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World's worst places: Top 10 places you do not want to visit in 2012
Update: Check out the World's Worst Places of 2013 here
What comes to mind when you think of the world's worst place? While it is easy to complain about rural Wal-marts, La Guardia, Applebee's, and any government office with motor vehicle in its title, none of those places escalate the game from nuisance to immediate danger. All of them can be horrible, yes, but a threatened existence they do not pose.
The places on this list are the bad places. Some have run out of hope. Others have fought war for so long it is the new normal. Most are exceptionally dangerous and heartbreaking. And while none of them are fighting for write-ups by travel bloggers or inspiring travel with the NetJet set, some of these locations may someday be on the travel map. After all, it was not long ago that current hot-spots like Cambodia and Croatia would have made such a list.
10. Harare, Zimbabwe
Recently voted by the Economist as the world's worst city to live in, Harare is a unique study in failed fiscal policy. The once acceptable city fell into disrepair during Zimbabwe's severe bouts with hyperinflation and corruption. The troubles began in the early 21st century when Zimbabwe's inflation rate increased to 112.1%. Sounds terrible right? As it turns out, those were the sunny days. In 2008, the inflation rate peaked at 231,150,000% per annum. In U.S. terms, this means that if you deposited $10,000, it would be worth about 4 thousandths of a U.S. cent in one years time. That sucks. (For the record, 10,000USD = 46.720 quadrillion Zimbabwe dollars in 2009.)
This sort of economic arrangement allowed Harare to fail. There are not enough printers in Zimbabwe to print enough of its Z100 Billion notes, and when a loaf of bread costs trillions, doom is soon to follow. Unemployment grew to 80% and many services faltered. Today, foreign currencies have been adopted but the damage has been done. Much of Harare is in disrepair, and few foreign companies care to directly invest in the troubled city. That said, it is probably the safest place on this list to visit with flights direct from London on the national carrier - Air Zimbabwe.
9. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
The lone entry from Oceania is the ultra-diverse Port Moresby of Papua New Guinea. PNG is home to over 820 languages - more than any other country in the world. As such, its capital Port Moresby boasts a diverse crew of opportunists and island cultures. It was recently voted by the Economist as the 137th out of 140 places in the livable cities index, making it a tough place to get by.
Rapes, Murders, and HIV are just a few of the daily tragedies that befall this enclave at the edge of the map. Here, even riding in cars is a dangerous activity. Gangs called Raskols are known to rob vehicles transporting foreigners at gunpoint.
Port Moresby is best used as a temporary gateway to nearby dive sites and for flights to PNG's jungle interior and its solitary treks. Reaching Port Moresby is easy from Australia on PNG's national carrier Air Niugini.
8. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
37 years ago, Ali and Foreman traded blows in one of boxing's most historic matches. The match took place in Kinshasa. At the time, the country was known as Zaire, and the future looked hopeful for the mineral-rich nation. But as is common in 20th century African history, corruption at the top derailed the future. The country became a model for African kleptocracy as President Mobutu matched Zaire's national debt with deposits into his personal bank account in Switzerland - to a tune of 4 billion (1980) U.S. dollars. He was forced to flee in the late nineties.
By 1998, the Congo region was engaged in the Second Congo War - the most deadly military conflict since World War II. In the end, over 5 million perished, and to this day the mineral-rich country has a per capita (nominal) GDP of about $186.
Chinese foreign direct investment has allowed Kinshasa to grow into a more reasonable place over the last decade, though it is not yet ready for its tourist close-up. Violence and political instability still ravage the second most populated city in Africa. It has come a long way from the time of Mr. Kurtz, but the heart of Africa is still an exceptionally complicated place. Just a month ago during the presidential election, thousands fled Kinshasa in anticipation of violence, and tanks rolled in to police the streets.
Tens of thousands of orphaned street children call the slums of Kinshasa home and are also routinely accused of witchcraft by locals. Carjackings are one of the more common types of tourist robbery, especially outside of the city center. And one more thing, photography is illegal.
