Agrochemicals in Argentina by Natacha Pisarenko

I want to share a photo story on the affects of agrochemicals in northern Argentina by Associated Press photographer Natacha Pisarenko. The pictures are accompanied by a story, co-written with Michael Warren. 

This is a piece of real photojournalism. Their investigation informs people about a the very real problem of agrochemicals that affects all our kitchen tables.

Pisarenko´s work gives a voice to the farmers and their children suffering the consequences of industrial farming: high rates of disease, instead of the usual political and business-based viewpoint. This story opens ones eyes to see that the problem of agrochemicals isn´t confined to the farming communities of the world. We are eating the food they produce, and it´s logically poisoned too.

To read the story enter this link: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/argentines-link-health-problems-agrochemicals

Aixa Cano, 5, who has hairy moles all over her body that doctors can't explain, sits on a stoop outside her home in Avia Terai, in Chaco province, Argentina. Although it’s nearly impossible to prove, doctors say Aixa’s birth defect may be linked to agrochemicals. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Last year in Nicaragua, AP photographer Esteban Felix also reported a health related story about sugar cane workers who are dying at alarming rates, probably for the same reason that these Argentine farmers are: toxic chemicals. You can see Esteban Felix´s story here.

Mayan Queens - Rodrigo Abd

(Photo © Rodrigo Abd -All Rights Reserved)

I want to share "Mayan Queens," a series of portraits of the 2011 participants of the National Indigenous Queen of Guatemala contest.

All his pictures are in black & white and were taken with a 19th century style wooden box camera he bought in Afghanistan.

Indigenous culture in Guatemala is very rich, and the pictures show us the great diversity of faces and clothes of the descendants of the mystical Mayans.

Abd is a photographer for the Associated Press. His work has been widely published and he as won numerous prizes, including a Pulitzer he shares with other AP photographers for coverage of the Syrian war.

To see the Mayan Queens portraits enter this link:
rodrigoabd.com/mayan-queens

For more visit his website:  rodrigoabd.com