Social(ist) Tourism ProgramDominica just opened its doors and welcomed the very first group of tourists from Venezuela as part of the Social Tourism Program. The program is part of a Venezuelan initiative to help those that are less fortunate to get the chance to travel abroad and use the exchange of people to bring countries closer together. This week the first group of such travelers arrived in Dominica, a new destination on the program. Some estimates put that as many as 9,000 Venezuelans have traveled as a part of the program started by Hugo Chavez.
The first group of thirty-three to Dominica greeted Prime Minister Skerrit at the Financial Center and he even posed for a picture with the group. I like this idea of cultural exchanges but am weary of anything that is created by Chavez. I really hope that many hotels/resorts will benefit from this exchange and not just a select few. Proper eco-tourism spreads the wealth around and all hoteliers should have an opportunity (if they have the capacity) to host these groups as so the wealth of the program is spread abroad creating work and stable incomes across all sectors, not those "in" with the government. Maybe more exchanges like this are needed around the world, us to Muslims and Muslims to us. Would be cheaper than guns and bullets and a great deal more fun and educational. But then again, what else would we need to spend $1Billion on?
World Cup Soccer UpdateDominica was bounced from the World Cup qualifier in Barbados. I was not able to watch this particular match, but many accounts of the competition state that Dominica was more focused on defense rather than putting up an offensive attack. Its a shame, as I would have liked to have seen Dominica play the U.S. in the next upcoming match, so when someone would ask...Where is Dominica? I could give a long winded answer on my favorite island.
Cheers!
1 comment:
An absolutely world-changing amazing program from Venezuela...
Its called El Sistema, (and I wish the Rouge and every other city in the world had this)the program has done so ridiculously well that basically every Orchestra in the world has been raving constantly trying to figure out how they can do it themselves but no US government will bite which is absolutely ridiculous.
Basically Venezuela was having very large problems with their youth turning to crime and drugs, largely as a result of the poverty line, so about 3 decades ago they started this small program where any child who commits to show up for lessons and practice is provided the the lessons and instruments free (paid for by the government) so long as they continue to show up for the lessons/performances they eventually get to take the instrument home and it becomes theirs. The program has literally exploded since then...
It not only helped them keep their kids out of trouble but what has come out of it is a ridiculous classical music movement and THE Venezuelan Youth Orchestra, that is probably better than the majority of professional orchestras in the world!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWs9G-c_pcs
Chavez loves the rogram and pours money into it, like any government should want to do... but not here... Their conductor in that video (Gustavo Dudamel) has just become the youngest conductor ever of the L.A. Philharmonic. I'd go on about details upon awesome details but you can read them in a billion articles.. here's 3 quick ones that I found:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4457278.stm
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1102/p11s02-almp.html
http://www.theworld.org/?q=node/296
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