A Disturbing Glimpse into another Reality

Last July I did a piece on pandemic influenza and megaslums in which I briefly touch on the issue of megacities and the mega-slums attached to them and life for those dwelling in them. Today while I was buzzing around the net catching up on the happenings in the world I happened to visit CNN.com, something I haven't done in many months as I generally avail myself of other news portals. There I found a special feature titled Orphaned Boy Lives in Garbage Dump by Dan Rivers. I knew instantly what the story would be about as it is a story that is repeated on the outskirts of nearly every megacity in world.

The CNN piece happens to be about a seven year old boy in Bangkok, Thailand named Khin Zaw Lin.

He doesn't know how old he is, but he thinks he's 7. His name is Khin Zaw Lin. He's lived in a garbage dump virtually his entire life.

I find Lin walking in a festering landscape of rotting food, plastic bags and junk at the Mae Sot garbage dump in Thailand near the Thai-Myanmar border. His parents are long gone. His home is a makeshift shelter made from salvaged bags, cloth and wood.

Lin is one of about 300 refugees in the dump who survive on other people's trash. Many are children. Some are women with babies.

Their daily routine follows the same pattern: They mill about the dump, waiting for the next truck to arrive, hoping for enough discarded food to get them through the day.

Lin pokes through the rubbish with a machete. He says he collects bottles and plastic for three cents a sack. He shows me his feet, which were filthy and ribbed with cuts.

He tells me through an interpreter that he can't afford shoes. He walks barefoot through the treacherous landscape.

Continues…

 

No one has hard numbers about how many Thrown Away Children existing on their society's refuse exist throughout our world as they are willfully ignored by their governments and societies even in times classed as "normal". It would be no stretch of the imagination to assume that they are not considered in their society's pandemic plans (such as they may or may not be), and further assume that many, if not most, will be uncounted victims of a future pandemic.

These children are not only unnumbered, but will be un-ministered to, and then un-mourned should they pass from their mean and meager existence as a wave of disease passes over them and their reality.

 

Mr. Rivers closes his story with these paragraphs:

I thought I had become accustomed to the grinding poverty I had encountered in parts of Asia. I've met my fair share of children who are denied the luxury of hope. But Lin's story angers me. I feel close to losing all objectivity.

Near the end of my meeting with Lin, I ask his adopted mother if she, and Lin, would ever escape the rubbish dump.

Her answer is as hard as the world she and Lin inhabit.

"Never."

 

Should I happen to face a severe pandemic in my future I hope that I have the presence of mind to remember that no matter how bad it might be, it could be worse, I could have been born into young Lin's reality.

 

SZ

Comments

[sicksadmad]

Why are you surprised, these horrible people that make these countries like this, also raise dogs and cats for food and international fur trade. People that would eat a domestic animal could care less about humans. I am surprised the government of those countries are not eating orphins.

[doubtful]

It is nice that some people have the luxury of not eating a "domestic animal" I don't know about cats but dogs have been on the menu the world over at one time or another. From Arctic explorers to normal Korean fare.
As far as "horrible people" go, look to your own house before you condem another's. it is sad that some parts of the world do not hold human life in much esteme. Kind of makes you think about abortion doesn't it?

[SophiaZoe]

Sickandmad,

Perhaps you misunderstood my intent. I was not at all surprised, in fact, I have been aware of the Throw Away Children for well over a decade, and Bangkok is not alone in the issue. When it first came to my attention it was the garbage dumps of Mexico City, but really, you just have to look around the major metropolitan areas to find these kids living this existence.

As to "horrible people", well, you obviously have strong opinions there and I will not attempt to dissuade you, but I do find it difficult to assign a posteriori reasoning viz to the human consumption of domestic animals. Last I heard the French serve horse meat in, while not to my taste or sensibilities, culinary culture is what it is in any country. Including the Hindi belief in the Sacredness of cows, or the Muslim and Jewish dietary restrictions on pork. Perhaps they view me as barbaric for my consuming these things as you do for others who eat dogs and cats.

To each their own, and be glad that *I* don't have the power to tell everyone what they can and can't eat.

[SophiaZoe]

Doubtful,

Thank you for your comment. Well stated.