Youth

ATHENS -- Anarchy made a spectacular return to Greece this month as explosions struck banks and private businesses and a riot rocked downtown Athens.

Widespread urban guerrilla violence, growing racism toward Greeces 1 million immigrant population and unprecedented disillusionment toward the political class characterize Greek society five months after it experienced its gravest rioting since World War II.

Greece faces a proliferation of new anarchist and anti-establishment terrorist groups, which pose a growing threat to stability, Greek and foreign analysts say.

Worldfocus.org's weekly radio show on Tuesday, May 12 at 6:30 p.m. EDT explores urbanization and the rise of slums, examining how such deplorable conditions might be addressed, even as the global economic crisis looms.

WorldFocus anchor Martin Savidge hosts a panel of guests:

Mary Wiltenburg, for the Pulitzer Center

Mary Wiltenburg encounters a curious young girl in a Tanzanian slum.

Mary Wiltenburg, for the Pulitzer Center

Neema walks in her slum neighborhood. (Mary Wiltenburg/copyright Christian Science Monitor)

NORTH MITROVICA, Kosovo | No one seems to care about the gypsies.

Displaced by conflict and stranded by bureaucratic inertia, dozens of gypsy families remain on toxic land 10 years after they were relocated there by the United Nations after the Kosovo war.

Lead blackens the children's teeth, blanks out memories and stunts growth. Other symptoms of lead poisoning include aggressive behavior, nervousness, dizziness, vomiting and high fever. The children swing between bursts of nervous hyperactivity and fainting spells. Some have epileptic fits.

In 1999 following the NATO led bombing in the Kosovo region, the United Nations built resettlement camps for one of the wars overlooked people, the Roma. Two of these camps were built next to a toxic slagheap of 100 million tons of lead runoff. The hurriedly constructed barracks were also built with old painted lead boards. Today, ten years later, the people of Chesmin Lug and Osterrode camps continue to struggle with life and health.

Unless otherwise noted, photos and text credited to: Darren McCollester / Pulitzer Center

Scott P. Harris, for the Pulitzer Center

I've come to the end of my stay in Belfast and I would like to think that I've gained some understanding of the complexities in overcoming a long history of sectarian violence.

Scott P. Harris, for the Pulitzer Center

Scott P. Harris, for the Pulitzer Center

Scott P. Harris, for The Pulitzer Center

Jake shows his Loyalist POW tattoo - Photo by Matthais Thoelen

NORTH MITROVICA, Kosovo — Displaced by conflict and stranded by bureaucratic inertia, dozens of Roma families remain on toxic land 10 years after they were relocated there by the United Nations following the Kosovo war.