Reaching Kinshasa is easy from Paris on Air France.
7. Rocinha favela, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rocinha is the largest favela in Rio de Janeiro. While its infrastructure exceeds that of lesser favelas and its view of Rio is truly breathtaking, it is also home to several hundred thousand Brazilians packed onto a steep hillside. It is a playground for modern day little Li'l Zes.
With one of the highest murder rates in the world, Brazil has been cracking down on violence in anticipation of hosting both the Olympics and World Cup. In fact, local authorities have effectively declared war on this slum in an effort to clean it up and push out the drug cartels, and just a few months ago, Rocinha was occupied by the military and police forces. Their aim is to restore government control in the sprawling favela. While progress has no doubt been made, when visiting Rio (which is generally safe), it is wise to avoid favelas unless accompanied by a local guide.
6. Sana'a, Yemen
"Just off the horn of Africa..." is a common statement that generally precedes a story about modern piracy. And just on the other side of the dangerous Gulf of Aden where such piracy goes down is treacherous Yemen - a land frozen in time.
It is a time machine to the modern edge of the Islamic dark ages. On one hand this brings old world Arabian architecture and cultures of antiquity, but on the other, it brings out Islamic fanaticism. It is a place of child brides and a training ground for Al Qaeda. Men walk around freely with weapons per their religious rights, and these weapons range from the ubiquitous Jambiya to battle-worn Kalashnikovs. Sana'a is old, dangerous, and has its share of political unrest. As a westerner, you can keep your travel plans safer by avoiding Yemen.
The tragic thing about Yemen is that it possesses such beautiful sights. It has unbelievable Red Sea beaches, Socotra Island (Similar to the Galapagos and on my own personal travel shortlist), and old forts amid craggy mountains.
Reaching Sana'a, Yemen is possible from Dubai, Doha, London, and Sharjah.
5. West Point, Monrovia, Liberia
Clean water, electricity, basic services - all things we take for granted in the West. In the West Point area of Monrovia, a city named for James Monroe, these are luxuries. West Point, a peninsular slum jutting out into the Atlantic, is home to a special breed of disgusting squalor. Home to 75,000 Monrovians, it is one of Africa's most notorious and crowded slums. Cholera is at an epidemic level, drug use is rampant, teenage prostitution is a commonality, and toilets are scarce. In fact, since it costs money to use neighborhood toilets, many Monrovians in West Point just crap in the streets or on the beach.
Vice did a great series on Liberia a few years ago. In the series, they meet with with an ex-war leader known as General Butt Naked - the commander of a group of child soldiers called the Butt Naked Brigade. He earned this name by charging into battle wearing only sneakers and his AK-47. Aside from sacrificing humans and partaking in cannibalism, he also regularly communicated with the devil. Today, he is a minister.
Delta flies from Atlanta to Monrovia, Liberia.
4. Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
Just as turbulence occurs where hot and cold air meet, similarly a point of human turbulence occurs in this nasty city where Mexico meets the United States. Drug violence, government incompetence, and poverty mix to form what has been called the murder capital of the world (this dishonor has since been ceded to Honduras). As drug wars continue to rage, Juarez continues to be a dangerous place. The drug cartels continue to fight for one of the most valuable things in the world - access to the United States narcotics market.
Neighboring El Paso, oddly, has one of the lowest murder rates in the United States. In fact, among major cities, El Paso is tied with Lincoln, Nebraska for having the lowest murder rate in the United States. It is indeed strange to have such a dichotomy separated by a river.
Flying to Juarez from a number of cities is easy, but don't do it. Go to Cancun and fist pump instead.
3. Cite Soleil, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Take one of the most damned places on the planet, knock the hell out of it with an earthquake, and you get the worst of Haiti - Cite Soleil. Port-au-Prince is generally a place of ephemeral hope and naked truths, and at its most rotten corner is this heartbreaking slum.
Cite Soleil is one of the largest slums in the northern hemisphere. It is a place where what you see is what you get, and what you see is abject third world poverty. The slum is void of sewers, schools, electricity, or healthcare facilities. It is the kind of place where relief workers are swallowed whole by the earth. In 2007, UN peacekeepers attempted to access the neighborhood and were welcomed with gunfire.
