Curator Selection / 2020 / /

• Photographer
  alain schroeder, Belgium
• Category
  Europe
• Studio
  free lance
• Image Location
  Poland
• Website
  https://alainschroeder.myportfolio.com
• Instagram
  https://www.instagram.com/alainschroeder/

Portraits of miners at the Pniówek coal mine, 40 km south-west of Katowice, the capital of Silesia. The region contains numerous active coal mines guaranteeing the supply of coal from which Poland draws 80% of its energy. Job security, good salaries, early retirement and, in many cases, family tradition make this an attractive occupation, but the profession is in an inexorable decline as many of the mines are not profitable.
Poland, one of the largest producers of coal in Europe, is also one of the most polluted countries. The EU recommendation of carbon neutrality by 2050 seems out of reach.