day (October 1), celebrating the founding of the PeopleÕs Republic of China, and Ma...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - INDIA. Calcutta. 1999. A trash dump on a corner lot in the city draws crows and ragpickers. Scenes like this are not uncommon in many Asian cities. On the other hand, some people in the same cities live in great luxury. - Hiroji Kubota

INDIA. Calcutta. 1999. A trash dump on a corner lot in the city draws crows and ragpickers. Scenes like this are not uncommon in many Asian cities. On the other

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - INDIA. Calcutta. 1999. Calcutta's air is polluted by emissions from motor vehicles with poorly maintained diesel engines, the smoke from factory chimneys, and the smoke from rusty incinerators on wheels used for burning trash in the city. When rain falls during the monsoon season, sewer water backs up onto the streets. Seen here are two barefooted bearers carrying heavy loads on their heads as they trudge along an uneven road. - Hiroji Kubota

INDIA. Calcutta. 1999. Calcutta's air is polluted by emissions from motor vehicles with poorly maintained diesel engines, the smoke from factory chimneys, and t...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - INDIA. Mumbai (Bombay). 1999. During the morning rush hour, trains arriving at the Victoria Terminus every five minutes or so from the suburbs of Mumbai are so crowded that passengers hang from their sides. It was also surprising to see the commuters-mostly men, but also some women-squatting to relieve themselves, without great concern, on the side of the tracks even when trains were passing. - Hiroji Kubota

INDIA. Mumbai (Bombay). 1999. During the morning rush hour, trains arriving at the Victoria Terminus every five minutes or so from the suburbs of Mumbai are so ...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - NEPAL. Lukla. 1998. Lukla, a village located about 150 kilometers northeast of Kathmandu, Nepal's capital, I encircled by several six-thousand-meter mountains. After a runway was recently complete that let small airplanes fly in and out of here, Lukla became a favorite base for trekkers from around the world who view the Himalayas, especially Mt. Everest. During the peak season in November and December, it is difficult to obtain air tickets. Even during that time, however, the sherpas continue to take their yak out and work their farmland. - Hiroji Kubota

NEPAL. Lukla. 1998. Lukla, a village located about 150 kilometers northeast of Kathmandu, Nepal's capital, I encircled by several six-thousand-meter mountains. ...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - THAILAND. Naisoi, Mae Hong Son 1999. The members of the Padaung Tribe in Kaya State in Myanmar (Burma) traditionally engage in farming. For more than ten years, however several hundred members of the tribe have been living as refugees after having escaped to Thailand from Myanmar because of the military government there. The Padaungs are not allowed to farm in Thailand and live on income earned from tourists attracted to the women of the tribe, called "giraffe women". From childhood, these women wear layers of brass rings around their necks. Indeed, Padaungs are also called the "long-neck" tribe. - Hiroji Kubota

THAILAND. Naisoi, Mae Hong Son 1999. The members of the Padaung Tribe in Kaya State in Myanmar (Burma) traditionally engage in farming. For more than ten years,...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. De'an, Jiangxi. 1998. Together with Sandong Province, Jiangxi Province is China's center of duck farms. The ducks used for preparing the famous Beijing duck dishes have white feathers, while almost all the ducks prepared in Jiangxi Province have brown feathers. Here at the Gong Zing Ban Duck Farm, seventy workers process an average of 1,500 ducks each day. About forty of the workers are women. Their job is to pluck the final pieces of feather from the ducksÕ skin. The women ingeniously hold a piece of twine in their mouth, keeping both hands free to wind the twine around the remaining pieces of feather quills and pluck them. Although their base pay is low, the women also receive 0.5 yuan (about $ .07) for each duck they process. A skilled woman can process eighty ducks a day. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. De'an, Jiangxi. 1998. Together with Sandong Province, Jiangxi Province is China's center of duck farms. The ducks used for preparing the famous Beijing d...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - INDIA. Calcutta. 1999. Mother and child, early morning in busy downtown Calcutta live in poverty. - Hiroji Kubota

INDIA. Calcutta. 1999. Mother and child, early morning in busy downtown Calcutta live in poverty.

