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Food Shortages - The silent tsunami
economist.com — A wave of food-price inflation is moving through the world, leaving riots and shaken governments in its wake. For the first time in 30 years, food protests are erupting in many places at once. Bangladesh is in turmoil; even China is worried.
geekchic- 1272 diggs
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- fitqueenb, on 04/20/2008, -2/+70things will get worse before they get better.
- cliffzdude, on 04/21/2008, -2/+16Indeed you are correct. However, they will get better. For about 2 decades US farmers have increased production to the point that it was in the country's best interest to keep land ready for farming, but not farm said land. That's the basis of the must maligned "paid to not grow" programs you hear about so often on Digg. The good news is more of those lands are being farmed this summer instead of being tagged for government funds, albeit at a painful pace. Weather has slowed planting corn for example by over 17%, but the amount of land being planted for corn has increased dramatically. But it takes farmers time to capitalize up for increased production, and in an environment with $4 diesel, more expensive fertilizers and pesticides, well, its a gamble for Joe Farmer Inc... I know I'm going against the grain by suggesting the prices of oil and increased demand are the world's issues regarding increased commodity pricing, so be it.
- PeppermintPig, on 04/21/2008, -4/+10Whatever the government's interest is concerning the farming of property belonging to private individuals, it's really none of their business. Paying farmers not to grow and prohibiting them from doing so is anti-competitive, and it violates property rights.
- ludar, on 04/21/2008, -3/+7dude they aren't prohibited from planting on the land, they are just getting paid not to do so to prevent over production, and also works into crop rotation giving the soil time to regenerate nutrients.
- aukxsona, on 04/21/2008, -2/+4Yes they are. They can't plant anything BUT corn if they do plant anything.
- ludar, on 04/21/2008, -1/+4they can plant anything they please, your sanity would be questioned for not not planting corn, with futures being through the roof.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -3/+4"it violates property rights."
lol, ok. - Foxehh, on 04/21/2008, -0/+7Getting paid to not plant is not a "violation of property rights". The farmers chose to accept the money. No one is forcing farmers to not plant as far as I know.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -12/+1Rural hicks always think that the answer any legal issue somehow involves "property rights." Post office delivered your mail to the wrong address? Property rights violation!
Many also believe that eminent domain is a communist conspiracy and that the 16th amendment was never ratified. - ludar, on 04/21/2008, -1/+7@petrodollar: wow, that is one of the most ill-informed remarks that i have ever read on this site.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -12/+1Rural hicks always think that the answer any legal issue somehow involves "property rights." Post office delivered your mail to the wrong address? Property rights violation!
- Risingashes, on 04/21/2008, -1/+4However it is wrong. "Overproduction" basically equates to making the rich farming lobbys richer at the expense of the tax payer.
Why would government pay to stop production of anything? How is restricting the world's food supply beneficial to the common American citizen?- ludar, on 04/21/2008, -1/+5because if there is to much of one crop, the infrastructure can't handle the amount coming into them so if the elevators can't take in anything else it just sits in the fields and rots, and what happens then? the crop insurance kicks in and the government would owe them the same amount of money if not more (depending on how many bushels are sitting in the field). One of the programs that they get paid for leaving ground empty is if the field boarders a river or a creek then they are paid to leave a preset amount of ground un-worked to prevent bank erosion. Also, its better on the soil to leave a field empty every few years.
- ludar, on 04/21/2008, -3/+7dude they aren't prohibited from planting on the land, they are just getting paid not to do so to prevent over production, and also works into crop rotation giving the soil time to regenerate nutrients.
- cliffzdude, on 04/21/2008, -1/+12Its not in government's interest per se, its in your interest and mine. We're currently enjoying (albeit quietly) the fruits of said programs. Production will be able to rise without taking *too* long or at *too* great a cost. It cost us taxpayers in the short run, but in the long run the current increase in demand is exactly why such programs were put into place.
