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  • Young buddist monks in the largest monastery of Mandalay walk to the diningroom to have their only meal of the day, after collecting alms from local people..--------------------------------------------------.Myanmar, formerly know as Burma, is a country located between Thailand, India, Bangladesh, China and the Bay Of Bengal. Since 1962 the country is ruled by a military junta and remains under the tight control of the military-led State Peace and Development Council. Myanmar is isolated from the world due to the many trade embargoes. The country's culture is based on Theravada Buddhism, intertwined with local elements. Myanmar has a very diverse population, with over a hundred different ethnic minorities which have played a major role in defining its politics, history and demographics in modern times, and the country continues to struggle to mend its ethnic tensions. The military regime is notorious for violating the human rights. Nobel peace price winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the opposition, has been under house arrest since 1989. In 2007 anti-government protests, led by Buddhist monks and students, were violently suppressed by the Myanmar government. Media referred to these protests as the Saffron Revolution. On May 3th 2008, Cyclone Nargis devastated the country. The government's failure to permit entry for large-scale international relief efforts was described by the United Nations as unprecedented..August 27 2009.Credit: © Guido Van Damme 2009 By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • Kawah Ijen sulphur mining.Kawah Ijen is a 2799 meter high active vulcano in West Java, which has a one-kilometer-wide turquoise-colored acid crater lake. The lake is the site of a labor-intensive sulfur mining operation..An active vent at the edge of the lake is a source of sulphur. Escaping volcanic gasses are channeled through a network of ceramic pipes, resulting in condensation of molten sulfur. The sulphur, which is coloured deep orange when molten, pours slowly from the ends of these pipes and pools on the ground, turning bright yellow as it cools down and hardens. The cooled sulphur is broken into large pieces and carried out in baskets by the miners. .Average loads range between 70 to 100 kilograms. About 250 miners carry the sulphur from the crater lake approximately 200 meters up to the crater rim before they start the several kilometres descent down the mountain. .The miners get 500 rupiah (about 5 US dollar cent) per kilo sulphur they carry down and most men make the journey twice a day. So they earn an equivalent to approximately 5.00 US Dollars a day. Most of the sulphur is sold to a nearby sugarcane refinery and is also to the pharmaceutical industry who use the sulphur in skin-care product. .The miners use insufficient protection, often only a wet cloth they put in their mouth while working in the poisonous sulphur-oxide gasses around the crater, and are susceptible to numerous respiratory complaints. According to the World Health Organisation their average life expectancy is only about 30 years. .The job often is passed on from father to son..April 22 2008.Credit: © Guido Van Damme 2008 By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • Iranian cleaner sweeps the floor in front af a money exchange agency which has a large fifty-dollar bill in their window in Mirdamad, northern Tehran..April 16,2007.Credit: © Guido Van Damme/ 2007 By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • Kawah Ijen sulphur mining.Kawah Ijen is a 2799 meter high active vulcano in West Java, which has a one-kilometer-wide turquoise-colored acid crater lake. The lake is the site of a labor-intensive sulfur mining operation..An active vent at the edge of the lake is a source of sulphur. Escaping volcanic gasses are channeled through a network of ceramic pipes, resulting in condensation of molten sulfur. The sulphur, which is coloured deep orange when molten, pours slowly from the ends of these pipes and pools on the ground, turning bright yellow as it cools down and hardens. The cooled sulphur is broken into large pieces and carried out in baskets by the miners. .Average loads range between 70 to 100 kilograms. About 250 miners carry the sulphur from the crater lake approximately 200 meters up to the crater rim before they start the several kilometres descent down the mountain. .The miners get 500 rupiah (about 5 US dollar cent) per kilo sulphur they carry down and most men make the journey twice a day. So they earn an equivalent to approximately 5.00 US Dollars a day. Most of the sulphur is sold to a nearby sugarcane refinery and is also to the pharmaceutical industry who use the sulphur in skin-care product. .The miners use insufficient protection, often only a wet cloth they put in their mouth while working in the poisonous sulphur-oxide gasses around the crater, and are susceptible to numerous respiratory complaints. According to the World Health Organisation their average life expectancy is only about 30 years. .The job often is passed on from father to son..April 22 2008.Credit: © Guido Van Damme 2008 By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • Children