Deal reached to ban cluster bombs, a photo from Liban-Sud, West

Photographer's Note

Un accord a 彋� trouv� hier avec plus de 100 nations pour bannir les "cluster bombs". A cette occasion, je vous montre le poste de commandement des d幦ineurs belges au Liban. A chaque fois qu'un sous-munition est trouv嶪, il faut 彋endre la zone de recherche sur la carte que l'on voit � droite. La bombe l歊h嶪, le travail de ramassage prend des mois...

The picture shows the Belgian command post. Each time they find a cluster bomb, they have to expand the search zone. The work is incredibly slow and it takes a very long period of time to clean up those areas...

CNN:

More than 100 nations meeting in Dublin, Ireland, agreed Wednesday on a treaty that would immediately ban all cluster bombs, a spokesman for the Cluster Munition Coalition told CNN.
The accord calls for a total, immediate ban of the weapons, strong standards to protect those injured by them, contaminated areas to be cleaned up as quickly as possible and for the weapons to be immediately destroyed, he said.
Thomas Nash, coordinator of the CMC campaigning organization, said: "This is a great achievement for everyone who has been working hard to see the end of 40 years of suffering from these weapons."
Though some of the biggest makers of cluster bombs, including the United States, Russia, China and Israel, were not involved in the talks and have not signed the accord, organizers predicted that those nations would nevertheless be pressured into compliance.
"Take the United States," Nash said. "Almost all of its allies are here. They've decided to ban these weapons. That's going to make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the United States to ever use these weapons again, either on its own or in joint operations."

Model: NIKON D300
Date taken: mardi 26 f憝rier 2008 12:38:59
Exposure time [s]: 1/200
Exposure program: Normal
Exposure mode: Auto
Exposure bias [EV]: 0,0
F-Number: F7,1
Focal length [mm]: 29
ISO value: 200
Flash: Not fired
Metering mode: Multi-segment
White balance: Auto

dragonslayero, jhm, danos, Muse, sevy, thea0211, zmey, Pascale, patdeph, xavshot, rodgerg, Philippe, noborders, ls7902, dvlazar, pboehringer has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ribeiroantonio (22730) 2008-05-29 1:58

***That's going to make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the United States to ever use these weapons again, either on its own or in joint operations***

Should we believe this statement? I really hope so, but I am very skeptical.
The photo is superb with an excellent sharpness and good B&W.
Antonio

dragonslayero (3592) 2008-05-29 2:13

Hello Marc

The ban on these weapons is a historic victory for peace and victims of these weapons.
Unfortunantly I believe that people affected will still ave to deal with the problems for many decades to come.

I feel your photo here gives a great depiction of the UN, they have done a lot of great work around the world and hopefully they will continue to do so. Hopefully also without firing a single bullet even though they have peacekeeping troops around the world.
Especially the light settings here are great, good balance between shade and highlight.
Thank you for sharing.

Odd Jarle

jemaflor (146280) 2008-05-29 3:13

salut Marc,
Bonne id嶪 de signaler cette d嶰ision ... ton clich� est une bonne composition avec mat廨iel et 幨幦ent humain.

brandstaetter (15915) 2008-05-29 3:17

Hi Marc,
a sign of hope, well captured. B&W is perfect for this theme.
Compliments, chris

francesav (749) 2008-05-29 3:44

Hi Marc,
I don't know what's your job, but this one looks to be the picture of a photoreporter!
It's a very descriptive picture and a very nice B&W.
Regards.
Francesco.

jhm (211734) 2008-05-29 4:01

Dag Marc,

Ik denk dat wij met zijn allen moeten ageren op deze onvriendelijke en vernietigde tuigen als Cluster bommen.
Wanneer dit allemaal zal opgeruimd zijn weet gewoon niemand, maar de landbouwers en kinderen zijn altijd de eerste slachtoffers.
U weet ik ben geen fan voor Z&W foto's maar deze door het werk aanvaard ik met plezier.
best dat onze Belgische trots dit kan tonen .
Goed gedaan.

Groeten,
John.

