Monday, August 31, 2015

Red Tides and Algae Blooms Part III

Red tide is a common name for a phenomenon known as an algal bloom(large concentrations of aquatic microorganisms) when it is caused by a few species of dinoflagellates and the bloom takes on a red or brown color.




















You can find Part I here and Part II here

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Ma'nene Ritual - Corpse Cleaning

Families in Toraja in South Sulawesi, Indonesia dig up the bodies of their dead relatives before washing, grooming and dressing them in fancy new clothes. Even dead children are exhume. Damaged coffins are fixed or replaced, and the mummies are then walked around the province by following a path of straight lines. The ritual is called Ma'nene, or The Ceremony of Cleaning Corpses. According to the ancient Torajan belief system, the spirit of a dead person must return to his village of origin. 





















All photos credit to Paul Koudounaris 

Monday, August 17, 2015

The Mediterranean’s Grim Tide

The dead bodies of desperate migrants who were bundled onto overcrowded boats destined for Europe, but capsize killing those on board, are washing up on Libya's beaches. Their bones, half submerged in the sand, will be buried in unmarked graves, their relatives unaware their loved ones have perished.Volunteers from Libyan Red Crescent Society collect the bodies which were swallowed and spat out by the Mediterranean Sea as they risked their lives on the perilous journey from Libya bound for the island of Lampedusa off the Italian coast. 

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 men, women and children who were able to survive treacherous journeys to Europe continued to be rescued off the coasts of Italy and Greece each day.

















Photo credit:(all)Mohamed Ben Khalifa