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In the glamorous world of Las Vegas casinos in the United States, where people revel in wealth and the intense collision between fortune and risk, there exists an unseen parallel universe beneath their feet—a world inhabited by thousands of homeless tunnel dwellers. The gap between these two worlds seems as vast as the Milky Way.
When it comes to tunnel dwellers, you might think it's an urban legend. There are even rumors that their eyes have adapted to perpetual darkness and dimness. In order to uncover the truth, British journalist Jennifer Toes conducted on-site investigations into the living conditions of this community and was surprised to find that the underground community was well-organized, with people reproducing, electing leaders, and even equipped with complete hot water and electricity supplies.
Among the tunnel dwellers are unemployed vagrants, addicts, the lost, or the disabled, turning the dark world into a permanent refuge. During the day, they beg along the streets and scavenge through garbage bins. At night, they return to the damp underground camps to survive or quietly pass away. Living underground is fraught with dangers, including unforeseen robberies, murders, the breeding of bacteria and infectious diseases, as well as sudden severe weather. Whenever a storm sweeps through the city, those living underground face the risk of their homes being washed away or drowned. For them, it's not just a battle against a difficult life but also a struggle to maintain their precarious dignity.
After the results of this investigation were reported, it gained widespread attention. It's unimaginable that beneath the "Entertainment Capital of the World" in Las Vegas, there are thousands of mole people living in darkness, leading miserable lives, highlighting the stark wealth disparity. In the past, I believed that as long as a person worked hard, they would not be poor, and those who were poor must be lazy. However, as I've grown older and seen many reports and documentaries, I've developed a different perspective on poverty. It's not just a matter of laziness; some people work hard their entire lives but still can't escape the invisible chains of poverty. |
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