On top of this, many dangerous gang members escaped prison during the earthquake of 2010 and have returned to this crumbling slum. Reach PAP, Haiti from Miami on Insel Air.
2. Kandahar, Afghanistan
Surrounded by gorgeous mountains, it is a tragedy that Kandahar is so awfully dangerous. A one time trading center and strategic foothold, Kandahar is a victim of its perfect location between the world's of East and West. It has been a point of interest since Alexander the Great stumbled upon it in the 4th century BC. For centuries, traders passed through this city when traveling between Asia and Europe. As result, wars have also passed through and control has changed hands over its centuries of existence, from Mongols to Arabs to Brits and beyond.
Kidnappings, suicide bombings, and other criminal activities have turned it into an absolute monster of a destination. War has a way of creating this sort of general lawlessness. Having a 28% national literacy rate does not help matters.
As a weird footnote, Kandahar has an Armani Hotel, though it is not licensed by Giorgio. Its TGI Fridays, once a bastion of Americana and cheese sticks in Afghanistan, has allegedly been shut down. One can reach Kandahar from Dubai on Ariana Afghan Airlines. During Taliban rule, Osama bin Laden used this airline for Al Qaeda operations including the smuggling of guns, money, and opium. Today, sanctions have been lifted against the troubled national carrier.
1. Mogadishu, Somalia
Still crazy after all these years, "Mog" has perhaps the most terrifying disclaimer (ever) hovering above its entry on wikitravel. It states, "Mogadishu is regarded as the most lawless and dangerous city on Earth and is currently experiencing a major food and refugee crisis. It is not safe for leisure or tourism. If you are planning a visit for international aid work, etc, you will need expert advice and planning."
Civil War has raged for decades, and the government controls only a few blocks of the city. It is a base for modern pirates, the backdrop for the true story surrounding Black Hawk Down, and it is said that machine guns are frequently used by drivers to negotiate through car traffic. It is a land without law, a soulless place at the edge of Africa. Much of it bears more resemblance to the last level in an especially difficult video game than to life on Earth. It is more modern warfare than modern world.
Oddly enough, several supermodels were born in Mogadishu including Iman and Yasmin Warsame - a footnote of beauty for an ugly place. Flights to Mog can be booked on Jubba Airways from Jeddah and Dubai. Good luck with that. Seriously though, if you decide to go, be sure to wear a bulletproof vest and hire a small army of Ethiopian soldiers.
What comes to mind when you think of the world's worst place? While it is easy to complain about rural Wal-marts, La Guardia, Applebee's, and any government office with motor vehicle in its title, none of those places escalate the game from nuisance to immediate danger. All of them can be horrible, yes, but a threatened existence they do not pose.
The places on this list are the bad places. Some have run out of hope. Others have fought war for so long it is the new normal. Most are exceptionally dangerous and heartbreaking. And while none of them are fighting for write-ups by travel bloggers or inspiring travel with the NetJet set, some of these locations may someday be on the travel map. After all, it was not long ago that current hot-spots like Cambodia and Croatia would have made such a list.
Gallery: World's worst cities
10. Harare, Zimbabwe
Recently voted by the Economist as the world's worst city to live in, Harare is a unique study in failed fiscal policy. The once acceptable city fell into disrepair during Zimbabwe's severe bouts with hyperinflation and corruption. The troubles began in the early 21st century when Zimbabwe's inflation rate increased to 112.1%. Sounds terrible right? As it turns out, those were the sunny days. In 2008, the inflation rate peaked at 231,150,000% per annum. In U.S. terms, this means that if you deposited $10,000, it would be worth about 4 thousandths of a U.S. cent in one years time. That sucks. (For the record, 10,000USD = 46.720 quadrillion Zimbabwe dollars in 2009.)
