New Year in China and the World

In Mumbai today my photog-friend Neeraj Priyadarshi took me to see the World Press Photo 2005 exhibit. There are many remarkable pictures in the show. I especially noted Michael Wolf’s images reporting on the economic boom in China. One picture showing a group of men in front of the camera, waving arms which were missing hands, was accompanied by the following caption: “China has grown to become the world’s fifth largest exporter of merchandise, and has the world’s fastest growing economies. A huge influx of migrant workers is required to meet demand in city factories…. An average of 27 people per day lose a body part in the factories of Shenzen alone.”