This year, around 6,000 people fell victim to gun violence. Poor innercity neighborhoods are often hotspots. Young men with few prospects are easily recruited into criminal gangs. Of which there are believed to be more than 30,000 in the us. Even the current pandemic has done little to ease the situation. Joe houston wants to stay fit in these strangest of times. So hes just working out on his own. Without all those he normally helps out. Without the kids he regularly trains. Without the girls he instructs in selfdefense moves. And without the teenagers that he trains with and teaches that sport and a healthy diet are important elements in li. Joe is a credible antiviolence ambassador. The 26 year old former delinquent has reformed and wants to guide others away from crime. We are supposed to be trying to come together, and try to help each other due to, like finance or just like being a big brother or big sister, trying to help each other out but it just seemed like this has just fuelled the violence more. I understand this covid is a serious matter but one of the biggest viruses thats been in our community has been black on black crime, or you know were just killing each other or hopeless, just disgusting crimes. The southeast of the us capital washington dc has a majority black population. Some areas in the district have a high murder rate. Joe tells how hard it was to grow up in an area where for many violence is a way of life. Joe i was twelve years old when i got my first gun. And you know it was the power, i felt like well people put fear into me, i put fear into them. It was that power just having a gun knowing that you still can get killed with a gun, but a lot of people feared me when i had a gun. Joes mother died of aids when he was only 13. His life increasingly went off the rails. He was involved in theft and shootouts. At 16 he was jailed for 5 years for wounding 3 people with his gun. That time in jail changed his life. After his release he decided to try intervening where his own misery began he knows how much these kids suffer. Hes also seen his friends being shot. A couple of weeks ago yet another was killed here. One wrong word is all it takes. The coronavirus hasnt put a lockdown on the shooting. Its exactly six years since he was released from jail and began a new life. Today he comes across a couple of youngsters and hangs out with them for a while. Hes not happy that theyre enjoying the coronainduced school closures. Joe look at me man, youre a man, youre a little man, a young man. Read, educate yourself, thats the best thing you can do, try to be different. You not gotta be cool like everybody else because whats going happen . They get killed. They go to jail. So what im telling you man, you know i wanna connect with you man, get you working out. Instagram is joes hotline to young people right now. Hes set up his own Aid Organization and supports other projects as well. He advises city authorities, and is popular as a speaker who ands up for the concerns of young black n. Joalso works as vehicle inspector. And hes a fitness trainer. He stays close to 5 youngsters in particular. During several video calls a week he talks to them about their daily life and the ever present violence and now about the coronavirus as well. His protege, chick was wounded recently. Joe wants to keep him off the streets, and help him train for a job. So what are your top three goals chick, what are your top three goals . Andll with social distancing so noone gets sick. These days he has a family of his own too, with three children to take care of. Joe its just to protect our family, and not be selfish, cos a lot of people in our community we try to be selfish and you know with all these slants this is 5g, its fake and a lot of us are dying, especially the black community. So we need to just practice social distancing. Joe thinks its important for him to set an example just like tyrone power. Tyrone is a veteran of the battle against violence in dcs poorer quarters. For 29 years he and his organization the alliance of concerned men have been trying to mediate between gangs. Hes happy for every helping hand. Tyrone see my only job is to advise, yours is to put it into action through the spirit of who you are. With the coronavirusspr, smartphones are especially important for staying in contact. The Technology Even enabled tyrones organization to negotiate a truce between rival gangs. They get people interested by saying that anyone who doesnt own a tablet will get one for free, provided they take part in regular online chats. It seems to work, especially with the younger ones. If you call us and stay in contact, were going to create another different incentive. If you read a book, you write a story about your life, you say a poem, you look at a movie, were going to put a dollar and cent value to each one of those subject matters that you decide to talk to us about. Then what they do, they stay on these recently, joe houston and other volunteers have begun distributing face masks and groceries many here are struggling to survive. For now at least hardship hasnt fueled more violence. Memorials like this one remain as evidence to the ongoing gang warfare. Joe hopes the coronavirus will pass in time. Hes certain the violence will outlive the crisis something he wants to change. With borders sealed, flights cancelled, hotels closed and beaches barricaded, 2020 has not been a good year for travelers so far. Millions of people have had to settle for spending their holidays on their own balconies. Hard times for the Tourism Sector. Its 2020 profits are set to be a third less than projected. Some 100 Million People worldwide working in the sector could lose their jobs. To stay in touch with