"Portfolio" (by Allan Lissner)

Young Bangladeshi child.

Thu, 08 May 2008 06:03:30 +0000

Young Bangladeshi child.
view full-size image

A mother and children rushing through traffic in the streets of Dhaka.

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:44:20 +0000

A mother and children rushing through traffic in the streets of Dhaka.
view full-size image

A young girl caring for her younger sibling walks down an alley in a small villiage on the outskirts of Dhaka.

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:44:20 +0000

A young girl caring for her younger sibling walks down an alley in a small villiage on the outskirts of Dhaka.
view full-size image

Ramon's daughter-in-law

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:19:47 +0000

Ramon's daughter-in-law
view full-size image

In Pili, Mindoro, Henry (second left) and his family enjoy a meal consisting of rice, fish and vegetables. The province of Oriental Mindoro is ranked third as the province which produces the most food in the Philippines, and is known as the “food basket” of the southern Luzon region. The food security of Mindoro is under threat, however, by Crew Minerals’ (now Intex Resources) proposed nickel mine. The proposed mine site is located within a critical watershed area that provides the irrigation for 70% of the province’s vital rice fields and fruit plantations. Despite widespread opposition to the mine from all levels of the local population, the company maintains that the local population welcomes the project. Crew has lied to the people of Mindoro by claiming that the proposed method of submarine tailings disposal is environmentally safe and practiced in their home country Canada, when in fact this method is banned in Canada. © Allan Cedillo Lissner/GlobalAware

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:40:33 +0000

In Pili, Mindoro, Henry (second left) and his family enjoy a meal consisting of rice, fish and vegetables. The province of Oriental Mindoro is ranked third as the province which produces the most food in the Philippines, and is known as the “food basket” of the southern Luzon region. The food security of Mindoro is under threat, however, by Crew Minerals’ (now Intex Resources) proposed nickel mine. The proposed mine site is located within a critical watershed area that provides the irrigation for 70% of the province’s vital rice fields and fruit plantations. Despite widespread opposition to the mine from all levels of the local population, the company maintains that the local population welcomes the project. Crew has lied to the people of Mindoro by claiming that the proposed method of submarine tailings disposal is environmentally safe and practiced in their home country Canada, when in fact this method is banned in Canada. © Allan Cedillo Lissner/GlobalAware
view full-size image

Young student during prayers in school in Mindoro, Philippines.

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:05:36 +0000

Young student during prayers in school in Mindoro, Philippines.
view full-size image

Lilia’s husband, Peter, had worked at the Lepanto mine for seventeen years when all 1,787 workers went on strike in 2005. The workers were on strike for three months demanding better wages, benefits and job security to reflect the dangers of their jobs. Management refused to meet their demands and responded by firing the 19 union leaders behind the strike, including Peter. After lengthy negotiations, the 19 union leaders eventually accepted their dismissals in exchange for the reinstatement of the other striking workers. The labour disputes have been ongoing with workers complaining that the company often delays or withholds their salaries to control them. Peter has been trying to find a new job without any luck for two years and recurring health problems have been making his job hunt increasingly difficult. With Peter unable to find work, the burden of supporting the family now falls on the shoulders of his wife Lilia, sitting here with their daughter Trixie. Lilia has no formal education so her prospects are limited. The only real option available to her is to work abroad as one of the millions of Filipino domestic servants employed all over the world. “I would like very much to work in Canada”, she says, “it must be like paradise there...do you know anyone who needs a house worker?” But even in places like Canada, she knows Filipino domestic workers are alone and vulnerable. About a month before this picture was taken, she heard reports about a girl from the neighboring town of Ifugao who was murdered while working as a domestic servant in a mansion in Toronto. But apart from her personal safety, what troubles Lilia most is the thought of being separated from her family. © Allan Cedillo Lissner/GlobalAware

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:41:34 +0000

Lilia’s husband, Peter, had worked at the Lepanto mine for seventeen years when all 1,787 workers went on strike in 2005. The workers were on strike for three months demanding better wages, benefits and job security to reflect the dangers of their jobs. Management refused to meet their demands and responded by firing the 19 union leaders behind the strike, including Peter. After lengthy negotiations, the 19 union leaders eventually accepted their dismissals in exchange for the reinstatement of the other striking workers. The labour disputes have been ongoing with workers complaining that the company often delays or withholds their salaries to control them. Peter has been trying to find a new job without any luck for two years and recurring health problems have been making his job hunt increasingly difficult. With Peter unable to find work, the burden of supporting the family now falls on the shoulders of his wife Lilia, sitting here with their daughter Trixie. Lilia has no formal education so her prospects are limited. The only real option available to her is to work abroad as one of the millions of Filipino domestic servants employed all over the world. “I would like very much to work in Canada”, she says, “it must be like paradise there...do you know anyone who needs a house worker?” But even in places like Canada, she knows Filipino domestic workers are alone and vulnerable. About a month before this picture was taken, she heard reports about a girl from the neighboring town of Ifugao who was murdered while working as a domestic servant in a mansion in Toronto. But apart from her personal safety, what troubles Lilia most is the thought of being separated from her family. © Allan Cedillo Lissner/GlobalAware
view full-size image

Class assignment in Mindoro, Philippines.

