Disaster Tourists; Birds Of War; Perfume Capital Of The World | 60 Minutes Full Episodes

Anti-government conspiracists and white nationalist groups, such as Active Club and Patriot Front, are increasingly appearing in disaster-stricken communities. Their primary motives are to recruit new members, soften their public image by appearing helpful, and sow doubt in government institutions. This 'disaster tourism' involves generating social media content of their efforts, often without coordinating with local authorities, and then leaving.

Robert Rundo, co-founder of Active Club, stated, 'Going to a disaster relief is directly helping our people. You go in to help white people.' Freddy Cruz from the Western State Center described these activities as 'disaster tourism' focused on social media content. Sheriff Lol Griffin of North Carolina reported that these groups created chaos, launched self-deployed 'law and order' operations with weapons, and spread misinformation, diverting resources from legitimate rescue efforts.

Decades of armed conflict involving the Colombian government, guerrillas, paramilitaries, and narcotraffickers rendered vast areas of western Colombia inaccessible. This isolation inadvertently protected pristine forest habitats, allowing hundreds of bird species, many endemic, to thrive without human disturbance. Following a 2016 peace deal, these untouched areas have become the foundation for a booming ecotourism industry, particularly birdwatching, which now generates millions of dollars.

Host narration states, 'Decades of fighting... made some areas so dangerous few people could go there, preserving the bird's habitat.' Diego Calderon Franco, a leading birding guide and former FARC hostage, explained that 'illegal armed groups... prevented just people coming and slashing and burning the habitats.' Michelle Tapasco, owner of Montuma Rainforest Eco Lodge, built a successful business catering to birders, stating, 'The birds save me. They have given me everything I have.'

As part of Colombia's peace process, former FARC combatants needed new livelihoods. Diego Calderon Franco initiated a program to train ex-guerrillas as forest guides, leveraging their intimate knowledge of the land. This initiative not only provides income but also fosters a connection to conservation and helps bridge divides, demonstrating the healing power of shared passion for nature.

Diego Calderon Franco decided to 'introduce his former captors to birding, thinking some of them might make good forest guides.' Marcos Gua, a former FARC guerrilla, confirmed, 'Bird watching became a doorway for us, not just into conservation and preservation, but also as a way to generate income for ourselves.'

Grasse, France, established itself as the world's perfume capital in the 15th century by pioneering scent extraction from local flowers. Despite a decline in flower farming due to real estate development and cheaper foreign sources, Grasse is experiencing a renaissance. Luxury brands like Chanel have formed exclusive partnerships with local farmers, like the Mule family, to ensure the supply of unique, high-quality flowers (e.g., May rose, jasmine) essential for their iconic fragrances, maintaining centuries-old traditions.

Host narration details Grasse's origin masking leather trade odors and its establishment as the perfume capital. Olivier Polge, Chanel's master perfumer, stated that sourcing jasmine from elsewhere 'would definitely have an impact' on Chanel No. 5's scent. Mayor Jerome Vio's efforts, including designating Grasse a UN cultural heritage site and blocking development on 170 acres, have supported this revival, attracting investments from Lancome, Louis Vuitton, and Christian Dior.