scylla
reggio calabria

I was in Reggio Calabria, in the toe of Italy, for the first time in the summer of 2009, when I was invited by a friend of mine. Reggio Calabria is considerd to be the stronghold of the Calabrian mafia ‘Ndrangheta. I found the region exciting because of it's beautiful landscape and historical culture. At the same time, I discoverd that this unique environment has been defiled. This made me think of the mythological monster Scylla, a grotesque sea monster. It lived on the Calabrian side of the Straits of Messina, facing its nemesis, Charybdis. The phrase "between Scylla and Charybdis" is a metaphor for a state of being caught between two inescapable dangers. Today, Scylla could be imagined as the ‘Ndrangheta, which is involved among many other illegal activities, in the waste management and construction industries. In Reggio Calabria, corrupt practices have led to illegal, hazardous, and hasty shortcuts in waste and trash disposal and issuance of building construction licenses. The city has been transformed by pollution and countless illegal, unfinished buildings. The ‘Ndrangheta blends into communities and conducts operations in stealth. Yet, its effect is real. The power of this modern-day Scylla is strong, casting grey shadows onto the daily lives of the local people.

nanoro
burkina faso

Burkina Faso is a land-locked country in Western Africa. It is one of the poorest nations in the world. Most of the population is Muslim, but almost all people also practice animism and other traditional indigenous beliefs. The majority of Burkina’s population lives in villages isolated from the capital and government assistance. Death from malaria, malnutrition and other maladies such as HIV and viral meningitis are common. At the St. Camille Hospital the dedication of the staff and volunteers is a beacon of hope for the remote village of Nanoro and its inhabitants.

the garbage gang
kosovo