The political, economic, social and humanitarian crises (plural) in Venezuela have now been raging for several years and, according to Business Insider, are now “nearing a tipping point.”
For a while, a lot was being written about the Venezuelan crisis and chaos — especially about the human rights abuses — and how Venezuela was “unraveling”.
But then, perhaps in part due to our own domestic Trump-mania, this important story virtually disappeared from U.S. headlines.
Until now.
This weekend, the Business Insider is predicting, “With crucial legislative elections less than four months away, Venezuela is tilting toward a major social crisis.”
Business Insider mentions endemic food shortages which have “plagued Venezuela for years, worsening with the decline of global oil prices in late 2014,” and the deterioration of law and order which is likely to continue.
But now the beer has hit the fan.
TIME just announced that the “largest beer distributor in Venezuela is beginning to shut down some its breweries, causing widespread frustration in an already resource-strapped country.”
Apparently the lack of ingredients such as “barley, hops and other ingredients has forced the shutdown.”
TIME quotes a worker at a liquor store telling the Guardian “People are more freaked out about losing beer than water—it shows how distorted our priorities have become here.”
Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro hasn’t yet commented on the issue, says TIME.
Please read more here.
Note: While this article uses satire in order to point out our own skewed news priorities, it is in no way intended to minimize or scoff at the food shortages or any of the other humanitarian crises facing the people of Venezuela.
For a more in-depth analysis of the crisis please read here.
Lead photo: www.shutterstock.com
Follow Dorian de Wind on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ddewind99
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.