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The Minamata Disease was discussed in a book I was reading today.

Unfortunately, the wiki link on the disease describes nothing about the plight of the protesters and the horrific ways Chisso used to deal with them - complete disregard at first, and then installing bars on the company's front door to prevent them from gaining access, and brutal violence - and this went on for years. Nor does the article talk about what W.E. Smith suffered to complete the photo essay on this disease - Chisso hired men who destroyed his cameras, beat him, smashed him into the pavement, crushing several vertebrae and permanently damaging his eyesight. He never fully recovered.

When I was in Year 8, my school required us to produce a "project" on a topic of our choosing. The subject I chose was "water pollution". When my dad learned about this, he showed me a big photobook produced by Life Magazine, with various memorable/powerful photographs their journalists had taken. Tomoko Uemura in Her Bath was one of the images. The picture isn't on Wikipedia, but you'll find it if you google. (It's not for the faint-hearted.)

12, 13 years later, I still can't forget that image.

I don't know why I feel the need to post about this, but now that I have, I think I can finally go to sleep.

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I was meant to be out with giving_ground and reposoir right now, but the Central Line derailed this morning and part of it is suspended. It's the rush hour and I'm really not prepared to push with all those people after being on the train for 4 hours in total today, so, am back home.

Hmm, I think it's Early Dinner Day.

*FALLS DEAD*

The NWS-ness of this photo depends solely on how you look at it.