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Even though it is the X-mas season, life goes on much as usual in the village. Crops must be tended, pigs must be fed. Above, on X-mas eve some beans are laid out to dry in the sun; below and left, on X-mas morning this woman is feeding the pigs that are still left after the previous day's slaughtering.
In this village people grow such crops as rice, corn, beans, soy beans, peanuts, chilis, and others, and keep such animals as chickens, pigs, and buffalo. The Akha people have a cooperative spirit when it comes to food; when one has a surplus, it is often distributed to some other family, either for free or a very reduced price. In the recent past, many Akha people grew opium poppies that would eventually be processed into heroin, though this has been greatly reduced through a mix of enforcement, cash crop subsititution, and education. However, there are people in this village who are still deeply affected by drugs. Opium is easy to acquire and is an escape from life. The woman seen in this picture has a son who spent time in jail for drug related activities, and only recently has been able to work and support his six children. His wife recently found out that she is pregnant with a seventh child, and instead of rejoicing at the prospect of another baby in this season celebrating the birth of Jesus, she buried her face in her hands and cried. When any person on any street in any Western city does drugs, it is contributing to the imprisonment and execution of these people who are simply growing vegetables and raising animals in order to live.
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| Ed's Photos is created by Ed Kaspar Copyright © 1997-2000 All rights reserved |