playing in a field near the school in West Town.....................................................................................................Tory Island (Toraigh) is an island in Ireland, located nine miles off the County Donegal coast of Northwest Ireland.The main spoken language on the island is Gaelic (Irish). The island is approximately 5 km long and 1 km wide, it has a population of about 200 people. In the 1970's the Irish government planned the evacuation of the Island, which can only be reached by boat. Protest of the local people changed the mind of the government. In the 1990's the Donegal government invested in infrastructure, build a new pier, school and promoted tourism on the Island. Approximately 15000 people visit the island every year..A king is chosen by consensus of the islanders to represent the community, a unique tradition that no longer exists anywhere else in Ireland. He has no formal powers, and some of his duties include being a spokesperson for the island and welcoming people to the island..Since the 1950s, it has been home to a small community of artists, and has its own art gallery. The English artist Derek Hill is associated with the Tory artist community..September, 2009.Credit: © Guido Van Damme 2009 By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • Kawah Ijen sulphur mining.Kawah Ijen is a 2799 meter high active vulcano in West Java, which has a one-kilometer-wide turquoise-colored acid crater lake. The lake is the site of a labor-intensive sulfur mining operation..An active vent at the edge of the lake is a source of sulphur. Escaping volcanic gasses are channeled through a network of ceramic pipes, resulting in condensation of molten sulfur. The sulphur, which is coloured deep orange when molten, pours slowly from the ends of these pipes and pools on the ground, turning bright yellow as it cools down and hardens. The cooled sulphur is broken into large pieces and carried out in baskets by the miners. .Average loads range between 70 to 100 kilograms. About 250 miners carry the sulphur from the crater lake approximately 200 meters up to the crater rim before they start the several kilometres descent down the mountain. .The miners get 500 rupiah (about 5 US dollar cent) per kilo sulphur they carry down and most men make the journey twice a day. So they earn an equivalent to approximately 5.00 US Dollars a day. Most of the sulphur is sold to a nearby sugarcane refinery and is also to the pharmaceutical industry who use the sulphur in skin-care product. .The miners use insufficient protection, often only a wet cloth they put in their mouth while working in the poisonous sulphur-oxide gasses around the crater, and are susceptible to numerous respiratory complaints. According to the World Health Organisation their average life expectancy is only about 30 years. .The job often is passed on from father to son..April 22 2008.Credit: © Guido Van Damme 2008 By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • Martapura diamond mining.Cempaka is a small village near Martapura, and 45 kilometres from Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo). The village is an old site of traditional diamond mining, using very basic equipment for digging and selecting the valuable stones. The diamonds are found in gravel and muddy sediments at depths of about 10 meters. The miners dig in groups of 10 to 20 people, using baskets to haul up mud, stones and clay. When a pit is dug to the correct depth, horizontal tunnels are then dug to the sides. The collected sediments are washed in conical wooden bowls which are swirled around. By using this traditional method the lighter material is collected towards the outside edge of the bowl, while the heavier diamonds collect at the bottom..Martapura diamonds have been praised for their excellent quality, brilliance and colour variety trough out centuries. For 3 centuries Borneo was controlled by the Dutch. During the 18th century, the Dutch annually produced approximately 50,000 carats of rough Borneo diamonds. After this period the area was controlled by the indigenous Dayak tribe. These days most of the diamond digging is done by local people. Most of the workers are members of the Banjar and Dayak (former headhunters) tribe. Every dig hole is owned by a landlord, who gets 20 percent of the earnings of the finds. 10 percent of the earnings goes to the owner of the equipment and 70 percent is divided between the diggers. This method of payment dates back centuries. .In 1985 a large raw diamond of 116.7 carats was found. Apart from diamonds, other gems and valuable stones are found in this area. Topaz, emerald, amethyst and even gold and fossils find their way to the market of Martapura, which is also well known for its gem polishing..Religion an mysticism is a part of everyday life of the diggers. This also influences the work of the diggers. Several rituals are performed for good luck, safety and rich findings. The first diamond, found b By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • Martapura diamond mining.Cempaka is a small village near Martapura, and 45 kilometres from Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo). The