valued guests, travel agencies are now offering Virtual Tours on the internet. Eisure tral has become impossle since the world began graping with t novel ronavirus. Coalso imposed domestic travelvd irestrictions to curb the spread of the deadly microorganisms. Over two billion people around the world are currently under lockdown. Not only peoe. The travel bs have alsseen rougy two thir of the worlds passenger jets left idle on the ground. The tourism and Aviation Industries are struggling with an unprecented collapse in demand. Tourism boards across the world are responding by offering Virtual Tours of their countries. For free. From the cfort of ur living rog the great wall of china, or explore machu picchu. Take in the wonder of petra. Check out hollands tulips, which are blossoming in all their glory right now. You n enjoy virtual visits to National Parks across e anet, fromalifornia all the way to austria. You can take ithe treares of over 2,50museums arnd the globe and you can take a lk on mars without even getting off your sofa. Now, greeces Tourism Sector has launched its own platform. Locals invite you to meet them through their screens. This is my home. This is marley. Say hi, marley. Ould be vitors canatch deos of asses onne like nging or pnting. We are showing our love for greece, showing ings that we know b our frien around the road le as well. Like food, music, wine, just to keep people happy and having the feeling they havincreased. L going rough. Irbnb has ne one sp furthe early apr, it introced personalized onle experiens. And people everywhere are offering onle workshops to everyone. You calearn magic tricks, attend a kean makeup tutorial or learn the secrets of cooking a traditional moroccan meal. Tbetween 1 and 50 us dolls. Some analysts say the trend towards digital travel and connectingould continue even after corona rtrictionhave been eased or fted. We argoing to watch this and explore the city. Its thought that touri might well become more local and digital in future. That would further hammer the aviati industry buit would also lowerarbon dioxide emissions and ease the pressure on the climate. According to the united nations, one point 6 billion people around the wod make dow. 150 million are homeless. They sleep on the streets, in doorways or on park benches, squat in empty houses or live in tents. Now, during the corona lockdowns, they face another challenge, where to go when no one isllowed out on the streets. In the belgian town of bruges, socially minded citizens are trying to solve the predicament. Romis just spent his second night in the tputje hotel, where manager tina wijns chats and channels good vibes as she runs things. Coronavirus spacing is mandatory in the breakfast room, the guests seated wide apart. It looks like any normal hotel. There is one difference, these guests are homeless. We have to stay at home, and these people are living on the streets, they dont have a home to go to. That is crazy, we have to do something for them. The tputje is the only hotel still open in the old town of bruges in belgium. Tina wijns normally caters to business travelers and weekend holiday makers in her quiet 3 star hotel. Those markets collapsed fast as the coronavirus spread. Now the tputje serves as a hostel for the homeless funded by the local authorities. After breakfast, romi has to take charge of the dishwasher himself. The hotels regular staff have all been put on leave. Weve got a tv here. In the homeless shelter, there is just a bed and a table. Here you can even take a hot bath, thats brilliant there arent many people whod do Something Like this for us. 25 of the hotels 37 rooms now house guests who normally huddle under bridges. Theyre happy to pitch in with the various chores. I told my colleagues we have to adapt. We may be in the hotel business, now we have to be social workers. Its heaven on earth for the guests luxury theyre not used to. Theyre incredibly grateful. They help me clean the tables and wash up. Patricks been on the streets for 10 months. The Coronavirus Crisis has given him the chance to get a hot shower and enjoyed a breakfast in peace. Normally, i sleep in the Emergency Shelter because i have a small dog, which is not allowed in here. Ok, i can understand that when im allowed to sleep here someone else looks after him. I think it is wonderful that we are welcome to come here. After breakfast, the rules say its time to move out onto the street again. Yet its almost impossible for belgiums homeless to stick to the countrys coronavirus laws. There is a general ban on stopping to sit on benches or steps in public spaces. Most Homeless People end up at the staterun shelter nearby. Here, there is a garden they can retreat to without the police constantly moving them on. The library, the park, the plazas all the places they normally hang out are now closed. Theyre constantly looking for somewhere they can stay put. Thats extremely hard because the streets no longer an option. The charity she works for provides counseling and fresh clothes for the needy. The number of places to sleep has been halved under socialdistancing regulations. Patrick and his dog, pupje, have to spend the day outdoors a fate many under lockdown might envy. Pleasant strolls through romantic bruges, though, are a burden for the towns homeless. I have to keep moving all day long. Sometimes i will quietly sit down on a bench, keeping an eye out to make sure the police dont catch me. An estimated 150 people live on the streets of bruges , sidelined by society but in full view of everyone. The lockdown means the town is empty and quiet. In the hotel tputje, this evenings menu features veal cutlets with peas, carrots and potato mash. Tina wijns project is getting