english / portugues
   
 
  Ozéias Silva Martins - Dança pra Galera
   
 

Rio, November 3rd 2005
 
 
Right at the beginning some of tourism’s problems were mentioned, such as various forms of sexual exploitation that exist, as well as some solutions to the problems developed from the ideas offered by the various speakers, who did presentations about their projects. The power of tourism was shown, but also how it is misused.
 
Tourism and the exploitation related to it originate with the problems of the lower classes and in some cases end up leading to sex tourism. This problem could be avoided by the people who are involved in it, but also by the government. The government invests in tourism but forgets the fragility of the lower classes, who try any which way to earn a living, even if that involves the abusing of power by the people who receive the government money.
 
 

The majority of people against this illegal behaviour are people who voluntarily try to get rid of the problem by living close to the abuse of youngsters and trying in some way ot help them. I saw the work of an organisation (the Ricky Martin Foundation, spoke about by Angel Santos) set up by a famous Latin American singer in support of this cause, who uses his fame and part of what he has to help out kids and adolescents from his country and those surrounding it.
 
 
But it was also said that there is a lack of support for people trying to help, and it would be a lot better with that help and support. Knowledge of the problem would be more widespread and therefore there would be more social action against it. One of the foundations of this problem is the unequal distribution of wealth, which, if solved, would make a big social difference.
It was also shown that a big investment in the solution to the problem by a large company would help certain aspects, with the implementation of socially beneficial programs also helping out society as a whole. The lack of respect often shown to kids and adolescents was also talked about.
 
 
One of the best things about the forum was the coming together of ideas. Alongside these ideas was the impressive presence of foreign governments where tourism is developed, but there still exist the sexual exploitation of minors. Some laws to prevent this were presented, along with how they are implemented and how they help society.
   
  Such problems hold “real” tourism back, and with a forum like this, why should this be the case? If there was better investment then the least that would happen would be a significant decrease in the problems.
 
 
I finish this account by saying that tourism can be a transmitter of peace, as cultures come together, and with the correct investment and the help of “everybody” we can certainly achieve peace.