BTW how can such a program violate property rights? Color me an ignoramus, that's ok, I've been called worse. But if Joe Farmer Inc can grow crops or take a year of payment to not grow, how is that a violation of property rights? I'm not baiting you, I really don't get your statement.- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -1/+2Dude probably thinks that the constitution entitles him to earn some type of income off his land, and that if the government takes steps that spoil the market for the crops he produces that it's a "takings." This is essentially a description of communism - that the government is somehow compelled to provide price supports that make farming "profitable" - and it is a based on a very ill-informed understanding of the takings clause or really any other part of the constitution.
- ludar, on 04/21/2008, -0/+2well unlike the rest of the economy, crop prices aren't decided by the individual farmers, the prices are set by the elevators. also unlike other industries when something isn't producing, what do you do with it...you replace it. but in ag if the land isn't producing its kind of hard to get rid of, you can't scrap it, you can't sell it to a school, and you can't pick up and move as easily. and by not some fields planted it gives room for the farmers to use in the event of a natural disaster in another area.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -1/+2Dude probably thinks that the constitution entitles him to earn some type of income off his land, and that if the government takes steps that spoil the market for the crops he produces that it's a "takings." This is essentially a description of communism - that the government is somehow compelled to provide price supports that make farming "profitable" - and it is a based on a very ill-informed understanding of the takings clause or really any other part of the constitution.
- qwertydvorak, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1"The good news is more of those lands are being farmed this summer instead of being tagged for government funds, albeit at a painful pace. Weather has slowed planting corn for example by over 17%, but the amount of land being planted for corn has increased dramatically."
actually, you are wrong. corn planting is down this year, soybeans are up. so it is actually going to get worse, because of the amount of corn going to ethanol. it is going to cause corn prices to soar even more.
Reference: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/harford/bal ...
the source for that article is us dept of agriculture
- PeppermintPig, on 04/21/2008, -4/+10Whatever the government's interest is concerning the farming of property belonging to private individuals, it's really none of their business. Paying farmers not to grow and prohibiting them from doing so is anti-competitive, and it violates property rights.
- BriVaps, on 04/21/2008, -3/+8with the human population growing by a billion in less than 10 years
when do you expect it to get better?
when we reach 10 billion, thats when there will be no more food shortages, right?- doctechnical, on 04/21/2008, -7/+4The 60's called, they want their dire predictions of doom and gloom back.
- Foxehh, on 04/21/2008, -1/+8If this report is accurate, it looks like 1 billion people will die if food prices don't go down.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -2/+7*crosses fingers*
- nick111, on 04/21/2008, -4/+4Yes, but that's where you're a ***** you see... 15% of the people on the planet dieing won't make things better for you.
Because for every 1% that die, there's some other % that are seriously *****... and famine on that scale will create severely damaged societies and quite possibly wreck the global infrastructure... which will in turn mean that your own freedoms will be stripped away. If you stop stuffing your face with cake and look around, you'll see it happening already. - petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -1/+5"which will in turn mean that your own freedoms will be stripped away."
Please explain how the elimination of vast swaths of the world's poor will cause my "freedoms" to be "stripped away." If I'm not mistaken, Americans were plenty free 100 years ago when the earth's population was 1/3 what it is today. How the hell are starving Indians protecting my freedoms? If anything, a massive die-off will reduce demand for real estate, making it easier for us survivors to buy up a bunch of land and live however we damn well please.
- nick111, on 04/21/2008, -4/+4Yes, but that's where you're a ***** you see... 15% of the people on the planet dieing won't make things better for you.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -2/+7*crosses fingers*
- MelvinSchlubman, on 04/21/2008, -1/+3And Lily Tomlin's general quote may be right: "things will get a lot worse before they get worse".
- Dralite, on 04/21/2008, -1/+2with that thinking, they should be great by now
- ABadPerson, on 04/21/2008, -1/+2And than it will only get worse and only get worse.
We are losing top soil, and soil salinity is almost as irreversible as entropy. *Sigh* - EwMo, on 04/21/2008, -3/+2If we've hit the carrying capacity (max amount of humans in the world), you're looking at it getting worse and worse. When Rome fell, there followed a half a dozen centuries of Dark Ages. THEN it might improve...
