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Slum Tourism
Having produced one of their very first travel pieces, I was very pleasantly surprised to see the recent deal between Current TV and Yahoo. Good for them. I have to confess that I rarely watch Current on channel 102 here in NYC, since so many of the pieces are agonizingly hard to watch, especially if you're like me and don't really like hip-hop all that much. That said, there are many gems among the hours of programming they feature, and I've always hoped they'd do a deal with someone like Yahoo or Google so you could select and watch specific pieces that get rated or passed around on the Web. So here's kudos to Current and hopes that they keep on gong strong.And here's to Current as well for doing a great little story on Slum Tourism. When I was in Bombay, India two years ago, I made a special trip as a journalist to the Dharavi slums on the outskirts of town. This was a soul-slapping experience. The rancid sprawl of this slum, Asia's largest ,went on forever and ever, as if it was a rank, wrecked city all to itself. And amazingly, while I was there interviewing one of the city's administrators about the state of the slum, I ran into several tourists, walking around and shooting photos of people who lived in the slum. I hadn't thought much about it at the time, but what I saw was exactly what they talk about here: slum tourism.
Is this an awful sign of the growing divisions of wealth in the world or an unsurprising reflection of human nature ... that is, there have always been forms of slum tourism around, where the rich leave the comfy confines of their lives to "see how the other half lives." I tend to believe the latter, but I could be wrong.
Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Learning, Asia, India, Video
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Jonny Oct 16th 2006 2:04PM
I dunno about "seeing how the other half lives," but when I go overseas, I tend to make trips to the outskirts so that I may see the country I am visiting without any tourist-y gimmicks getting in the way.
Jimmy Oct 16th 2006 2:15PM
I think the "Slum Tourism" thing is awesome. It encourages these rich lazy bastards to be thankful for what they got and keep their day job...or they might wind up like these folks here. Being broke ain't no fun.
mike Oct 16th 2006 2:19PM
Got a better idea...how about we fat, lazy Americans go over there, and instead of taking their pictures, we give them a sandwich, or help build a house, do something useful????
Pete Oct 16th 2006 2:35PM
There's an assumption here of motives which anybody with a junior college Intro to Psych course under his or her belt would tell you is more than a little suspect. Most Americans are pretty unaware of what real poverty looks like...if their motive in visiting is to better understand and perhaps change the way they operate in the world, it's a good thing. And unless the writer is interviewing every one of them to "know" why they're there, it's pretty clear the revulsion is projected.
dee Oct 16th 2006 2:35PM
How about not knocking "lazy,rich Americans" The people in these 3rd worlds have been getting help,assistance,instructions& equipment to help them lead better lives for years. They don't seem to do anything for themselves.do they build homes,clean up,do they learn!!! the only thing i see is more children and most of them dying of disease & malnutrition.Get off Americans case. There are other countries in this world. What are they doing to help them?I personally find that "slum tourism offensive. Why do people need to see others miserable to make themselves feel better about themselves. Mike take note.
Joel Oct 16th 2006 2:43PM
Well Mike.....We "fat lazy Americans" do give a lot of support to third world countries in case you've never bothered to do a little fact checking of your own country. In fact, we sometimes do a better job of feeding other starving countries than we do of taking care of the poor in our own country. Unfortunately, most of the time we offer our support to other countries, the people who really need the help never see it as the powerful step in the way and take it for themselves. That's what happened to Afghanistan. Now look, it's overrun by terrorists who are killing Americans with their own weapons and money that WE gave them!!! If you're so concerned, then get your own "fat lazzy *ss" on a plane, go over there, and give them a sandwich your damn self!!! Uncle Sam needs to start worrying about it's own poor who have fought for this country and don't receive a dime of support while we watch it go to immigrants (most of whom are here illegally) and other countries overseas who have done nothing to earn it!!!
Frank Oct 16th 2006 5:07PM
Oh, look at this. We have one guy who thinks "rich" equals "fat lazy bastards" and another guy who thinks all Americans are "fat and lazy". How passionately, faddishly, politically correct. Congrats, guys. You can now pat yourself on the back at having slapped your country in the face.
News flash: A) we didnt make 'em that way
B)most would take our aid and hate us for it anway. We as a country have done more for the poor in the world than any other five countries combined, and they still hate us.
C) Most rich people in this country came by that richness the old fashion way..hard work. And I probably make less than you.
D) You pinheads could move there, and put your money where your mouth is instead of shooting your mouths off. Talk is cheap.
Bal Vunder Oct 16th 2006 2:53PM
Slum tourism has all the elements of drama and need combined. Exposure to the plight of others always is of benefit to us, the blessed of the FIRST world. Generally the issue of deep poverty is almost always a function of lousy, corrupt govts and abusive social systems. Read "Eat the Rich" by P J O'Rourke and understand why Tanzania with immense natural resources has not enough potatoes to give everyone a chip, and Hong Kong, nothing but a rocky island is wealthy beyond your wildest imagination, then rejoice.
