Wednesday January 12, 2005, Bang Muang, Phang Na, Thailand

Displaced Persons Camp in Thailand

Temporary housing constructed for the displaced villagers of the destroyed fishing village of Nam Khem. Nearly 2000 families from destroyed Nam Khem fishing village are camped out at a displaced persons camp in the town of Bang Muang several KM away. At least 3000 people were killed or are missing from Nam Khem, which was utterly destroyed by the Tsunami. Everyone in the camp lost family members, and many of the children were orphaned.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Wednesday January 12, 2005, Bang Muang, Phang Na, Thailand

Displaced Persons Camp in Thailand

A boy gets his haircut to prevent outbreaks of lice. In the background donated aid is piled high. Nearly 2000 families from destroyed Nam Khem fishing village are camped out at a displaced persons camp in the town of Bang Muang several KM away. At least 3000 people were killed or are missing from Nam Khem, which was utterly destroyed by the Tsunami. Everyone in the camp lost family members, and many of the children were orphaned.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Wednesday January 12, 2005, Bang Muang, Phang Na, Thailand

Displaced Persons Camp in Thailand

Building temporary housing at Bang Muang displaced persons camp. Nearly 2000 families from destroyed Nam Khem fishing village are camped out at a displaced persons camp in the town of Bang Muang several KM away. At least 3000 people were killed or are missing from Nam Khem, which was utterly destroyed by the Tsunami. Everyone in the camp lost family members, and many of the children were orphaned.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Wednesday January 12, 2005, Bang Muang, Phang Na, Thailand

Displaced Persons Camp in Thailand

Building temporary housing in displaced persons camp in Bang Muang. Nearly 2000 families from destroyed Nam Khem fishing village are camped out at a displaced persons camp in the town of Bang Muang several KM away. At least 3000 people were killed or are missing from Nam Khem, which was utterly destroyed by the Tsunami. Everyone in the camp lost family members, and many of the children were orphaned.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Monday January 10, 2005, Khao Lak, Phang Na, Thailand

Thailand coping after tsunami disaster

The destroyed beach resort of Khao Lak at dusk.

Turned over car.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Friday January 28, 2005, New Carrollton, Maryland, USA

Iraqi expatriates vote in the northeast United States

Only 2000 voters registered to vote at this polling station. Elections continue through January 30.

Iraqi expats and exiles vote in the first Iraqi election since the fall of the Hussein regime at the Ramada inn at New Carrollton.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Friday January 7, 2005, Phang Nga, Thailand

A destroyed car sits in a pool of fetid water created by the Tsunami.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Monday January 3, 2005, Patong, Phuket, Thailand

Thailand coping after tsunami disaster

Nearly 150,000 people are reported dead around southern Asia and as far away as Somalia on Africa's eastern coast, most killed by massive tsunamis that smashed coastlines after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake off Indonesia's coast on December 26, 2004. Scavengers comb through debris cleaned off Patong beach for any useful pieces of scrap that can be sold.

Scavenger looks through debris.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Monday January 3, 2005, Patong, Phuket, Thailand

Tsunami survivors scavenge for supplies in Thailand

A young boy tosses a pile of 'free drink cards' from a Patong beach hotel destroyed by the Tsunami . Patong Beach was completely cleared in under a week, but the enormous improptu garbage dump piled high adjacent to it is testament to the tragedy that occurred just days before.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Monday January 3, 2005, Patong, Phuket, Thailand

Tsunami survivors scavenge for supplies in Thailand

A man scavenges for useful items amongst the debris cleared from Patong Beach, one of the worst-hit areas in Thailand. Patong Beach was completely cleared in under a week, but the enormous improptu garbage dump piled high adjacent to it is testament to the tragedy that occurred just days before.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Friday February 11, 2005, Washington, DC, USA

Annual meeting and elections of the Democratic National Committee

Howard Dean at the annual meeting of the DNC in Washington, DC from February 10-12, 2005. The DNC will elect Howard Dean its chairman.

Howard Dean addresses the GLBT Caucus.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Sunday January 2, 2005, Takua Pa, Phang Nga, Thailand

Death and devastation caused by tsunami in Phuket

A Thai rescue worker in Wat Yan Yao, Phang Nga province pauses from his labors next to a pile of dry ice used to help preserve the decomposed bodies of the dead from the Tsunami. Phang Nga province was the worst hit area in Thailand, with 4000 confirmed deaths, half of them tourists. Up to 6000 remain missing.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Tuesday November 16, 2004, Washington, DC, USA

United States Supreme Court Building

The building housing the United States Supreme court. Completed in 1935 and constructed in classic Corinthian architecture. The building is 385 feet front to back and 304 feet side-to-side. A foreign visitor to the court videotapes the plaza.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Thursday November 11, 2004, Washington, DC, USA

Americans honor the fallen on Veterans Day

A man takes a digital picture of the Vietnam Veterans memorial on Veterans Day.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Friday August 27, 2004, Chongqing Municipality, China

Impact of Three Gorges Dam on life along the Yangtze

A passenger boat enters Qutang gorge (the first of three gorges) at dawn. The Three Gorges (Qutang, Wu and Xiling) extend over 120 miles of the Yangtze river and are one of China's most valued cultural sites.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Wednesday July 21, 2004, Wushan, China