- herecomes, on 04/21/2008, -0/+4This is a serious risk for countries like India and China that have degraded their agriculture base in order to pursue manufacturing.
- skidooer, on 04/21/2008, -1/+1I don't know about that. The grain commodities seem to be crashing today.
- cliffzdude, on 04/21/2008, -2/+16Indeed you are correct. However, they will get better. For about 2 decades US farmers have increased production to the point that it was in the country's best interest to keep land ready for farming, but not farm said land. That's the basis of the must maligned "paid to not grow" programs you hear about so often on Digg. The good news is more of those lands are being farmed this summer instead of being tagged for government funds, albeit at a painful pace. Weather has slowed planting corn for example by over 17%, but the amount of land being planted for corn has increased dramatically. But it takes farmers time to capitalize up for increased production, and in an environment with $4 diesel, more expensive fertilizers and pesticides, well, its a gamble for Joe Farmer Inc... I know I'm going against the grain by suggesting the prices of oil and increased demand are the world's issues regarding increased commodity pricing, so be it.
- Hidama, on 04/20/2008, -6/+21I do agree: the economic powers need to create a plan to alleviate the inflation in nations that cannot handle it and risk uprising.
And there is a good reason that China is worried. In many places cities have depleted or fouled natural water sources, and are finding some of their prime farm land becoming desert-like.- manstein01, on 04/21/2008, -3/+10Economic Powers = America with some help by Western Europe.
I'd rather put some pressure on these countries to finally start considering that birth control might be a good idea. Bangladesh has 160 million people crammed into an over sized river delta.- nick111, on 04/21/2008, -4/+2But it's people like you who are wasting the most resources.
When you find yourself blaming victims rather than thinking about what YOU can do... well, sorry, you're always on very shaky ground morally. - Risingashes, on 04/21/2008, -0/+3You'll have a lot of people looking at the 'victims' and calling people 'monsters' for daring to blame them.
But where did all these victims come from? Sure the children can't be blamed but what about the parents? Why are families guilt free when bringing families of 3,4,5 and more in to an environment that will obviously not be able to sustain them?
America and the western world consumes huge amounts of resources, but this was a given- this was known. When the current starving children were being born it was known that they would be starving. America didn't just suddenly start eating more than its 'fair share'.
There are two solutions to the problem of starving people:
1) Rich countries lower consumption- but what happens when countries with overpopulation get MORE food? They have MORE children- leading to MORE starvation.
2) Poor families in poor countries have fewer children- more food, less supply of labor meaning less competition for jobs meaning higher wages and higher ability to buy food.
- nick111, on 04/21/2008, -4/+2But it's people like you who are wasting the most resources.
- philipl411, on 04/21/2008, -7/+16Let me get this straight. China pee's in its own chili and the US needs to step up to the plate and fix it? Let them starve. No skin off my nose
- Foxehh, on 04/21/2008, -1/+11I agree. Its not the United States or the European Unions responsibility to feed the world.
- DarkSamus, on 04/21/2008, -2/+2exactly, all they should do is reap off the benefits
- nick111, on 04/21/2008, -3/+2But Ph' ph' ph' ph' philllipppe.... China helped you to piss 3 trillion of your own money up the wall fighting a war in Iraq... that you're losing.
- philipl411, on 04/21/2008, -2/+4The cost of the war is about 512 billion dollars, not 3 trillion.
http://zfacts.com/p/447.html
- philipl411, on 04/21/2008, -2/+4The cost of the war is about 512 billion dollars, not 3 trillion.
- Foxehh, on 04/21/2008, -1/+11I agree. Its not the United States or the European Unions responsibility to feed the world.
- jamessavik, on 04/21/2008, -0/+2Let them uprise. It is the corrupt gov'ts of the 3rd world that are responsible for the problem.
- stealthc, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1It's the central planning that causes these problems.
- manstein01, on 04/21/2008, -3/+10Economic Powers = America with some help by Western Europe.
