How the Rest of the World Lives

A heart breaking look at the slums of the world.  For all of us who complain about our lives, and how poor we are.....just take a look. I guarantee you'll never think of yourself as poor again.

The Venezuelan capital is located in a valley, with commercial districts and well-heeled residential areas near the valley floor. But look upward in any direction, and you will see shantytowns built into the steep hillside.

The population of Caracas has more than quadrupled in the last 50 years, fueled in part by Venezuela's recent oil boom. Despite President Hugo Chavez's populist platform, and even though Venezuela holds South America's largest oil reserves, about 50 percent of Caraquenos live in poor neighborhoods known as barrios. These neighborhoods lack access to basic municipal services such as waste collection, regular mail delivery, sewage system, and legal electric connections.

The barrios also face a serious security issue. According to UNESCO, firearms kill more people in Venezuela than in any other country not at war. In 2007, the annual tally approached 12,000 murders countrywide. In the tattered social fabric of Caracas and its barrios, internecine gang warfare, robbery, and other violent crime produce 100 homicides a week.

Link - via boingboing

From the Upcoming Queue, submitted by amdela.


Thanks for putting it up here, Alex:) I think it's a really important piece of work, and everyone should watch it, both for the heartbreaking truth, and the inspiration that can be found there.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Yep Edward...here I was annoyed at the Cable prices today, and my internet being down for awhile, and then I look at that picture and feel like the spoiled idiot I should feel like.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
I do have a cold and quite harsh point of view about this: we are too many for our planet. That's a fact. I do believe there should be a real investment in birth control measures in 3rd world countries as they exist in China, for the health of their own population and ultimately, for the survival of the entire planet. This is as important as ecological laws. We don't have enough resources to everybody.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
It's a sad state of affairs when people's responses to seeing this type of stuff is "you think YOU have it bad?!" when in fact may of our poor neighborhoods are fast on their way to becoming this.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
I also hate to be harsh but when we donate money and food to Third World areas of crisis and poverty, we actually increase the problem to some degree. They will then have more children, resulting in more population growth in an area that could not sustain them to begin with, and a worse crisis that needs more help.

Its a cruel truth.

Focus should be placed on population reduction to a degree that the land can sustain them (sex education, birth control, Assistance to those who participate in education programs instead of popping out more kids). When that point is reached (and yes, sadly a population decline would have to be involved) then education on agriculture and sustainablilty should be the next step.
Life is harsh, our current "feed em" band-aid solution is not working.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
I often wonder if someday, should impoverished areas get access to the internet... if things will change.
Imagine websites like Etsy, where people can make a crap-load of money for their overpriced homemade items.
$100-200 for a steampunk themed lamp made from junk parts... for example.
Now imagine being in some third world area, and having access to such a site, being able to create the same thing from junk parts, sell it for dramatically less (even with shipping) , and feed your family for a very long time.
I think globalization may be the eventual equalizer of the world. Some see that as a good thing, others bad. *shrug*
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
This is waht i see everyday on my way to work.....I live in Caracas, just in front of that barrio they show in the slides and let me tell you with Chavez is growing more each year...
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
People in impoverished areas have access to internet, whenever you look up at a Favela (the Brazilian equivalent of the barrio), you see tons of illegal cables going everywhere for electricity and internet, there are plenty of internet cafes and people share acess. What people in 3rd world countries need is access to proper education, job training and opportunity to achieve their full potential. Chavez is just another paternalist, populist, big talker, in a long tradition of Latin American leaders of that sort. Somehow all the money from the largest oil reserve in South America ends up buying Russian vessels and submarines. Maybe with Obama in power Americans will open their eyes to how ridiculous this man is.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
you know, the worst part is these people came from rural areas and used to have better lives there, they move to the city because they want to be part of the urban life that the media is slamming into their faces. it's just sad because when they visit their rural origins, they would never admit to their neighbors how their lives suck, thus encouraging them to do the same.

that's the case in my country.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
"Imagine websites like Etsy, where people can make a crap-load of money for their overpriced homemade items.
" - Non

There is a site similar to that called Kiva. http://www.kiva.org/
Except that you yourself can donate money to that individual so they can start a business.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
I'm venezuelan and I live in Caracas, fortunately in a nice middle class neighborhood. As much as it is painful to see how these people live, it's also interesting to see how they do NOT want to leave those places, it's their home, and they just want to improve in that same place that can not be improved by any means.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
"Maybe with Obama in power Americans will open their eyes to how ridiculous this man is."

Obama wants the US to have similar socialist policies. Bush went after guys like this. Obama might end up waking Americans up to the idea that Big Government doesn't work because people in government have the ability to use force to accomplish their agenda. If anything, Mr. Bush and Obama failed to see that the government spending money could not and would not solve our problems. They are both failures in the libertarian view, Chaves with his full fledged anti free speech campaign along with socialist economic views take the cake. Classic dictator.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.
Click here to access all of this post's 16 comments




Email This Post to a Friend
"How the Rest of the World Lives"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More