plenty of support from other restaurants and bakers through food donations. Shes as thrilled by the wave of local cooperation and solidarity as she is by her guests. When the first group of homeless came downstairs after their first night, they had been transformed, their eyes, their faces, the gratitude, the joy. It was amazing. You never get that response from tourists. That is why tina is keeping her hotel open for those who really appreciate the hospitality. Strong women, changing the world as we know it. On our Facebook Channel dw women youll find stories about those taking a stand and inspiring hers. Dw women gives a voice to women erywhere. This week in global ideas we look at Wildlife Protection during the pandemic. Many conservation projects around the world are carrying on despite the lockdowns. Its not been easy. Our reporter katja dohne went to belizin centralmerica to find out how one such project is coping. Animal keeper roxy lemus looks after what are known as problem jaars at thbelize o. These arjaguars th have had ts and eyve beguhunting mestic animals like dogs and chickens. Hummer come here, buddy the zoo takes in the big cats to save them from bei shot. They know roxy well t today theyre acting unusually shy. Ummer. Heoesnt likthe mask. Thehummer come here, boy hy. The mask is there to prevent the jaguars from being infected with the conavirus. Several tio tested pitive for vid 19. At first they dont recognize you with the mask on. Its somhing botsides had to adapt to. We wearing the mask and then getting used to seeing us with masks. He coronavirus has belize on lockdown which has also meant shuttering the zoo. It has to remain closed until restrictions are lifted. The belize zoo and Tropical Education Center is a nonprofit organization. It only keeps indigenous animals. Most areescues or able to survive inhe wild foany number of reasons. Covid9 and the rus that didnt only affect the zoos income but also the keepers who workere. We all had to make the decision of cutng down onhe days fo aff. This brht red mac called nger can nlonger fly hes the latest addition to the zoo and probably the only one who who is that jaguar . Masks who is that . Sharon matola founded the zoo almost 40 years ago. Its never been deserted. The anils have ideaunded the whats gng on, wch is fuago. Buit affec us becae one of the gatest chlenges i eping evything f and hethy. So, ess the lizeans,an, eyve be givens pighea, whh you se you know the jaguars love. Meat diributorsrom ound theegion ha donated whh you se you know the their scra. E. Something the wild cats find delicious. Weve been able to garner food supplies. Enou to keeps going til wean get oour footg again. A new donatiojust aived er sugar cane and a big pile of leaves. This tapiran eat up 30 kilos of vegetation a day. So farelize has come throu the corona crisis relatively unscathed. Its now and midmay there have not been any known new infections for weeks. The countrys economy though is suffering dly without tourists from abroad. The sector generates half the grs domest productere so thvirus knocd out 50 percent of the courys economy overnight. Many nongovernmenta organitions depe on touris nii buxton hds belizbird resc. Originally from the ukshes worked eve day for 1years torotect theountrysative bi species. She finaes her proct withs a small bed breakfast, her smwith like nine units. We would take in tourists, interns, vet students, people any aher rescuenduld obvio. Rehalitation cter, nikki buxton looks after almost 200 birds. The ulmate goal to releas them back into theild. That appli to the ba owls well as t large watfowl. I do loveelis. Here, the distssed birds are nursed back to health, reare and th if possib, set free. Weve had everying from the biggesjabiru sto down to t tiny huingbird. Sin the panmic bega weve had everying from thnikkhas beenorking with smaller am than ual. R husbanjerry, and coworker oskar are both here to lend a helping hand. D theres also jujubee, the yellheaded amazon parrot. He is acally a forest depament confiscatn. She was in a cage with no perching. Her fe are reallcrippled. Ellowhead amazons are highly endgered, jerry tells us. This is probablyne of bezes most threatened animals. Ere are noonly a 1200 of thethe bird will be extinct. 00 they hoped that the poaching would deease thiyear. But actual in fact during the lockdown they see that several of the nests that had chicks in them have already been poached. By poaching, to raise them in chic from thesafety. Reened its the cutest thing. The freshly hatched being a surrogate mother is need tbea longterm task. R thparrots wi be looked after fos 750 parrots into the wild. Gh to but how will the Group Finance itlf in thcoronavirus era . I hontly donknow. I cant e that t tourism indury is goa bounceack itlf in y time sn. Rus era . Sot might that weeed to shift oufocus anconcentre fundraing, granseeking,and fis st as wean. Are detmined toeep goin on. Its unclear how belize will fare once the corona pandemic s passed. Should the economy and the situation r people in the country get worse, it is feared that poaching will become an even bigger problem. That will make it althe more difficult r environmtal and Animal Protection organizations to do their work. Thats l from uat global 3000 this week but dont forget we love hearing from you write to us at global3000 dw. Com and do visit our Facebook Page too dw women. See you next time announcer on this episode of earth focus, Lessons Learned during rricane trina ar beg put tohe test ong the coastf louisia. Someredict n orleansill be suerged the en of this centu. The reon surviva dends on s abilitto adapt tolimate cnge. If succeful, louiana may rovide alueprintor other aroundhe world [film vance icking]