Images by Timothy Lesle (Lightstalkers)

An overturned coal truck lies near a coal mine and processing facility. Southern Shanxi.

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 17:45:34 +0000

An overturned coal truck lies near a coal mine and processing facility. Southern Shanxi.
An overturned coal truck lies near a coal mine and processing facility. Southern Shanxi.

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 21:23:51 +0000

An opera singer walks through the crowd during a performance to commemorate the coal god in a mining town.
An opera singer walks through the crowd during a performance to commemorate the coal god in a mining town.

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 21:22:35 +0000

Hao Zifu, a retired coal miner, in his home. He expects his house to collapse due to the mining. "Let it bury us," he said. "We have no place to live."
Hao Zifu, a retired coal miner, in his home. He expects his house to collapse due to the mining. "Let it bury us," he said. "We have no place to live."

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 21:16:00 +0000

A shepherd guides a herd of goats past burning farmland. Many farmers worry that mining will ruin their livelihoods. Mining has caused the ground to slump, causing huge cracks in the terraced fields that prevent plowing with cattle. Farmers also believe that mining has caused the area to dry up.
A shepherd guides a herd of goats past burning farmland. Many farmers worry that mining will ruin their livelihoods. Mining has caused the ground to slump, causing huge cracks in the terraced fields that prevent plowing with cattle. Farmers also believe that mining has caused the area to dry up.

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 21:12:33 +0000

Hao Hwa Lin, 25, rolls dough to make noodles for lunch. He is among villagers whose homes are falling apart due to underground mining.
Hao Hwa Lin, 25, rolls dough to make noodles for lunch. He is among villagers whose homes are falling apart due to underground mining.

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 21:11:26 +0000

Underground coal mining, often illegal, causes the ground above to shift and subside. When this occurs in populated areas, the homes above are severely damaged, often forcing residents to abandon their homes without compensation.
Underground coal mining, often illegal, causes the ground above to shift and subside. When this occurs in populated areas, the homes above are severely damaged, often forcing residents to abandon their homes without compensation.

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 21:10:09 +0000

A cloud of sulfurous emissions from a coking plant billows over homes, shops, and farmland on the outskirts of the city of Xiaoyi.
A cloud of sulfurous emissions from a coking plant billows over homes, shops, and farmland on the outskirts of the city of Xiaoyi.

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 21:09:00 +0000

A worker hauls rock from an illegal coal mine he is helping to excavate.
A worker hauls rock from an illegal coal mine he is helping to excavate.

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 21:09:00 +0000

Posters and calendars depicting Chairman Mao line the walls of the farmer Sun Maishuan's home. Sun feels left behind by the newly rich coal barons and longs for the days when socialism was enforced. Meanwhile, rampant underground mining has damaged his fields.
Posters and calendars depicting Chairman Mao line the walls of the farmer Sun Maishuan's home. Sun feels left behind by the newly rich coal barons and longs for the days when socialism was enforced. Meanwhile, rampant underground mining has damaged his fields.