Author: Uspecto

Greyhound racing as a sport has its origins in the hunt. Irish hounds were reputedly known in ancient Rome and in Elizabethan England.

The sport in its modern form came to Ireland in 1927, when electric hares were run in Belfast and Dublin. This development transformed greyhound racing from a popular rural pastime to a major urban attraction. By 1960 Ireland had 22 registered venues, four of which were in Northern Ireland.

Ireland is unique in the world of Greyhound Racing. Many of the owners and trainers have dogs as their family pets where individualized care is of extreme importance. Many people derive their income from this industry. Owners and trainers utilize it as a hobby. Bord na gCon (The Irish Greyhound Board) monitors throughout the country, ensuring the kennels and stadia maintain the highest standards in the care of the dogs.

Photographer’s statement:
I’m aware that this is a very controversial subject. I’ve seen many horrible stories about how people treat greyhounds when they are not good anymore on track. However, during that time when I was making this project, I saw only passion and love for those animals.
I’m a dog lover and I truly believe there are still genuine owners and trainers for whom I dedicate this project.

Irish love for horses is known worldwide. Keeping horses without a license in an urban area is prohibited under the 1996 Control of Horses Act. But young residents of north Dublin don’t pay too much attention to regulations. They just want to have some fun. Teenagers’ dream here it’s not a bike or motorcycle but a pony or horse. Animals are kept in garages, sheds or just in the backyards and there were cases of mistreated animals reported.

Most of the residents don’t mind the horses in the area and think it keeps kids out of the trouble, others suggest moving animals for pastures outside the urban area, because free-roaming animals and riders disturb traffic.

Horse market at Smithfield, Dublin city centre is a place where horse breeders gather on the first Sunday of every month to buy and sell horses, ponies or just to chat with old friends from horse business. Teenagers from Dublin ride to the market on their ponies as well…

Unfortunately, the recession took its toll on horses and ponies. Many of them have been left to survive on their own after being abandoned by their owners who could not afford to feed them any longer. Severe winter conditions 2010/2011 caused a number of deaths of the animals across the country.

Photos were taken between 2007-2013

This is not a story about an ordinary family. This is about people, who a few years ago or even a few months ago didn’t know each other. They came from Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Cuba, Mexico to Ireland and now Dublin is their new home.

Emigration, homesickness and hope for a better future connected them together so close that previous differences don’t matter anymore.

Choucha camp, Tunisia, 7km from the Tunisian-Libyan border accommodates about 5 thousand African refugees who fled from Libya. The camp is run by UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) with substantial help from  NGO-s.

Despite efforts and good will to ensure good conditions, refugees suffer from the lack of drinkable water and complain about poor quality food. No security is provided in the camp at night time. Most of the refugees cannot return to their war-torn homelands. Western countries are unwilling to accept them.

On May 22^nd, 2011, a tragic fire broke out in the camp claimed 4 lives. Desperate African refugees started a protest against conditions in the camp by blocking the road to the crossing border point in Ras Ajdir. Security forces violently crackdown on protesters. Most of the camp was looted, destroyed or burned during 3 days of unrest in the camp. Groups of refugees of different nationalities were fighting on each other, local Tunisians and army soldiers took part in these fightings as well.

Western journalists present at the scene were beaten by security forces and local Tunisians. Recording equipment was temporarily confiscated.