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Guilin, Guangxi. 1980. Guilin has a rainy period that begins between the third week in March and the second week in April. About two weeks afterward, the rice farmers in the area begin planting rice in wet paddies. The villages of the Yangti (shown here) and Xingping run along the Li Jiang River, and this entire area, together with Gaotian, comprise some of the most beautiful scenery in China. The influence of the beauty of Fuilin and the Huangshan Mountains in the Anhui Province on the Chinese poets and painters is immesurable. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Guilin, Guangxi. 1980. Guilin has a rainy period that begins between the third week in March and the second week in April. About two weeks afterward, the...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - VIETNAM. Sa Pa.1999. H'mong & Zao tribes at market on Sunday. Children's hands stained from dying clothes. - Hiroji Kubota

VIETNAM. Sa Pa.1999. H'mong & Zao tribes at market on Sunday. Children's hands stained from dying clothes.

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - INDIA. Jaipur, Rajasthan. 1998. Castle walls enclose the old city section of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan State. Because the castle walls and the walls of the homes in Jaipur are painted pink, the city is also called the "Pink City." Near Ghat Gate a market opens from early morning where milk (mainly from water buffalo) is sold. Persons influenced by Indian culture like to drink strong tea, usually a number of cups a day, with lots of milk and sugar in it. - Hiroji Kubota

INDIA. Jaipur, Rajasthan. 1998. Castle walls enclose the old city section of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan State. Because the castle walls and the walls of t...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Jiaxian, Shaanxi. 1998. Jiaxian is located about there hundred kilometers northeast of Yan'an. In this area is a large plateau of loess, yellowish-brown loam mainly carried from the northwest region of China by the wind and deposited here. The Huange He River (Yellow River) flows nearby, but a lack of facilities prevents use of the riverÕs water for irrigation. Crops cultivated here on the terraced fields are mainly potatoes, corn, and a little wheat. Because the land is so arid, and a successful harvest depends greatly on rain. The farmers are poor but very proud of the historic role YanÕan played in the revolution. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Jiaxian, Shaanxi. 1998. Jiaxian is located about there hundred kilometers northeast of Yan'an. In this area is a large plateau of loess, yellowish-brown ...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - INDIA. Calcutta. 1999. Early morning in Calcutta sees the food stalls on the streets preparing for the days business. Many young boys work in these stalls. Besides preparing food, they also make deliveries and do the cleaning up, working right through until late at night. They sleep on stools they line up by the stalls or in a corner at the side of the street. They get almost no time off, and I imagine they get paid very little. - Hiroji Kubota

INDIA. Calcutta. 1999. Early morning in Calcutta sees the food stalls on the streets preparing for the days business. Many young boys work in these stalls. Besi...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - INDIA. Darbhanga, Bihar. 1999. Among the persons who suffered from flooding in this area, perhaps those who were able to live temporarily in tents put up on towns and villages were more fortunate than those who could only escape to the sides of the roads. Many of the people who fled the flooding took livestock with them. They thus faced the double difficulty of obtaining food for themselves and the animals. Maybe that helps to account for why I saw lines of people here and there leading water buffalo and other livestock toward the marketplace to sell them. They no doubt had the selling prices for their livestock beaten down. - Hiroji Kubota

INDIA. Darbhanga, Bihar. 1999. Among the persons who suffered from flooding in this area, perhaps those who were able to live temporarily in tents put up on tow...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - INDONESIA. Pematangsianstar, Sumatra. 1998. With annual production of four million tons, Indonesia is the world's second largest producer of palm oil, nest only to MalaysiaÕs annual production of eight million tons. A strong demand exists for palm oil today because it is low in cholesterol. The trees from which palm oil I extracted are between five and twenty-five years old. After twenty-five years the trees are cut down and seedlings are once again planted. Palm tree groves require a great deal of labor. Also, there is growing concern about the random development of palm tree plantations and the negative influence they may have on the regionÕs ecological chain. - Hiroji Kubota

INDONESIA. Pematangsianstar, Sumatra. 1998. With annual production of four million tons, Indonesia is the world's second largest producer of palm oil, nest only...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - INDIA. Darbhanga, Bihar. 1999. In India, the monsoon season reaches its peak in July and August. When it starts raining during these two months it doesnÕt stop for hours. Women with no umbrellas carry packages on their heads in the rain and get soaking wet. - Hiroji Kubota

INDIA. Darbhanga, Bihar. 1999. In India, the monsoon season reaches its peak in July and August. When it starts raining during these two months it doesnÕt stop