Morac (27725) 2008-05-29 4:25

Bonjour Mar,

C'est effectivement une photo et une note de circonstance m瘱e si dans les plus de 100 pays signataires il y des absences de signataire que l'on peut regretter.
Amicalement
Marc

danos (110407) 2008-05-29 4:26

Salut Marc,
benefactory for the human beens is the treaty for the prohibition of all cluster bombs,but unfortunately the main makers of cluster bombs, including the United States, Russia, China and Israel, were not signed the accord,what a pity!.Very nice documentary shot in B/W of this man in belligerent Lebanon.Informative your note as your mention for this theme.

kschanna (6) 2008-05-29 4:28

Hello Marc,

You have done a really good job with the B&W rendition. Nice composition with the 'UN' nice and clear...making a statement.

Thanks for sharing
Regards
Kamran

bantonbuju (51815) 2008-05-29 4:35

an important agreement reached... and quite a good illustration to the event - a man standing quietly under the tent held by the lorry - meaning that the veehicle deon not neet to be used "in action" any more... standing still...
let's hope that the "treaty" works in the future...
bw, j.

gilou530 (34) 2008-05-29 5:39

salut marc
une photo reportage qui passerai bien dans les news de tous les pays, le choix du N&B est bien vu pour le th幦e qui touche plus � la mort qu'au jardinage!!
amiti廥 j-2
gilbert

Muse (35030) 2008-05-29 5:41

Bonjour Marc,
Un commentaire int廨essant illustr� par une photo qui l'est tout autant.
C'est aussi cela l'esprit de TE!
Jour J-1 :-))
A demain,
Denise

faubry (35447) 2008-05-29 5:43

bonjour marc, j"aime vraiment lorsque tu nous montres des photos de ce genre, cela change et est informatif, encore une tr鋊 bonne qualit� et de tr鋊 bons de gris:
bon meeting
amiti廥
francine

sevy (58) 2008-05-29 5:49

Bonjour Marc,

J ai aussi entendu cette annonce ce matin, mais comme je m en doutais les USA, la Russie et la Chine n ont rien sign� comme auparavant et j avoue que je ne suis pas tres optimiste sur l application reelle de cette resolution meme si elle a au moins le merite d exister. J espere seulement qu elle ne servira pas de paravent.
Pour en revenir a ta photo, je trouve ton travail de post traitement tres reussit. De par les couleurs de departs c etait deja un bon candidat au passage au N&B qui permet en plus de bien faire ressortir les textures (notamment la toile de parachute). Je te soupconne meme d un petit traitement localis� pour la partie au soleil: je me trompe?

Yves.

MarianneS (15338) 2008-05-29 7:18

Bonjour Marc,
Une note int廨essante qui combin嶪 � ta photo nous offre un excellent article d'actualit�.
On sent bien la r嶧lit� du terrain... ce qui est tr鋊 impressionnant.
Au plaisir de te revoir demain :)
Bise. Marianne

thea0211 (1365) 2008-05-29 7:42

bonjour marc,
an important agreement

these photos of yours are unique i believe on TE, talking about and picturing scenes that we - living in more peaceful areas can't even imagine. but it's good to see them and it's good to talk about them - since they exist, they are a part of life on earth now. we hope they weren't, but they are. therefor it's important to learn about them.

thanks,
dora

zmey (7335) 2008-05-29 8:08

hello marc

a great, informative note about one of the world's hot issues. and a very appropriate, technically impeccable photo accompanying that. a post unfortunately rather rare (significant content wise) here, but very trek-earthy, if i may say so.

best regards,
kristaps

Pascale (10456) 2008-05-29 9:21

Bonsoir Marc
une photo en parfaite ad廦uation avec ta note ,excellent choix du n&b ici
A bient矌
Pascale

patdeph (35750) 2008-05-29 10:20

bonjour Marc
tr鋊 bonne photo de reportage nous montrant bien la r嶧lit� du terrain, accompagn嶪 d'une bonne note aussi!Le noir et blanc est excellent dans ce cas!
Amiti廥 .
Pascale

xavshot (69835) 2008-05-29 10:24

Bonsoir Marc
un m彋ier qui m'impressionne par le courage qu'il faut avoir. Bravo pour cette photo, pour son choix de n&b... l'ambiance me plait beaucoup. Bonne note int廨essante 嶲alement.
Xavier

mesutilgim (0) 2008-05-29 11:35

Hi dear Marc,
Only one word : "Great" !
Very nice pov and great compo with amazing details. A capture with creates hundreds of questions. Very interesting notes.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

wamc24120 (1031) 2008-05-29 12:05

Bonjour Marc,
J'aime bien la composition de ton image.
Le choix du noir et blanc est de circonstance pour ce style de photo, il donne un ambiance plus r嶪l.Le travail des d幦ineurs est a honor�,cela doit 皻re difficile pour eux de travailler dans des conditions hostiles.
Amicalement
Pascal

