This Week in 3 Photos

Photograph: Bulent Kilic/AFP

This week some of the most compelling photography unfortunately came from disasters. A great tragedy struck Turkey last week, as a coalmine in Manisa collapsed, becoming the worst industrial accident in the country's history. Funeral services were held accross Turkey, with 284 workers confirmed dead. Turkey's four biggest worker's unions held a one-day protest in anger over the accident. When more than 20 000 workers turned to the streets to protest police forces had to be sent in to intervene. The country is in the state of mourning.

Photograph: Stuart Palley/EPA

Another raging disaster has been going on for some time now in southern California as forest fires consume the state. Due to draught and an immense heatwave, south-western part of the US has been suffering terribly from forest fires. California took the biggest hit, as wild fires are spreading accross the state from Fallbrook to San Diego to, as we see on this picture, San Marcos.

Photograph: Daniel Ochoa de Olza/AP

But heat is not neccessarily a bad thing, and the Spanish know how to celebrate it. This week the traditional celebration of Las Mayas took place in Madrid, Spain. The festival has been around since the medieval ages and originates from pagan customs. Las Mayas celebrates the beginning of spring (well, Spanish people are known to be late sometimes...) and is a celebration of flowers, warming climate and the blooming of all nature. A "Maya" girl is selected from 7 to 11 year old girls in the city, to sit still and serious on the altar for two hours. It is a great honor and a great responsibility.

This Week in 3 Photos

Photograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP

The United States have been hit hard by tornadoes in the recent weeks. The tornadoes were unleashed due to a ferocious storm system travelling across US. Arkansas and Mississippi were some of the hardest hit states, with others including Iowa, Oklahoma, Alabama and many more. This photo was taken in Arkansas, a state that has just recently been ravaged by this terrible storm. More than 30 deaths due to tornadoes have been confirmed in the past few weeks, and warnings of new cataclysms are still appearing every day. We encourage all the citizens of US to be vigilant.

Photograph: Ivan Alvarado/Reuters

Tens of thousands of students protested in Chile in the first march demanding education reform since President Michelle Bachelet took power on promises of deep changes. The students marched through the streets of Santiago in a mostly peaceful protest that was marred at the end by hooded vandals who infiltrated the demonstrations, and threw rocks and petrol bombs at police. Police officers used water cannon in an attempt to disperse the violent protesters. (by http://www.euronews.com/)

Photograph: Nikolay Doychinov/AFP

But don't forget that not all struggles are unjust. Struggles are a part of everyday life, and it's up to us to turn them into either a depression or a hurdle to be overcome. In this photo, competitors are locked into a strangulation during a traditional wrestling tournament, part of a holiday marking the circumcisions of young boys in the village of Draginovo, some 180km south-east of Sofia on May 04, 2014. More than 100 boys were circumcised during a traditional ceremony in the small mountain village. Although they are struggling as a part of a competition, but to some of them it means everything - it's their rite of passage. So whenever you find yourself facing troubles - run forward and jump over them like hurdles.

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This Week in 3 Photos

Photograph: Albert Gea/Reuters

Unfortunately, the past week started off on a grim note. As many of you know, former coach of FC Barcelona passed away on the 25th of April and last Monday evening the Cathedral of Barcelona was at capacity for the great athlete's and coach's memorial service. The Cardinal Archbishop of Barcelona Lluís Martínez Sistach officiated the ceremony, which was attended by Vilanova’s family, members of the Catalan government, former FC Barcelona presidents and players, and the first team, among many others. (by fcbarcelona.com)

Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

A great standoff broke out between the London Underground and the RMT union over plans to close down ticket offices, which would cut Londoners' spending by 50 million pounds a year, but also cut the Tube's employees number by 960. The first 48-hour walkout started on Monday, but after talks between the arguing parties broke down, the RMT union is planning another 72-hour strike starting 5th of May. London Underground were baffled by the strikes, explaining that "Our plans will see more staff available in the public areas of stations - at ticket machines, gate lines and platforms - meaning that face to face customer service and the ability to help people will be enhanced not reduced". Whereas RMT acting general secretary Mr. Cash said negotiators for the union had worked "flat out" to try and reach an agreement, adding that he was "angry and bitterly disappointed" by the breakdown. (by bbc.com) But people crossing London Bridge on foot only prove that, despite the strikes, life goes on.

Photograph: Mohammad Ismail/Reuters

That's the beautiful thing about life. Whether you believe in "black and white stripes" or a "checkerboard" or anything else, the rule remains the same - bad times come and go, good times come and go, and life goes on. So remember: whatever may be troubling you - shall pass, whatever ails you - will heal and as one wise man once said - "the sun is that much warmer after rain."

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