Aren't we lucky

We in western industrialised countries are very lucky. Recently I went on a trip to a town called Mae Sot on the border of Thailand and Myanmar (Burma). There, I came across a Burmese refugee camp where some 4500 people live. All these people have escaped the problems and troubles in their own country. Beautiful spot surrounded by mountains but what a way to live. These people have no hope other than charity hand outs or government concessions (from Myanmar or Thailand) and their future is so uncertain. So, what problems do we have in the west - none I suggest. There were some vicious looking, fully armed guards around who were surveying me with deep suspicion so I did not feel comfortable taking any film or photos.

Here in Chiang Mai every morning on a road leading into the city centre, there are 100's of people standing waiting for work - see photos. The majority of these people are Burmese refugees and vehicles will turn up and take them off to work on building sites, farms or factories for a minimal wage of maybe 100/200 baht per day (currently 50 baht to the pound). It reminds of the Marlon Brand 1950's film, On the Waterfront, where poor dock workers had to wait on the docks and see if they were going to get picked and earn some money that day. Isn't it a social injustice that here we are in the 2000's and people are still starving and having to bow, scrape and beg for work and for money. What chance do they have in life - there is no possibility of escaping their poverty trap and they are looked upon as pariahs by the Thai authorities. Quick, give me a soap box I feel a speech coming on.