Writer and entrepreneur Jason Batansky discusses the reasons for Colombia’s ongoing problem with internally displaced people.
Speaking via remote from Bogota, Colombia, Batansky said the country has risen to No. 2 in the world in terms of internally displaced populations.
“It’s said that there are 5 million internally displaced people,” he said. “At least a couple hundred thousand each year that are having to flee their homes because of conflicts between different groups – either the rebels or the groups that succeeded the paramilitaries.”
He added: “It’s here in Colombia, but it’s not something you’re really going to see unless you have business or really have a life here.”
In the full interview, Batansky also explores the shortage of breast implants in Venezuela – a nation known for being obsessed with beauty and plastic surgery.
Venezuela’s fascination with looks and beauty pageants goes back many years and was more or less fueled by one individual who personally selected contestants with amazing results.
The country actually holds the record for winning the most global beauty pageant titles, despite the fact that the pageant process – as well as widespread breast implant surgeries – was often criticized by the country’s former socialist leader Hugo Chavez.
“Socialism can’t really combat the media influence and what’s been happening for many years before,” said Batansky, who also addressed Venezuela’s shortage issue. “It’s not just silicon for the breast implants, but it’s so many other basic products that we can take for granted… toilet paper too.”
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