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Happy birthday Haiti: 'Robin Hood' millionaire shows his birthday guests a 'poor' ...
American property tycoon Frank McKinney showed the world just how the super-rich *should* behave when he surprised guests at his 45th birthday party by taking them to the slums of Haiti to see how the other half lives.
He first took party guests on an extravagant tour of his latest construction — a $29 million (£15 million) building in Manalapan, Florida, with glass staircases, fish swimming in the ceiling, indoor waterfalls and two wine cellars, one for red and one for white — followed by dinner and champagne at his beachfront estate near by.
But there was barely time for the maverick millionaire’s 55 guests to sleep off their hangovers before they were whisked away for the next phase of his $5,000-a-ticket birthday experience — a sobering trip to the festering slums of Haiti.
The Tour of Extremes took them from Florida’s Palm Beach County — among the nation’s wealthiest communities — to Cité Soleil, the poorest suburb of the poorest city in the western hemisphere’s poorest country.
There, McKinney has built more than 500 homes for 4,000 people living in abject poverty through his charity, the Caring House Project Foundation. His guests’ ticket money will fund the construction of 55 more houses.
“It’s not everyone’s idea of a birthday, but it is mine,” he told The Times. “I’m a modern-day Robin Hood. Here I am providing property to the world’s most wealthy; should I not be providing it to the world’s poorest and homeless too?”
Doesn't this restore your faith in humankind a little? It just goes to show, the super-rich don't have to be super-aresholes. Hooray!
American property tycoon Frank McKinney showed the world just how the super-rich *should* behave when he surprised guests at his 45th ... more -
What I did in India Today- Slum
While I was in India I saw slums all around me, and as a journalist I could not help but want to find out more information. I met and interviewed a family who lives in one of the slums in New Delhi. The result is this report. While I was in India I saw slums all around me, and as a journalist I could not help but want to find out more information. I met and ... more
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There Goes the Neighborhood
As if life wasn't tough enough in Buenos Aires' slums, these residents face losing their homes.
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There Goes the Neighborhood
As if life in a Buenos Aires slum wasn't hard enough, some residents face losing their homes.
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There Goes the Neighborhood
As if life in a Buenos Aires slum weren't hard enough, now some residents are afraid they might lose their homes.
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There Goes the Neighborhood
As if life in a Buenos Aires slum weren't complicated enough, some residents face the prospect of losing their homes.
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Education Reform: Teach for America
Education reform through the eyes of a current TFA corps member and three alum (two of which now hold executive positions at TFA). The piece follows a 2nd grade science class in action, while hearing the motivation behind the program, the challenges and the benefits.
Education reform through the eyes of a current TFA corps member and three alum (two of which now hold executive positions at TFA). The... more -
Argentina´s Orphans of Soccer
Many kids who live in Argentina´s slums see soccer (football) as their only hope to escape a life of poverty. This is the story of a team in a slum outside of Buenos Aires who play on empty stomaches, and what happens to the kids who don´t make it to the pro-league. Many kids who live in Argentina´s slums see soccer (football) as their only hope to escape a life of poverty. This is the story of a t... more
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Cities of the Future
By next year, more than half the world's population will for the first time in history be living in cities. This milestone in human civilization is being driven mainly by the explosive growth of urban areas in the developing world. We are working on a series about the challenges brought by rapid urbanization and below are some ideas on how you can contribute.
If you or someone you know live in an area that is experiencing high rates of urbanization or if you live in a "Megacity," such as São Paulo, Mexico City or Jakarta, tell us about life there. Or maybe you just happen to be an urban planner and want to share your expertise. We're looking for contributions that range from narrow stories about housing, traffic, waste management, etc, to something broader like a tour of your growing city. Upload a webcam, post a comment or a link. Or, if you're really ambitious, shoot a pod! You can also email me directly at mariana@current.tv. Look forward to hearing from you. Thanks! By next year, more than half the world's population will for the first time in history be living in cities. This milestone in human ci... more -
Slums growing apace in the Paris of the South
Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital known for its elegant boulevards and belle époque architecture, is struggling to stem the growth of its slums, known here as villas. One sprawling villa located on valuable land between the port and downtown has doubled from 9442 residents to an estimated 18000 in ten years.
Successive governments have promised to urbanize the slums, but they've all failed. Violence is causing problems, most of all for people living in villas run by narcotrafficers, beyond the control of police. The new city government is led by empresario Mauricio Macri, who owns the famous Boca Juniors soccer club - in fact, he helped make the club a successful business.
Citizens hope he can create the same turnaround in the villas, but meanwhile some residents are trying to make a buck before their neighborhood gets an overhaul. Competition for affordable homes is so stiff, some residents are selling their land - only problem is, theres no legal title on the villas homes.
Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital known for its elegant boulevards and belle époque architecture, is struggling to stem the growth o... more -
Living in the Shadows
Under pressure from Spain and the European Union, Morocco has begun a crackdown on the wave of sub-Saharan Africans trying to reach Europe. Mariana van Zeller visits with immigrant communities who are living in the shadows of Moroccan slums. Under pressure from Spain and the European Union, Morocco has begun a crackdown on the wave of sub-Saharan Africans trying to reach Eu... more
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Two Dollars A Day
According to the UN, more than half the population of the globe lives on less than two US dollars a day.
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Meth in Montana
Butte, Montana serves as a case study to illustrate the devastating effects of Methamphetamine on communities throughout Montana.
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Shelter from the Slums
Christof Putzel returns to Kenya five years after first meeting Mike, a homeless streetkid. Mike now runs his own orphanage for children who have lost their parents to AIDS. Christof Putzel returns to Kenya five years after first meeting Mike, a homeless streetkid. Mike now runs his own orphanage for childr... more
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The Kibera Slum
Christof Putzel explores the Kibera Slums in Kenya, penetrating a code of silence in one of the world's hardest hit communities by the AIDS pandemic. Christof Putzel explores the Kibera Slums in Kenya, penetrating a code of silence in one of the world's hardest hit communities by the... more
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Slums