This sort of economic arrangement allowed Harare to fail. There are not enough printers in Zimbabwe to print enough of its Z100 Billion notes, and when a loaf of bread costs trillions, doom is soon to follow. Unemployment grew to 80% and many services faltered. Today, foreign currencies have been adopted but the damage has been done. Much of Harare is in disrepair, and few foreign companies care to directly invest in the troubled city. That said, it is probably the safest place on this list to visit with flights direct from London on the national carrier - Air Zimbabwe.
9. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
The lone entry from Oceania is the ultra-diverse Port Moresby of Papua New Guinea. PNG is home to over 820 languages - more than any other country in the world. As such, its capital Port Moresby boasts a diverse crew of opportunists and island cultures. It was recently voted by the Economist as the 137th out of 140 places in the livable cities index, making it a tough place to get by.
Rapes, Murders, and HIV are just a few of the daily tragedies that befall this enclave at the edge of the map. Here, even riding in cars is a dangerous activity. Gangs called Raskols are known to rob vehicles transporting foreigners at gunpoint.
Port Moresby is best used as a temporary gateway to nearby dive sites and for flights to PNG's jungle interior and its solitary treks. Reaching Port Moresby is easy from Australia on PNG's national carrier Air Niugini.
8. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
37 years ago, Ali and Foreman traded blows in one of boxing's most historic matches. The match took place in Kinshasa. At the time, the country was known as Zaire, and the future looked hopeful for the mineral-rich nation. But as is common in 20th century African history, corruption at the top derailed the future. The country became a model for African kleptocracy as President Mobutu matched Zaire's national debt with deposits into his personal bank account in Switzerland - to a tune of 4 billion (1980) U.S. dollars. He was forced to flee in the late nineties.
By 1998, the Congo region was engaged in the Second Congo War - the most deadly military conflict since World War II. In the end, over 5 million perished, and to this day the mineral-rich country has a per capita (nominal) GDP of about $186.
Chinese foreign direct investment has allowed Kinshasa to grow into a more reasonable place over the last decade, though it is not yet ready for its tourist close-up. Violence and political instability still ravage the second most populated city in Africa. It has come a long way from the time of Mr. Kurtz, but the heart of Africa is still an exceptionally complicated place. Just a month ago during the presidential election, thousands fled Kinshasa in anticipation of violence, and tanks rolled in to police the streets.
Tens of thousands of orphaned street children call the slums of Kinshasa home and are also routinely accused of witchcraft by locals. Carjackings are one of the more common types of tourist robbery, especially outside of the city center. And one more thing, photography is illegal.
Reaching Kinshasa is easy from Paris on Air France.
7. Rocinha favela, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rocinha is the largest favela in Rio de Janeiro. While its infrastructure exceeds that of lesser favelas and its view of Rio is truly breathtaking, it is also home to several hundred thousand Brazilians packed onto a steep hillside. It is a playground for modern day little Li'l Zes.
With one of the highest murder rates in the world, Brazil has been cracking down on violence in anticipation of hosting both the Olympics and World Cup. In fact, local authorities have effectively declared war on this slum in an effort to clean it up and push out the drug cartels, and just a few months ago, Rocinha was occupied by the military and police forces. Their aim is to restore government control in the sprawling favela. While progress has no doubt been made, when visiting Rio (which is generally safe), it is wise to avoid favelas unless accompanied by a local guide.
6. Sana'a, Yemen
"Just off the horn of Africa..." is a common statement that generally precedes a story about modern piracy. And just on the other side of the dangerous Gulf of Aden where such piracy goes down is treacherous Yemen - a land frozen in time.
It is a time machine to the modern edge of the Islamic dark ages. On one hand this brings old world Arabian architecture and cultures of antiquity, but on the other, it brings out Islamic fanaticism. It is a place of child brides and a training ground for Al Qaeda. Men walk around freely with weapons per their religious rights, and these weapons range from the ubiquitous Jambiya to battle-worn Kalashnikovs. Sana'a is old, dangerous, and has its share of political unrest. As a westerner, you can keep your travel plans safer by avoiding Yemen.