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Turpan, Xinjiang.1983. The Gobi Desert stretches across Nei Mongol, Gansu, and Xinjiang. Here in Turpan, it is called the "Great Gobi Desert", to differentiate it from other parts of the desert. For hundreds of kilometers, fist-size rocks covers the ground like a carpet. It is impossible to cultivate the soil, but some say valuable resources buried underground in many places. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Turpan, Xinjiang.1983. The Gobi Desert stretches across Nei Mongol, Gansu, and Xinjiang. Here in Turpan, it is called the "Great Gobi Desert", to differe...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - INDIA. Gaya, Bihar. 1999. Bihar is India's poorest state. Not far from Bodh Gaya, on of Buddhism's holiest places, I came across a spot where thousands of workers were carrying rocks for pulverization by a machine to produce stones for construction use. Women work more than ten hours a day to earn only forty rupees (about one dollar). Even at that pay rate, the women said they felt lucky to have work. - Hiroji Kubota

INDIA. Gaya, Bihar. 1999. Bihar is India's poorest state. Not far from Bodh Gaya, on of Buddhism's holiest places, I came across a spot where thousands of worke...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - INDONESIA. Tabang, Kalimantan. 1996. A tropical rain forest second in size only to that seen in the Amazon basin used to exit in Kalimantan, the southern half of the island of Borneo. The pilot of the plane I chartered laughed wryly and said that if environmental restrictions were not introduced quickly, the rain forest in Kalimantan will disappear in about ten years. - Hiroji Kubota

INDONESIA. Tabang, Kalimantan. 1996. A tropical rain forest second in size only to that seen in the Amazon basin used to exit in Kalimantan, the southern half o...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - NEPAL. Bhadrapur. 1998. The city of Bhadrapur is located at Nepal's southernmost point, just ten kilometers from India's West Bengal State. The climate in this lower part of Nepal, just north of India, is totally different from that in the elevated regions. The soil is relatively fertile, and water paddies are common. Although this photo is of a pastoral scene, not far away are camps holding over one hundred thousand refugees of Nepalese descent from Bhutan. These people are unable to return home and have already been forced to live for ten years in their camps. - Hiroji Kubota

NEPAL. Bhadrapur. 1998. The city of Bhadrapur is located at Nepal's southernmost point, just ten kilometers from India's West Bengal State. The climate in this ...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - INDIA. Muzaffarpur, Bihar. 1999. Floods hit the northern part of Bihar State every year during the monsoon season. Part of the reason for the flooding is that a number of rivers flowing south from Nepal pass through this area to converge with the Ganga (Ganges) River. This area seems to me to have much in common with the northern part of the Hunan Province in China. Shown in the photo are friends and relatives of an old man who died of exhaustion during the flooding. The old man's body was wrapped in a blanket and placed on a rough litter on dry ground prior to temporary burial. - Hiroji Kubota

INDIA. Muzaffarpur, Bihar. 1999. Floods hit the northern part of Bihar State every year during the monsoon season. Part of the reason for the flooding is that a...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 1999. Men and women, old and young alike, work for hours taking the guts out of small fish caught in the Mekong River. Many children don't go to school but help out with this work. Most people'pay is probably just enough to cover their family's basic needs each day. - Hiroji Kubota

CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 1999. Men and women, old and young alike, work for hours taking the guts out of small fish caught in the Mekong River. Many children don't

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA. Daqing, Heilongjiang. 1982. In the winter in the cold northeastern part of China (former Manchuria), fishermen fish on rivers and lakes by opening holes through ice one to two meters thick. They feed nets through the holes to catch prized winter fish. These fish were once also numerous in the Songhua Jiang River, but because of water pollution they have almost disappeared there. Here in the manmade lake in Daqing, the catch includes carp, grass carp, and catfish. At temperatures reaching minus 40 degrees Centigrade, the fish freeze almost the instant they are pulled from the water. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA. Daqing, Heilongjiang. 1982. In the winter in the cold northeastern part of China (former Manchuria), fishermen fish on rivers and lakes by opening holes ...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - CHINA.Turpan. Xinjiang. 1984. People are often dig wells in the Gobi Desert to reach underground water. - Hiroji Kubota

CHINA.Turpan. Xinjiang. 1984. People are often dig wells in the Gobi Desert to reach underground water.