- Stevanoski, on 04/20/2008, -17/+47But but bio fuel has been given the stamp of approval by the Greens so it must be okay to starve the world, even if it takes 7 gallons of petroleum to produce 1 gallon of bio fuel. And for all you sharp people, the ones who know chemistry, what molecule is part of the alcohol molecule? Water! So the damage to your engine if it is not set up to handle this excess water will be great.
- cliffzdude, on 04/21/2008, -4/+16My parents were pumping what was then called "Gasohol" into their sedans back in the 80's. No problems after decades, a modern engine can handle 10-15% alcohol. That said its patently obvious that using corn derived alcohol as fuel is absurd, but lets use accurate arguments that will stand up.
- funkyjunk3, on 04/21/2008, -0/+3Its the same damn reason "High Fructose Corn Syrup" is so prevalent - Corn subsidies.
- h3smith, on 04/21/2008, -3/+9Fringe Greens would love nothing more than people dying off to "save the planet" as they see people as a "virus" (to steal from the Matrix) of the Earth.
- Aokitsune, on 04/21/2008, -2/+5Tom Clancy wrote a book based on that- "Rainbow Six"
- nick111, on 04/21/2008, -3/+1Yea, likewise that other imaginary group - fringe fascists.
"fringe greens" or any other group of marginalised crackpots are not the problem.
- had3l, on 04/21/2008, -1/+6The problem is not the harvest of ethanol or bio fuels from food crops. The problem is the subsidies to the production of such fuels. If not for the subsidies, they would have to find more efficient ways/crops to produce bio-fuels.
- h3smith, on 04/21/2008, -0/+6Cargil got out of the Ethanol business and told congress that ethanol was a waste because they were burning money.
But once congress subsidized it, it was stupid for them not to get back in the business - they were throwing so much money at it.
- h3smith, on 04/21/2008, -0/+6Cargil got out of the Ethanol business and told congress that ethanol was a waste because they were burning money.
- regeya, on 04/21/2008, -8/+5Oh, come on. Ethanol has been produced for decades. The current "it's all ethanol's fault" attitude is pure anti-Americanism at its best.
Yes, it's true that prices have risen a small percentage on corn and wheat, but it's somewhere between 3 and 5 percent. Prices on wheat have more than doubled.
If you want to know why grains have gone up in price, it's because of a severe shortage, and no, it's not being turned into ethanol, whiskey, or anything fun like that--it's because crops have been dying all over the world due to wheat rust. And the same problem has hit rice crops. Add to this that arable land in many places has been either turning to desert or has been turned into parking lots, and that more land has been devoted to livestock around the world, PLUS that less land is being farmed in "civilized" countries, AND the cost of shipping skyrocketing due to astronomical increases in diesel costs, and it's a perfect storm of bad ***** going down. Which also drives "fears" of speculative traders, who are also looking to hedge against a currently weaker U.S. dollar. You know, the same a-holes driving the price of oil up, which is part of the problem with food prices being up.
But yeah, let's blame ethanol, because then it can be a big UP YOURS to George Bush and environmentalists. How dare those environmentalists try to save the world...- crackpatch, on 04/21/2008, -1/+2"How dare those environmentalists try to save the world..."
They tried and FAILED. cut your losses and move on to something else. There is nothing wrong with admitting that ethanol sounded good but turned out not to be worth the trouble at least when it comes to using corn to make it. If we had some other crop, one that people could but didn't eat at least not in large amounts, one that can grow in places not usually suited to major food crops so you could grow it IN ADDITION to and not IN REPLACEMENT of food crops, one that wouldn't compete directly with corn for food and could be grow side by side with corn then you could have a point but unless you are talking about growing hemp for fuel you don't. Not to sound like a hippy but that could have been the magic bullet that helped curb ( at least in part) the food shortages in regards to corn that the world is seeing.
- crackpatch, on 04/21/2008, -1/+2"How dare those environmentalists try to save the world..."