The tragic thing about Yemen is that it possesses such beautiful sights. It has unbelievable Red Sea beaches, Socotra Island (Similar to the Galapagos and on my own personal travel shortlist), and old forts amid craggy mountains.
Reaching Sana'a, Yemen is possible from Dubai, Doha, London, and Sharjah.
5. West Point, Monrovia, Liberia
Clean water, electricity, basic services - all things we take for granted in the West. In the West Point area of Monrovia, a city named for James Monroe, these are luxuries. West Point, a peninsular slum jutting out into the Atlantic, is home to a special breed of disgusting squalor. Home to 75,000 Monrovians, it is one of Africa's most notorious and crowded slums. Cholera is at an epidemic level, drug use is rampant, teenage prostitution is a commonality, and toilets are scarce. In fact, since it costs money to use neighborhood toilets, many Monrovians in West Point just crap in the streets or on the beach.
Vice did a great series on Liberia a few years ago. In the series, they meet with with an ex-war leader known as General Butt Naked - the commander of a group of child soldiers called the Butt Naked Brigade. He earned this name by charging into battle wearing only sneakers and his AK-47. Aside from sacrificing humans and partaking in cannibalism, he also regularly communicated with the devil. Today, he is a minister.
Delta flies from Atlanta to Monrovia, Liberia.
4. Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
Just as turbulence occurs where hot and cold air meet, similarly a point of human turbulence occurs in this nasty city where Mexico meets the United States. Drug violence, government incompetence, and poverty mix to form what has been called the murder capital of the world (this dishonor has since been ceded to Honduras). As drug wars continue to rage, Juarez continues to be a dangerous place. The drug cartels continue to fight for one of the most valuable things in the world - access to the United States narcotics market.
Neighboring El Paso, oddly, has one of the lowest murder rates in the United States. In fact, among major cities, El Paso is tied with Lincoln, Nebraska for having the lowest murder rate in the United States. It is indeed strange to have such a dichotomy separated by a river.
Flying to Juarez from a number of cities is easy, but don't do it. Go to Cancun and fist pump instead.
3. Cite Soleil, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Take one of the most damned places on the planet, knock the hell out of it with an earthquake, and you get the worst of Haiti - Cite Soleil. Port-au-Prince is generally a place of ephemeral hope and naked truths, and at its most rotten corner is this heartbreaking slum.
Cite Soleil is one of the largest slums in the northern hemisphere. It is a place where what you see is what you get, and what you see is abject third world poverty. The slum is void of sewers, schools, electricity, or healthcare facilities. It is the kind of place where relief workers are swallowed whole by the earth. In 2007, UN peacekeepers attempted to access the neighborhood and were welcomed with gunfire.
On top of this, many dangerous gang members escaped prison during the earthquake of 2010 and have returned to this crumbling slum. Reach PAP, Haiti from Miami on Insel Air.
2. Kandahar, Afghanistan
Surrounded by gorgeous mountains, it is a tragedy that Kandahar is so awfully dangerous. A one time trading center and strategic foothold, Kandahar is a victim of its perfect location between the world's of East and West. It has been a point of interest since Alexander the Great stumbled upon it in the 4th century BC. For centuries, traders passed through this city when traveling between Asia and Europe. As result, wars have also passed through and control has changed hands over its centuries of existence, from Mongols to Arabs to Brits and beyond.
Kidnappings, suicide bombings, and other criminal activities have turned it into an absolute monster of a destination. War has a way of creating this sort of general lawlessness. Having a 28% national literacy rate does not help matters.
As a weird footnote, Kandahar has an Armani Hotel, though it is not licensed by Giorgio. Its TGI Fridays, once a bastion of Americana and cheese sticks in Afghanistan, has allegedly been shut down. One can reach Kandahar from Dubai on Ariana Afghan Airlines. During Taliban rule, Osama bin Laden used this airline for Al Qaeda operations including the smuggling of guns, money, and opium. Today, sanctions have been lifted against the troubled national carrier.