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - MYANMAR (Burma). Pagan. 1986. For about two hundred years from the middle of the eleventh century, the Pagan Dynasty ruled this country and enjoyed greatly prosperity. During those two centuries, about thirteen thousand Buddhist pagodas and stupas were build along the banks of the Irrawaddy River in the Pagan area. Hundreds of splendid structures from that period are extant to this day. In fact, "Ankor" in the Cambodia and the structures in Pagan comprise two of the finest sets of cultural assets in all of Southeast Asia. People living in the Pagan area, however, are poor. They cultivate small plots of arable land and raise mountain sheep. Because of insufficient capital, they are unable to use water from the great Irrawaddy for irrigation. - Hiroji Kubota

MYANMAR (Burma). Pagan. 1986. For about two hundred years from the middle of the eleventh century, the Pagan Dynasty ruled this country and enjoyed greatly pros...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - INDONESIA. Wamena, Irian Jaya. 1998. The flight from Jakarta to Jayapura, the capital of Irian Jaya Province, takes nine hours. Another hours southward aboard a small propeller-driven cargo plane can then carry you to Wamena, a small town encircled by four-thousand-meter mountains. Peoples of the Dani, Lani, an Jali tribes inhabit this area. They cultivate crops such as sweet potatoes, corn, and peanuts. Traditionally the men wear very little clothing. Many of those who work the fields wear only a sheath called a kotega. - Hiroji Kubota

INDONESIA. Wamena, Irian Jaya. 1998. The flight from Jakarta to Jayapura, the capital of Irian Jaya Province, takes nine hours. Another hours southward aboard a...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - INDIA. Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. 1998. The area around Jaisalmer, on the western edge of India, near the border with Pakistan, has many military installations. The city, however seems to date from the Middle Ages. Vegetable markets in the city do a brisk business, and sacred cows are apt to appear suddenly from any direction. - Hiroji Kubota

INDIA. Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. 1998. The area around Jaisalmer, on the western edge of India, near the border with Pakistan, has many military installations. Th...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - NEPAL. Bhaktapur. 1998. Bhaktapur, Nepal's ancient capital, is about 10 kilometers east of downtown Kathmandu. Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan-a city bordering on Kathmandu-have been designated World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. All three have central squares named Durbar in their old city centers. Narrow streets encircle the squares, spreading out net-like. Almost all the homes here are two or three-story brick houses. They characteristically have small wood-framed windows on the second and third floors. One morning passing through this area I came upon a group of men butchering their water buffalo for meat that day. - Hiroji Kubota

NEPAL. Bhaktapur. 1998. Bhaktapur, Nepal's ancient capital, is about 10 kilometers east of downtown Kathmandu. Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan-a city bordering ...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - VIETNAM. Ben Tre. 1999. The most affluent area in the Mekong Delta is the Can Tho Provience. Farmers in Can Tho harvest four rice crops a year. Ben Tre, however, although located fairly near Can Tho, is a poor area. Salt water flows upstream from the ocean along Ben Tre so that rice can only be harvested once a year, during the monsoon season, when the water level of the Mekong River is high. On the other hand, coconut trees are hardy in this climate, and the production of cakes called mutdua, which use coconut as an ingredient, is brisk. - Hiroji Kubota

VIETNAM. Ben Tre. 1999. The most affluent area in the Mekong Delta is the Can Tho Provience. Farmers in Can Tho harvest four rice crops a year. Ben Tre, however...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - PHILIPPINES. Manila. 1995. In November 1996, on the occasion of hosting a meeting of the APEC countries in Subic City, situated over 100 kilometers west of Manila, former President Ramos ordered the forced closing of the huge Smokey Mountain rubbish dump, calling it a "national disgrace". Despite strong opposition from local residents, Smokey Mountain was closed. Although the original Smokey Mountain, a symbol of Asian poverty, thus vanished, other Smokey Mountains exist. - Hiroji Kubota

PHILIPPINES. Manila. 1995. In November 1996, on the occasion of hosting a meeting of the APEC countries in Subic City, situated over 100 kilometers west of Mani...

ASIA. Can we feed ourselves? - INDIA. Delhi. 1999. On "Chawri Bazar" Street, men squat in front of restaurants until someone pays for food. - Hiroji Kubota

INDIA. Delhi. 1999. On "Chawri Bazar" Street, men squat in front of restaurants until someone pays for food.