refugees

  • Dignity is a multi-faceted photojournalism book designed for building social capital. This is about taking a moment’s pause to observe and become reminded of the socially binding commonalities that all humans share. These are our intrinsic needs to be loved and accepted, to be accepting and loving, and our necessity for a nourishing natural, healthy environment that includes familial and community connections.

    The context for delving into this notion is a community of refugees from Myanmar living on a rubbish dump located near the Thai-Myanmar border. Photographs, prose, and the translated voices of this community provide an hour-by-hour glimpse into the lives of these individuals and their families.

    Both documenting and reflecting upon this resilient community, this collaborative media-art project focuses not on the deplorable conditions amid which they live but is rather a holistic reflection on their social cohesion amid an environment of poverty and strife.

    This civil journalism work addresses global phenomena related to our greater human condition. This is in relation to the capitalist global market system, economic ‘development,’ and the inextricably linked issues regarding our natural environment(s) and socioecological ills. This project is essentially about humanity and our human rights.

    What's Revealed in This Book?

    This book’s first section reveals an hour-by-hour report of some of this dumpsite community’s daily activities. Following a heartfelt and revealing story about a ‘golden child’ of Burma who lives on this rubbish dump, this book author’s observational (and philosophical) lens offers a unique perspective that reveals insight into aspects of human behavior (and humanity) to which many of us can relate.

    In the second section, the influence that an environment can have on human well-being is briefly considered before those living at this dumpsite express themselves in their own words. Then, reflective sentiments from those who have viewed Dignity at public exhibitions reveal how this exposure has affected them and what this work is about at its core.

    Finally, a question to ask ourselves: What can we do?
  • I am offering this full color photo book in an eco-friendly and beautifully produced digital flipbook format. This version is in exact appearance as if in printed format and includes a design decorated CD and case. You will therefore be receiving not a piece of plastic in lieu of a digital download file or a printed book, but rather all of the lifestyle photography and in-depth information that is embraced with this book’s covers. I am offering Dignity Amidst the Rubbish to you in the spirit of a gift and on a gift economy basis.This does not mean “free.” In Western culture at least, free tends to be thought of as having “no value.” Instead, please consider this book a contribution. This means I cannot determine the value of its worth to you. Perhaps this book’s dynamically engineered contents will (or may not) provide you with great inspiration. My hopes are that this project will at the very least stimulate dialogue. It will certainly bring you on an adventure and expand your worldview. Readers such as yourself resultantly may want to gift me $7 or $48; some people may offer more, others an amount in-between. You will see below that I have made a value suggestion. Whatever. I just request that, in addition to pondering how this book may impact your life, you consider what it may have required for me overall to independently produce this media. Whatever the value eventually means to you, I ask that you choose the price. Not out of obligation, but because you feel inspired to give, if at all, and without regrets. Perhaps you will acquire the book and then decide to give more. This would be okay too. You will be directly supporting Jeff's Journalism and this project. This book belongs to Us all. Click here and view a 44-page preview gallery of the 132-page full color book.

    ( You may alter the number displayed below to that of your self-determined gifting amount. )

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