Impact of Three Gorges Dam on life along the Yangtze

A hydrofoil passes beneath a newly constructed bridge across the Yangtze River, serving the city of Wushan. The central government has launched a major bridge building program along the Yangtze to connect remote areas that were previously accessible only by boat. The construction of the Three Gorges Dam is expected to increase the population of the inner provinces of China.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Monday May 3, 2004, Hubei, China

Impact of Three Gorges Dam on life along the Yangtze

Traditional boatmen row down Badong stream, a tributary of the Yangtze near Badong. Once the primary means of transport along the Yangtze's many tributaries, the small boat culture is mainly used now for ferrying tourists to areas that the large cruise ships cannot reach.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Sunday February 22, 2004, Chongqing Municipality, China

Impact of Three Gorges Dam on life along the Yangtze

An emotional moment near Wushan, as a resident of Dachang will be losing his ancestral home to the floodwaters. His son is relatively indifferent, and hopes the dam will provide more jobs for the poor region. The 1,700 year old town - which has the largest collection of intact Ming and Qing dynasty buildings in eastern Sichuan province - will be completely flooded by the Three Gorges dam. 38 of Dachang's traditional houses will be moved to a site above the reservoir in order to preserve some of the history of the ancient town.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Thursday February 19, 2004, Sandouping, Hubei Province, China

Impact of Three Gorges Dam on life along the Yangtze

Two workmen walk towards the construction site of the controversial Three Gorges Dam. The dam looms in the background.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Saturday February 26, 2005, Washington, DC, USA

Anti AIDS rally in Washington DC

Student members of 'Global Justice,' an organization founded in 2001 with the goal of getting students involved in global social justice issues. They rallied in front of the Capital and White House demanding $1.5 billion for the global fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and for increased access to generic anti-AIDS medication. The organization has 3000 student members at 120 schools.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Wednesday February 18, 2004, Yichang, China

Impact of Three Gorges Dam on life along the Yangtze

One of the new blocks of apartments in Yichang. All over China construction of new apartment buildings follows a nearly identical, utilitarian structure.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Friday January 28, 2005, New Carrollton, Maryland, USA

Iraqi expatriates vote in the northeast United States

Only 2000 voters registered to vote at this polling station. Elections continue through January 30.

Iraqi expats and exiles vote in the first Iraqi election since the fall of the Hussein regime at the Ramada inn at New Carrollton.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Monday January 24, 2005, Washington, DC, USA

Anti and pro abortion protests in Washington

Thousands of Pro-lifers marched on the Court in protest on the 32nd anniversary of the 1973 Roe versus Wade decision legalizing abortion.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Wednesday January 12, 2005, Bang Muang, Phang Na, Thailand

Displaced Persons Camp in Thailand

This young boy lost his mother to the Tsunami. Nearly 2000 families from destroyed Nam Khem fishing village are camped out at a displaced persons camp in the town of Bang Muang several KM away. At least 3000 people were killed or are missing from Nam Khem, which was utterly destroyed by the Tsunami. Everyone in the camp lost family members, and many of the children were orphaned.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Wednesday January 12, 2005, Bang Muang, Phang Na, Thailand

Displaced Persons Camp in Thailand

Children at Bang Muang displaced persons camp play games and jump into a huge pile of donated clothing aid. There is a huge surplus in most of the camps. Nearly 2000 families from destroyed Nam Khem fishing village are camped out at a displaced persons camp in the town of Bang Muang several KM away. At least 3000 people were killed or are missing from Nam Khem, which was utterly destroyed by the Tsunami. Everyone in the camp lost family members, and many of the children were orphaned.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Wednesday January 12, 2005, Bang Muang, Phang Na, Thailand

Displaced Persons Camp in Thailand

Nearly 2000 families from destroyed Nam Khem fishing village are camped out at a displaced persons camp in the town of Bang Muang several KM away. At least 3000 people were killed or are missing from Nam Khem, which was utterly destroyed by the Tsunami. Everyone in the camp lost family members, and many of the children were orphaned.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Wednesday January 12, 2005, Bang Muang, Phang Na, Thailand

Displaced Persons Camp in Thailand

Temporary housing constructed in Bang Muang. Nearly 2000 families from destroyed Nam Khem fishing village are camped out at a displaced persons camp in the town of Bang Muang several KM away. At least 3000 people were killed or are missing from Nam Khem, which was utterly destroyed by the Tsunami. Everyone in the camp lost family members, and many of the children were orphaned.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Wednesday January 12, 2005, Khao Lak, Phang Na, Thailand

Wall of missing persons from tsunami

A young girl looks at a board containing photos of those missing from the deadly Tsunami of December 26, 2004. The board also has post-mortem photos used to aid the identification process.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Saturday February 26, 2005, Washington, DC, USA

Anti AIDS rally in Washington DC

Student members of 'Global Justice,' an organization founded in 2001 with the goal of getting students involved in global social justice issues. They rallied in front of the Capital and White House demanding $1.5 billion for the global fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and for increased access to generic anti-AIDS medication. The organization has 3000 student members at 120 schools.

Credit: Peter van Agtmael / Polaris

Peter van Agtmael