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:06:18 +0000

Class assignment in Mindoro, Philippines.
view full-size image

Maximo and his grand-daughter in Mindoro, Philippines.

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:07:05 +0000

Maximo and his grand-daughter in Mindoro, Philippines.
view full-size image

[untitled]

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:07:53 +0000

view full-size image

© Allan Cedillo Lissner/GlobalAware

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:08:45 +0000

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:09:33 +0000

Luningning, of the Alangan tribe, with her granddaughter in the village of Kisluyan. The Alangan are one of 8 indigenous tribes in Mindoro, known collectively as the Mangyans. The Mangyans, who once occupied the whole island, are peaceful people who shy away from confrontation. As more and more settlers began moving to the island, the Mangyans were gradually pushed higher and higher into the mountains. Now, with the proposed opening of the mine threatening to push them off their land, they are left with nowhere to go. © Allan Cedillo Lissner/GlobalAware

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:10:26 +0000

Luningning, of the Alangan tribe, with her granddaughter in the village of Kisluyan. The Alangan are one of 8 indigenous tribes in Mindoro, known collectively as the Mangyans. The Mangyans, who once occupied the whole island, are peaceful people who shy away from confrontation. As more and more settlers began moving to the island, the Mangyans were gradually pushed higher and higher into the mountains. Now, with the proposed opening of the mine threatening to push them off their land, they are left with nowhere to go. © Allan Cedillo Lissner/GlobalAware
view full-size image

Albert has worked in the Lepanto mine for fifteen years trying to support his family of ten. But his wages are not enough to support all of them so his wife has had to leave for the city with their four oldest children to sell fruit in the market. Many of the men risking their lives underground say they feel exploited as they struggle to provide for their families while the company profits in the millions. The miners have no masks to protect them from chemicals and dust, they work wearing nothing but helmets, boots, and briefs, and have to pay for their own treatment when they fall ill. But Albert has no doubt that it’s a sacrifice he’s willing to make. “My family”, he says, “are my inspiration.” Together with his wife, they are putting their children through school in the hope that they will have better lives. It is this hope that gets him out of bed every morning to go back underground. © Allan Cedillo Lissner/GlobalAware

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:11:16 +0000

Albert has worked in the Lepanto mine for fifteen years trying to support his family of ten. But his wages are not enough to support all of them so his wife has had to leave for the city with their four oldest children to sell fruit in the market. Many of the men risking their lives underground say they feel exploited as they struggle to provide for their families while the company profits in the millions. The miners have no masks to protect them from chemicals and dust, they work wearing nothing but helmets, boots, and briefs, and have to pay for their own treatment when they fall ill. But Albert has no doubt that it’s a sacrifice he’s willing to make. “My family”, he says, “are my inspiration.” Together with his wife, they are putting their children through school in the hope that they will have better lives. It is this hope that gets him out of bed every morning to go back underground. © Allan Cedillo Lissner/GlobalAware
view full-size image

Sheila is one of 258 men, women, and children, from Mtakuja village who were displaced in late July 2007 to make way for an expansion of the Geita Gold Mine. â€œWe were invaded by administration police officers in the middle of the night, who shoved us out of our houses. We were not given even a chance to take our belongings,â€* laments Abdallah Abedi, a former village executive officer, â€œwe were moved here like people in a war-torn country, and now we are all tucked into a small place like prisoners who have committed the worst of crimes.â€* One week after this photo was taken the villagers were informed by the local government that they would be evicted all over again from their current campsite. No provisions have been made for them, however, and they have nowhere to go.

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:12:10 +0000

Sheila is one of 258 men, women, and children, from Mtakuja village who were displaced in late July 2007 to make way for an expansion of the Geita Gold Mine. â€œWe were invaded by administration police officers in the middle of the night, who shoved us out of our houses. We were not given even a chance to take our belongings,â€* laments Abdallah Abedi, a former village executive officer, â€œwe were moved here like people in a war-torn country, and now we are all tucked into a small place like prisoners who have committed the worst of crimes.â€* One week after this photo was taken the villagers were informed by the local government that they would be evicted all over again from their current campsite. No provisions have been made for them, however, and they have nowhere to go.
view full-size image

[untitled]

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:12:55 +0000

view full-size image