village is an old site of traditional diamond mining, using very basic equipment for digging and selecting the valuable stones. The diamonds are found in gravel and muddy sediments at depths of about 10 meters. The miners dig in groups of 10 to 20 people, using baskets to haul up mud, stones and clay. When a pit is dug to the correct depth, horizontal tunnels are then dug to the sides. The collected sediments are washed in conical wooden bowls which are swirled around. By using this traditional method the lighter material is collected towards the outside edge of the bowl, while the heavier diamonds collect at the bottom..Martapura diamonds have been praised for their excellent quality, brilliance and colour variety trough out centuries. For 3 centuries Borneo was controlled by the Dutch. During the 18th century, the Dutch annually produced approximately 50,000 carats of rough Borneo diamonds. After this period the area was controlled by the indigenous Dayak tribe. These days most of the diamond digging is done by local people. Most of the workers are members of the Banjar and Dayak (former headhunters) tribe. Every dig hole is owned by a landlord, who gets 20 percent of the earnings of the finds. 10 percent of the earnings goes to the owner of the equipment and 70 percent is divided between the diggers. This method of payment dates back centuries. .In 1985 a large raw diamond of 116.7 carats was found. Apart from diamonds, other gems and valuable stones are found in this area. Topaz, emerald, amethyst and even gold and fossils find their way to the market of Martapura, which is also well known for its gem polishing..Religion an mysticism is a part of everyday life of the diggers. This also influences the work of the diggers. Several rituals are performed for good luck, safety and rich findings. The first diamond, found b By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • Iranian flags and a picture of the Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini near the graves of martyrs from the Iran-Iraq war in the early eighties at Behesht-e Zahra..Behesht-e Zahra (Paradise of Zahra) is the name of the largest cemetery of Iran. It is located near the shrine of Ayatollah Khomeini in the southern part of metropolitan Tehran. Many of the martyred soldiers of the Iran-Iraq War are buried there. Traditionally, every Thursday family members visit the graves of their loved one's..April 05 2007.Credit: © Guido Van Damme/ 2007 By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • Old Buddhist monk sitting on the ground praying at Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon.<br /> Myanmar, formerly know as Burma, is a country located between Thailand, India, Bangladesh, China and the Bay Of Bengal. Since 1962 the country is ruled by a military junta and remains under the tight control of the military-led State Peace and Development Council. Myanmar is isolated from the world due to the many trade embargoes. The country's culture is based on Theravada Buddhism, intertwined with local elements. Myanmar has a very diverse population, with over a hundred different ethnic minorities which have played a major role in defining its politics, history and demographics in modern times, and the country continues to struggle to mend its ethnic tensions. The military regime is notorious for violating the human rights. Nobel peace price winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the opposition, has been under house arrest since 1989. In 2007 anti-government protests, led by Buddhist monks and students, were violently suppressed by the Myanmar government. Media referred to these protests as the Saffron Revolution. On May 3th 2008, Cyclone Nargis devastated the country. The government's failure to permit entry for large-scale international relief efforts was described by the United Nations as unprecedented..March 07 2009.Credit: © Guido Van Damme 2009 By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinedjad holds a speech.Iranian military march during Iran's Army Day in front of the shrine their late revolutinairy founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini south of Tehran..April 18,2007.Credit: © Guido Van Damme/ 2007. By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • Iranian military march during Iran's Army Day in front of the shrine their late revolutinairy founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini south of Tehran..April 18,2007.Credit: © Guido Van Damme/ 2007. By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • Nirooshadi Zoorkhaneh in Tehran<br /> Nirooshadi is the oldest Zoorkhaneh in Tehran, founded in 1926. This recently renovated site is located in Mollavi street, near the Imam Houssain Mosque in southern Tehran. Every day, except Thursday, men come to train and practice early in the morning and after evening prayer. Allthough Zoorkhaneh is for men only, women are recently allowed to come to Zoorkhaneh games, but only if the are dressed in proper Hejab (full Chador). For the first time in history Nirooshadi is planning on organising Zoorkhaneh for women in the near future.