Brandon Oct 16th 2006 3:02PM
The issue here is one of governmental involvement. Our (America's) government says we're doing something about the issues (as long as it benefits us, of course), and the receiving country's government generally does a poor job of distributing the support (if it does any distributing at all). Exempli gratia The Congo. There's nothing there to benefit us, so why would we spend more than a few million trying to help them when we could blow up other countries that have, say, oil?
Donna Oct 16th 2006 3:19PM
Bravo Joel! I'm sick of America bashing!
John Mesrobian Oct 16th 2006 3:16PM
maybe if the money we give to the poor countries went to the people instead of the ruling class ,there would be no slums
gogiyms Oct 16th 2006 3:20PM
Anyone that has take a basic economics class knows that even though it "appears" that the US is giving a lot of money for aid to foreign countries in actuality it is very small in comparison to other countries. One major problem is the money that is sent doesn't make it to the people. Much like here... We are considered a wealthy nation yet so many children go hungry, homeless, and uneducated! Maybe if more people voted and actively participated in their voting rights things maybe better in the US.
Bal Vunder Oct 16th 2006 3:21PM
Brandon, you are NOT an idiot, but very near. The main source of poverty is abusive govt.s, stupid govt.s, corrupt govt.s, and has nothing to do with America. The recent Nobel prize recipient who began granting 90 dollar loans to the impoverished, so they could buy chickens, dairy cows or cell phones, has introduced the idea that acess to capital is also a wonderful way out of poverty. CAPITALISM WORKS EVERYWHERE!!!!! Go bankers, loan money like crazy!!!!
doodles Oct 16th 2006 3:21PM
Why didn't this guy do something? He is part of the problem, not part of the solution. It is soooooooo easy to stand off to the side and criticize people without getting your hands dirty. Then flys back to the States all safe and sound and outraged. LOL Mother Theresa helped the lepers in Calcutta's slums. But she was a Christian and you hate them, remember? The most amusing thing about Americans is the politically correct 'outraged' set that are such hypocrits. hahahahahaha go watch American Idol.
Debbie Oct 16th 2006 3:47PM
Well said Joel!
nancy Oct 16th 2006 7:15PM
I am american..I am not fat. lazy nor rich
Debbie Oct 16th 2006 3:27PM
I don't care for the term "slum tourism." It sounds like a "human safari" trip. It is a rude awakening to see how so many people live in our world. We, in the US take so much for granted and continually strive for more and more material items, while millions have to decide between using their $1 a day for food or medicine.
I saw the slums in Kenya and Tanzania, and yes, I took pictures. I wanted to show people in the states what it's like in the Third World, when they're done complaining about their inability to buy a second or third car, go on a vacation, etc. It's appalling. I saw people standing in garbage and eating it. It makes you think about what you do have and appreciate it so much more.
As for the aid the US gives---the World Bank, the IMF, and other well meaning nongovermental organizations, they don't understand the complexities. These organizations decide what people in the Third World need and set up programs that do not fit their culture, immediate needs, or some of their corrupt governments. And yes, we can thank colonialization and the abrupt pull out of their countries for that. We use the Third World, their resources, and disrespect the people who were born in the wrong place, and forget that it could have easily been any one of us.
Thankfully we now have a nobel peace prize winner who got it right with micro-lending in order to reduce the poverty in Third World countries. And yes, the same concept is applicable to address poverty in the US.
Bal Vunder Oct 16th 2006 3:27PM
Here in America, recent impoverished immigrants rise from rags to riches because of capitalism. Capitalism is the best way to provide the most people with necessary goods and services. Christianity is the system of belief that is the most likely to provide a merciful social structure. Capitalism is a merciless economic system. Christianity is the revelation of God to a lost world that offers grace and joy, and encourages us to treat others as we would like to be treated..the golden rule. Christianity in its pure-ist form also offers men the power to change their black hearts and to live Christ like lives as they engage the risen Christ. One without the other does not deliver maximum economic advantage, and the two should not be connected. "Synergy" is the word.
Emily Oct 16th 2006 3:33PM
Slum tourism is an excellent example of the Ugly American. Please do not limit it to Americans. What of the Brits, Danes, Germans etc? By far the majority of tourists travel to see the natural beauty of a foreign country as well as its many artistic triumphs.
Lets focus on the decency of people. I like to think that these people who have a first hand view of real poverty, will go home and give of themselves to help.
tiffany Oct 16th 2006 6:52PM
Fat and lazy Americans? Either way, the problem is not that our country does not send funding and other important resources, the angering fact is that the leadership/government/authority leaders tend to skim off all that they feel they need (or want), and THEY do not worry about the poor and dying of their own country - much like what (sadly) happens in every country that I've ever heard of. It's amazing how many sea-going containers of supplies, food, and other important needed resources are stuck in red tape (often within the needy country) - doing no-one any good.