Bappa Shota: YouTuber Reveals the Reality of Dangerous Places
Go undercover with camera in hand in the world's largest refugee camp, a gang-ruled city, and Europe's largest cult organization: ......
The Reality of the World’s Most XXX Region
“When I learn about the world, my own troubles feel incredibly small. I have had experiences traveling the world that saved me, so I want to share that.”
The YouTuber Bappa Shota, who has around 900,000 subscribers, smiled as he spoke. He continues to delve into the realities of various regions while traveling the world. His reportage videos from dangerous areas labeled as the world’s most popular are especially popular, as they often feature places that rarely allow cameras.
For instance, he reflected on his coverage in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, which has the world’s worst air pollution, with PM2.5 levels 40 times above safety standards.
“It’s so polluted that a mask turns completely black in just one hour. Children of elementary school age work without masks while wafting through the stench of garbage. The level of poverty is on a completely different scale.”
When he visited Damanhur in northern Italy, which was called the largest cult in Europe and uses its own laws and language, he explored what is known as the world’s largest underground temple, experiencing its unique culture. He has also visited areas like the Petare district in Venezuela, known as the world’s most dangerous slum, and the slums in Kingston, Jamaica, which has one of the highest murder rates globally.
The streets are overflowing with smiles.
Shota continues to travel to numerous remote areas, but he has found discrepancies between the information presented by the media and the world he has seen.
“The media portrays the slums of Venezuela as very dangerous, but in reality, most people are kind, and the streets are overflowing with smiles. There are hardly any homeless people in Venezuela. This is because the locals help each other out. While they may be struggling with inner conflicts and worries, in their daily lives, everyone is smiling. I want to share that reality while learning by myself.”
He conducts his interviews primarily alone, with a camera in hand. He usually stays for about a month, utilizing local connections to immerse himself in the areas he reports on.
“I consciously approach these situations without any preconceived notions and with an open heart. You might be surprised, but in the slums, I was hardly ever asked for payment in exchange for interviews. In areas with a lot of negative information, residents likely have a strong desire for their reality to be shared.”
Just a week after his interviews, Shota flew off to his next destination. He will continue to delve into the true voices of people living in the world’s dangerous regions.
Rohingya Refugee Camps in Bangladesh
Shanty huts crowd together as approximately one million people jostle for space.
Italy, outskirts of Turin, the temple of Damanhur: Infiltrating the massive underground temple of Europe’s largest spiritual community.
Jamaica, Kingston & Blue Mountains: A close look at the lives of people living in a country with one of the highest murder rates in the world.
In Venezuela, specifically in the Petare district of the capital Caracas, lies the world’s most dangerous slum, which continues to grow larger.
From the October 18-25, 2024 issue of FRIDAY
Reporting： Kei Kato PHOTO： Kei Kato (6th photo) Courtesy of Bappa Shota (and others)