Philippe (11836) 2008-05-29 13:35

Bonjour, Marc. Apr鋊 avoir lu la derni鋨e phrase du communiqu� de CNN, je partage malheureusement le scepticisme d'Antonio. Les USA nen font qu'� leur t皻e, m瘱e si leurs alli廥 ont pris une position diff廨ente de la leur. Mais revenons-en � ta photo, je pense que tu as bien fait de passer en N&B parce que le blanc doit 皻re omnipr廥ent dans ta photo. Quand j'ai vu la miniature, j'ai m瘱e pens� que c'彋ait de l'infrarouge. C'est une bonne photo de reportage qui montre le militaire dans son travail quotidien. Le ta嶵leau en arri鋨e-plan montre la complexit� de la t歊he qui attend les d幦ineurs...

noborders (1010) 2008-05-29 13:53

On peut se r嶴ouir, 蓷 fait des ann嶪s que des ONG militent pour en arriver l� mais les principaux pays concern廥 n'ont pas donn� leur accord - enfin, malgr� tout c'est une grande avanc嶪 mais il reste tant � faire pour nettoyer tout ce qui a d嶴� 彋� "d廧os�" !
La photo est parfaite pour illustrer cet accord, les diff廨ents plans sont tr鋊 int廨essants � observer (n'est-ce pas plut矌 la gauche que la droite ? Moi aussi je n'arr皻e pas de faire des lapsus ;oD
Bravo, amiti廥,
Cath.

ls7902 (7380) 2008-05-30 1:12

A great black & white photo of the UN soldier in his working environment. I'm happy with the ban & I hope it will be banned by all nations. TFS. Regards. Latiff.

dvlazar (6662) 2008-05-30 2:02

A nice piece of photo journalistic photography. I like the serious expression and the overall composition of the shot.
Black and white works well for it.

Cheers
Dave

rodgerg (55767) 2008-05-30 3:18

Salut Marc,

Une tr鋊 belle photo reportage avec une belle utilisation du N&B (tr鋊 peu de gris mais un superbe blanc qui contraste magnifiquement avec les 幨幦ents noirs).
Amiti廥, (et bon s嶴our � Lille, je pense en effet que tu y vas)
Roger

pboehringer (770) 2008-05-30 19:18

Marc,
absolute great image to celebrate this unique step in banning these kinf of weapons that were designed more to terrify civilians than really military people. The PP with the monochromatic impression is probably a very wise choice giving the rigth contrast as the treaty is giving to other non present nations that will have to change their military business.
Peter

Polonaise (5802) 2008-05-31 6:26

I must say that I receive the news about cluster bombs banning with great, personal satisfaction and joy�
And that over 100 countries signed the treaty�(!)
Among them Ivory Coast, Nepal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, People𠏋 Republic of Chad, United Sheikanat of Bahrai and Somalia (unfortunately � only south side of that great country (Darfour included)�

Now, for the peace of the world - we should sign the treaty upon banning the machetes (so handy in cutting children𠏋 limbs in some gorgeous African countries (also: The members of UN !), and stones ( so needed for special way of treating women in Iran)�

Please don㦙 forget the iron pipes filled with explosives ( so useful at the funeral ceremonies among certain faith believers in Iraq) and Kalach AK 47 � a favorite birthday present for peace loving, innocent young boys in Afghanistan�

��..

Russia didn㦙 sign the ban�. ????????????????????????????

��..

Lovely photo, Marc�.
Great for the great occasion�

Have a great WE, good buddy�
Keep shocking�

��.

ninaL (21348) 2008-06-01 22:32

Salut, Marc.
J'彋ais sure d'avoir 嶰rit une critique pour celle-ci et je ne la vois pas ! Aurais-je fait une fausse manipulation ou bien envoy� trop vite ???
En tout cas, j'ai d嶴� vu et appr嶰i� cette image que j'aime beaucoup dans le sens documentaire et esth彋ique.
La b歊he cr嶪 un beau arri鋨e plan en enveloppant ainsi la sc鋝e avec le protagoniste.
Amicalement, Grazyna.