1. Mogadishu, Somalia
Still crazy after all these years, "Mog" has perhaps the most terrifying disclaimer (ever) hovering above its entry on wikitravel. It states, "Mogadishu is regarded as the most lawless and dangerous city on Earth and is currently experiencing a major food and refugee crisis. It is not safe for leisure or tourism. If you are planning a visit for international aid work, etc, you will need expert advice and planning."
Civil War has raged for decades, and the government controls only a few blocks of the city. It is a base for modern pirates, the backdrop for the true story surrounding Black Hawk Down, and it is said that machine guns are frequently used by drivers to negotiate through car traffic. It is a land without law, a soulless place at the edge of Africa. Much of it bears more resemblance to the last level in an especially difficult video game than to life on Earth. It is more modern warfare than modern world.
Oddly enough, several supermodels were born in Mogadishu including Iman and Yasmin Warsame - a footnote of beauty for an ugly place. Flights to Mog can be booked on Jubba Airways from Jeddah and Dubai. Good luck with that. Seriously though, if you decide to go, be sure to wear a bulletproof vest and hire a small army of Ethiopian soldiers.
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Photos, Africa, Asia, North America, Oceania, South America, Liberia, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Yemen, Haiti, Mexico, United States, Papua New Guinea, Brazil, Airlines, Budget Travel, News, Travel Health, Middle East, Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire), Travel Security
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 7)
Ed Jan 6th 2012 12:00PM
WELL, THERE GOES MY VACATION...
Sam Jan 6th 2012 11:53AM
This is very revealing but it certainly is no surprise ... same people, same deal.
rochatiago84 Jan 6th 2012 11:58AM
April,
Yes, I have travelled a lot within America.What about you, have you ever been in Brazil at all? Have you ever lived or travelled within Brazil at all? I wonder how deep you know Brazil.It seems you have not experienced America that much either.Get out of your comfort zone and explore America and you`ll see how much shit you have over, too.
David,
I do not know anybody who has an armed car in Brazil.It`s not like this stupid ad says at all.What about all the North Americans that live and invest in Brazil? do you really think they would be that dumb to go into a war zone? - HELLO!!!
Mind you, Brazil at the moment does not need to borrow money from any country at all. You guys need to have a reality check, get out of box, explore the world.
I come from a very poor area in Rio de Janeiro and have never been exposed to what this stupid ad talks about.I`ve very well-read and educated: Fluent in English,Spanish, French and Italian, I have attended our public education and let me tell you, lots of so-called first world countries need to get their act together, we are as good, if not better then you guys in many, many fields.You guys are still using Gasoline, we have natural gas and alcohool, you still talk about national health care, we`ve had it for years...need I say more?
My point is, get out of the box and get the real facts so you can have a well-based point of view.
Gary Jan 6th 2012 12:09PM
Yea, some parts of the South are full of thugs and animals, but that is in the democratic controlled inner cities like New orleans and Memphis. I'm conservative and live in a civilized rural area. I'd still take any part of the South to any part of a yankee state.
Alex Jan 6th 2012 12:08PM
The most dangerous place on earth is in the presence of my wife when she hasn't taken her morning medications. Now THAT'S dangerous!
Ryan Jan 6th 2012 12:11PM
Where's Oakland, California on this list?
John Jan 6th 2012 1:11PM
LMFAO! Yea Gary lets go with that excuse. I mean the South has so many great world class cosmopoliatan cities to claim as their own. And the reason they dont is because they are democratic controlled. Now thats hysterical! People are just flocking to visit all those great places in the South. New York City had more tourists, 50 million, visit it last year then there are people that live in the South. The South is a dump, always was, always will be.
