Environmental Graffiti

Black Gold Still Rules in Pipelineistan

The bottom line on the Iraq and AfPAK wars, and the American fixation on Iran, is oil. Obscene amounts of money, civilian lives and American integrity continue to be wasted on attempts to secure control over Central Asian energy resources, and the pipeline network that must be built to get this Black Gold to market.

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Golden Eagle Vs Siberian Wolf

The mighty bird wheels high overhead, then dives like an arrow from the apex of its arc. On the plain floor, the lone wolf glances back while continuing its faltering trot onwards. Without warning, the giant raptor appears out of the sky, hitting its target at high velocity while clawing and raking with razor-sharp talons. The wolf bites back at its far more lightweight attacker and for a brief instant the bird of prey appears prone – but in an instant, it lunges back at its canine quarry, fixing it in an iron grip. The wolf struggles for a few seconds. Then it lies still.

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Buzkashi: Afghan Polo Played With Headless Carcasses

It was featured in a Rambo movie so it’s got to be tough; the preserve of people who can say “don’t push me” – and mean it. Like some unruly crossbreed of Polo and Rugby – not the most civilised games, despite their associations with blazers, shorts and spiffing colonial sorts – comes Buzkashi. Buzkashi, we salute you, delighting in your scrumptiously free-for-all sensibilities, your ferocious ideas of fair play and your all round predilection for carnage.

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Old Soviet Death-Ray Gun, Kazakhstan [PIC]

Dominating the Kazakhstan skyline, like a giant death-ray gun from a sci-fi movie is a decrepit, rusting radioastronomy tower. The photograph was taken at Tien Shan Astronomical Observatory (GAISH) near the Great Almaty Lake, which sits at 2800m altitude. It’s obviously a good place for stargazing as there are three observatories in total in the Almaty region.

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