The land of the West Bank is disputed between Palestine and Israel but even the rocks and sand are a problem. But more and more of the earth is gone — carried away by Israeli companies and sold for building materials, a practice that creates a new legal challenge.       “Israel is transferring natural resources from the West Bank for Israeli benefit, and this is absolutely prohibited not only under international law but according to Israeli Supreme Court rulings,” said Michael Sfard, lawyer for the organization on human rights group Yesh Din.     Sand and rocks might seem like trivial resources in a country that is half desert. But with environmental restrictions they end up to be valuable. Building contractors are often caught in the Negev Desert stealing them by the truckload in the dead of night. 

Isreali settlers and settlements compose one of the most difficult challenges to peace between Palestinians and Israelis. The Israelis that go out and live in settlements come from different worlds. Those who self-identify as settlers are ideologically committed to staying on their land regardless of what their government or military think. Many of these settlers have built their communities in areas far east of Israel proper and often far east of the illegal separation Wall that encloses the majority of illegal settlements. These settlers are often willing to use violence against both Israelis and Palestinians to have their way. The settlers that live in the blocks surrounding Jerusalem largely identify themselves as ‘economic settlers’, they are the most willing to leave and repatriate back to Israel; while they are at the same time those settlements least likely to be conceded by Israel in negotiations.

Most settlements begin as ‘outposts’. These are often composed of just a few families who live in caravans whilst awaiting infrastructure and financial support from the state and other sympathetic communities both inside Israel and abroad.

The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) is the military branch of the Karen National Union (KNU). At the time of Burma's independence from the British in 1948, there was tension between the Karen community and Burma. Some Karens sought independence while others attempted co-existence within Burma. In early 1949, portions of a socialist political militia raised by the government went on a rampage in Karen civilian areas. The Burmese government arrested the Karen leader of the armed forces and replaced him with radical Burmese anti-Karen nationalist. This action led to civil war and since then men are living with double status of farmers that fight for their land.

Poverty is defined differently in every country. In Greece in general the limit of poverty is defined from the yearly income under 6500euros. In Germany it is the double and in Luxemburg it is 2.5 times bigger. 700.000 elderly people are living under the limit of poverty. Besides the fact that they can’t work, they have an increased need of medical attention and medicine.

According to the standards of Danemark, that is a ideal of the new socialist governement of Greece, 40% of the Greeks are under the Danish limit of poverty. 20.000 people are receiving food from the church and the City of Athens. 2,2 million Greeks are living under the limit of poverty. 25% of the working people are getting paid less than 750euros per month as the lower salary is around 60% of the lower salaries of other European countries when the basic food prices are higher than in most European countries.

30% of the population is getting paid between 750 and 1000euros.

In 2004 Athens spent more than £9 billion on staging the Olympics. The economic gap from the games was tremendous. Greece was left with a national budget deficit of 6.1 per cent, more than twice the maximum allowed under European Union rules. The infrastructure, which was installed in such haste, has proven to be far too extravagant for the city. It is difficult to imagine there was ever much local interest in continuing to use the baseball, kayaking, fencing and handball facilities down the coast at Hellenikon. A few miles outside the city centre, the sprawling Faliron complex that once hosted the beach volleyball and taekwondo competitions is deserted and a lone security guard has not been able to deter youths from spraying the walls with slogans. Inside one of the buildings, puddles of water are dotted across the marble floor. At Hellenikon, piles of rubbish are mounting behind heavily padlocked gates and electrical cables hang loose from the walls. On one bridge, every light fitting has been wrenched out, while crumbling concrete is ubiquitous, a sign of the speed at which the complex was built.

Many Athenians were unhappy at the huge sums involved in building the Olympic venues. However, national pride has mostly overwhelmed any residual anger or resentment.

Santorini: tradition vresus development

New buildings destined to be hotels or apartments for rent are growing everywhere in Santorini changing the aspect of the island. As a result of this uncontrolled development traditional products are becoming rare to find and he economy of the island is based on tourism. Wine was one of the most important products of Santorini, one of the most touristic islands of Greece. Vineyards are becoming more and more rare and are replaced by buildings and hotels.

New Yorkers

For all us people that have television in our houses, New Yorkers have become like a special tribe. The city of New York is their homeland,  Central Park is their park, their criminals, waitresses, priests, doctors are our heroes. We see them everyday either in series or movies. We have made in our minds typologies, anthropologic categories in which we put them depending their age, sex, the style of their clothes.

This is around of the city with live heroes…its people.