Yusuke Harada, b.1979, is Japanese photojournalist who has photographed the world’s major conflicts and its hidden crisis. After studying Digital imaging technique in professional school for two years, he started his career as photojournalist covering the conflict in Gaza strip, PALESTINE. Since then, he has independently photographed and documented throughout Africa, Middle East and Asia.
“Scavenger" and “Smokey Mountain".
The poverty problem in Philippines in the past had been known to the world as these words symbolized. The sight which children have flocked to the huge garbage mountain and the people have lived in poor environment shocked the world.
But now, it seems that erstwhile symbols known worldwide of poverty in Philippines have been already becoming the past. Actually, according to World Bank, more than 40 percent of the population had been poor in 1991, but poverty incidence had been improved 32 percent in 1997. It seemed as if the poverty problem in Philippines ostensibly is improved.
Currently, Metro Manila is lined with skyscrapers, and malls and luxury designer shops have been full of people every day. It appears that poverty problem in Philippines certainly have been changing for the better.
On the one hand, however, according to recent survey in Philippines poor people have increased again and the gap between rich and poor has been widening. According to UNDP, in recent four years poor people in Philippines had increased 2 million people and has continued to increase. Philippines is the only country where poverty incidence is increasing among Southeast Asian countries have been achieved rapid economic growth.
Philippines have lost erstwhile symbols of poverty known worldwide and poverty problem in Philippines have gotten fewer to be told in the world now.
However, it seems nothing has changed the reality of pervasive poverty in this country compared with the past.