<br /> Zoorkhaneh (house of power) is the Iranian traditional form of power training. Zoorkhaneh consists of 7 main exercises practiced using special tools which are shaped after ancient weapons such as sword, mace, shield & bow. Its birth dates back to more than 800 years ago, when Persia was invaded by Mongolians and Iranian patriots gathered together and created secret groups to fight against the occupiers. According to the "Yassa" (The Mongolian law) defeated nations were not allowed to practice any martial exercise; so Iranian men began to exercise secretly in abandoned underground places far from cities. For this purpose, body building tools which were made in the shape of their weapons. They also practiced wrestling. Through wrestling competitions, the strongest man, or "Pahlevan", would be selected. <br /> Besides fighting against the intruders, the other job for Pahlevans was to help the poor & the oppressed classes of the society. So gradually a Zoorkhaneh school was not only a gymnasium, but also a place to learn chivalry, manliness, forgiveness & other moral qualities.<br /> April 22 2007<br /> Credit: © Guido Van Damme/ 2007 By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • Iranian spectators of Bachokheh in Esfarayen are being watched by soldiers..Bachokheh is a traditional form of wrestling performed on the last day of Nowrouz (Iranian Newyear) in the city Esfarayen in the provence Khorasan. This tradition is being held for over 200 years. More then 2000 people watched the tournament..3/04/07.Credit: © Guido Van Damme/ 2007 By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • Iranian soldier in roitgear at the Bachokheh wrestling game in Esfarayan..Bachokheh is a traditional form of wrestling performed on the last day of Nowrouz (Iranian Newyear) in the city Esfarayen in the provence Khorasan. This tradition is being held for over 200 years..April 3, 2007.Credit: © Guido Van Damme/ 2007 By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • Old Iranian women in Beheste Zahra cemetary, south of Teheran..April 6,2007.Credit: © Guido Van Damme/ 2007 By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • Young Iranian man in an Armani shirt waits for the next train at Horr station in the Tehran underground subway..April 5, 2007.Credit: © Guido Van Damme/ 2007 By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • Behesht-e Zahra (Paradise of Zahra) is the name of the largest cemetery of Iran. It is located near the shrine of Ayatollah Khomeini in the southern part of metropolitan Tehran. Many of the martyred soldiers of the Iran-Iraq War are buried there. Traditionally, every Thursday family members visit the graves of their loved one's..April 05 2007.Credit: © Guido Van Damme/ 2007 By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • A woman in traditional Islamic chador or hijab in Saie Park, Northern Tehran. Families come to Saie Park to have fun on Friday, traditionally the day off for Muslims..April 6, 2007.Credit: © Guido Van Damme/ 2007 By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • An Iranian woman, wearing an Islamic Shador at a public telephone in Qazvin.April 11, 2007.Credit: © Guido Van Damme/ 2007 By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • A mural on the walls surrounding the walls of the former American Embassy, showing Ayatollah Khomeini and the Iranian flag..On November 4, 1979, Iranian student militants seized U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took the embassy personnel hostage for 444 days. They demanded that U.S. return deposed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who has been admitted to U.S. for medical treatment. Washington refused. This upheaval in Iran caused Iranian Premier Mendi Bazargan and his cabinet to resign. The U.N. Security Council called on the Iranian militants to free all American hostages, While President Carter ordered all Iranians who do not comply with student visa requirements out of the country. .The embassy now houses an anti-American museum and a Revolutionary Guards unit..April 16,2007.Credit: © Guido Van Damme/ 2007 By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • Young Iranian women on the promenade at Darband..Darband is a northern suburb of Tehran and a popular place to visit for Teheranis. People spend their day on the steep walk along the river. The initial start of the walk at Darband is about 250 metres long and is dotted with a number of small cafes, restaurants, shops and hooka lounges (locally called ghavekhane sonnati). The trail is the beginning of a very popular hiking trail into the Alborz mountain Tochal, which towers over Tehran..April 13, 2007.Credit: © Guido Van Damme/ 2007 By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • Funeral of a young woman in the town of Efjeh, north-east of Tehran in the Alburz mountains..The local Mullah gives a last prayer before the body is put to earth..April 06 2007.Credit: © Guido Van Damme/ 2007 By photographer Guido Van Damme
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  • Funeral of a young woman in the town of Efjeh, north-east of Tehran in the Alburz mountains..Mourning women comfort each-other..April 06 2007.Credit: © Guido Van Damme/ 2007 By photographer Guido Van Damme
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