CAL Jan 6th 2012 12:33PM
Mogadishu, Somalia and Juarez, Mexico are very lucky I'm not the President. If I were, I would order that these two savage cities be hit with no less than ten nuclear bombs each! Easiest thing in the world to wipe out vicious killer aliens that came here from outer space to murder people at will!
badcountry Jan 6th 2012 12:49PM
americans people and around the world people,
dont go visiting to CIS / ussr russia, china, iran / iraq, north korea, ghana / africa
Shannon Jan 6th 2012 12:42PM
AND TO THE MEDIA, GUESS WHAT? THE KKK AND SKINHEADS ARE STILL ALIVE HERE IN AMERICA IN THE SOUTH. SO EVERYBODY WHO'S NOT WHITE SHOULD WATCH THEIR BACKS.
badcountry Jan 6th 2012 12:54PM
okay shannon,
thank warning about it
Deb Jan 6th 2012 12:48PM
Hey Justin,
Your writing is a little too flip for such a serious topic. Try having some empathy...do you need to look up the definition?
Caroline V. Jan 6th 2012 1:14PM
RIO DE JANEIRO - CIDADE MARAVILHOSA
I agree with Marco, people who publish these articles need to get their facts right. I’m from Rio currently living in the US. Rio is a great city, yes it has its bad areas but it’s no different than some cities right here in the US. It does not deserve to be in this list, compared to these other cities that really are some of the worst places to be (speaking from experience) "Ciudad Juarez, Mexico".
I admit the poverty rate in Rio is absurd, but being "poor" doesn't automatically make them dangerous. The people there are poor in material things, but rich in spirit, they're the most spirited people I've ever seen, they take joy in life. They will fight everyday to take care of their families and at the end of everyday they are thankful to God for giving them strength, and for blessing them.
After visiting my family and friends in Rio every year, I return to the US feeling so blessed to have these people to go home to. Unfortunately living in the US allows us to forget how hard things can be, and take for granted things that comes too easily. They help me remember all that, and because of those people I get the strength to appreciate and fight for my living every day here in the US.
Atomac Jan 6th 2012 1:32PM
Anybody have been to East St Louis, or South Side Chicago.Some one gone to Detroit.You do not want to go there.Period.
mohamed Jan 6th 2012 2:25PM
Dear Justine
I would like to correct you on 2 things you have stated
first, there is no pirates in Mogadishu, you know that very well but you would like to drag the city into the muds
second you have said to go to mogadishu, you will need ethiopian soldiers. do you know ethiopian mercinaries has been kicked out with their tails in their ass eventhough america poured so much money and latest weapons to make them occupy south somalia.
Finaly i would like to make a comment about the writer's country
Dont you think your country has higher murder rates then somalia eventhough we we have wars and femine?
I am not suggesting mogadishu is like dubai but i am not sure if we are worse then places like your town
tpatriot Jan 6th 2012 1:54PM
Where oh where is the wonderful UNITED NATIONS in this mess. Hiding in their posh offices in NY. Making stupid policy statements and policies that they want someone else to pay for. This is the type of thing they should be leading the way on changing.
Jules Jan 6th 2012 2:19PM
It is so sad for the people that live in squander in these places that could be developed into so much more. We have put so much foreign aid into so many countries that it has become a way of life for them. They expect the $ to keep rolling in. The only way to help these people is to show them, then make them realize they got to 'do it for themselves'. There comes a time when they need to put the weapons and drugs down, sober up and realize that if they want out of that environment that they need to work together to better their country, and take the next step and "Just do it".
Burt Jan 6th 2012 2:08PM
Just start a lottery and let 1 million of them into the US and feed them and send them to college for free
Burt Jan 6th 2012 2:04PM
It was only 1960 that Chicago had slums similar to Rio. The Italians lived in crates where the U of Illinois now stands. They had no toilets, running water, or electric. I was amazed as a young lad to see this. I do remember that the girls were beautiful!! They eventually moved elsewhere. The US is headed back to crates very quickly if we don't do something
Leon Jan 6th 2012 2:06PM
I was an American Merchant Seaman for forty-five years. I traveled to these countries dozens of times with Aid and all kinds of give aways from our government, to help the people. It hasn't worked and never will, it's the people who are the problem. I don't feel sorry for them, or would I do anything to help them. These people won't change no matter how much help they receive, it's in their blood. One makes the bed one sleeps in, leave them to their disgusting world, nothing will every help them get away from the life they live.