- hiikeeba, on 04/21/2008, -2/+9The Global Warming Movement isn't coming from the Greenies. It's coming from Archer Daniels Midland who has seen their corn prices go through the roof so we can have biofuels rather than feed livestock. In Mexico, farmers are digging up agave plants to plant corn for biofuels. In parts of Europe, grain is being replaced with corn for biofuels. Add to that a growing demand for wheat and grains in the Far East, you have a perfect storm. Yep, lots of poor people of color are going to starve so we can drive our SUVs in good conscience.
- mrraven200, on 04/21/2008, -2/+2Ding, ding thanks for pointing that out, it isn't hippy green "geasecars" that use fryer grease that would be land filled anyway causing the problem but the corporations greenwash marketing their GMOd crap and co-opting a green label to do so. Of course the "free market" is a god that must NEVER be questioned right diggers? It's interesting how diggers are rightly skeptical about religion and ID and other such nonsense yet behave like the worst sort of fundamentalist when it comes to worshiping the "free market." even when it leads to TERRIBLE outcomes like starvation on a global scale. If you were true skeptics you'd see that ALL forms of institutional authority ought to be questioned both public and private (free market) at all times least the scum rise to the top. How can we have true transparency and accountability if we treat the free market and it's institutions like gods that must not be questioned under any circumstances. Religious fundamentalism leads to disasters like ID and "Expelled" and free market fundamentalism leads to disasters like "biofuels" and global starvation, think about it, please for the sake of the starving in the world. THANKS!!!
- mrraven200, on 04/22/2008, -1/+1Anyone care to actually refute my idea that market fundamentalists ignore empiricism in the EXACT same way creationists do? Taps foot, I'm waiting...
- mrraven200, on 04/21/2008, -2/+2Ding, ding thanks for pointing that out, it isn't hippy green "geasecars" that use fryer grease that would be land filled anyway causing the problem but the corporations greenwash marketing their GMOd crap and co-opting a green label to do so. Of course the "free market" is a god that must NEVER be questioned right diggers? It's interesting how diggers are rightly skeptical about religion and ID and other such nonsense yet behave like the worst sort of fundamentalist when it comes to worshiping the "free market." even when it leads to TERRIBLE outcomes like starvation on a global scale. If you were true skeptics you'd see that ALL forms of institutional authority ought to be questioned both public and private (free market) at all times least the scum rise to the top. How can we have true transparency and accountability if we treat the free market and it's institutions like gods that must not be questioned under any circumstances. Religious fundamentalism leads to disasters like ID and "Expelled" and free market fundamentalism leads to disasters like "biofuels" and global starvation, think about it, please for the sake of the starving in the world. THANKS!!!
- Prototek, on 04/21/2008, -2/+9The ones who know chemistry know that you do not know chemistry.
- coyoteblue, on 04/21/2008, -1/+1Use. Hemp.
- cliffzdude, on 04/21/2008, -4/+16My parents were pumping what was then called "Gasohol" into their sedans back in the 80's. No problems after decades, a modern engine can handle 10-15% alcohol. That said its patently obvious that using corn derived alcohol as fuel is absurd, but lets use accurate arguments that will stand up.
- rahamm, on 04/20/2008, -27/+17DAME THE WEST FOR NOT GIVING THE WORLD FOOD FOR FREE
- jmpeagle, on 04/20/2008, -6/+9this isn't the problem....way to not read the article
- rahamm, on 04/20/2008, -5/+6Yes it is read everything after first find 700 million
- jmpeagle, on 04/21/2008, -1/+3but notice what got us here is the first place...read after "Then stop the distortions"
- rahamm, on 04/21/2008, -4/+2It is the governments job to intervene in the market on behave of their people. You want your people to be the best it is not the governments job to make sure others have it great unless it is good for their own people some how. That is what is wrong with cosmopolitanism in the first place, people don't understand that is not the way the world works.
- jmpeagle, on 04/21/2008, -1/+3but notice what got us here is the first place...read after "Then stop the distortions"
- rahamm, on 04/20/2008, -5/+6Yes it is read everything after first find 700 million
- TimeLincoln, on 04/20/2008, -1/+5DAME?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dame - rahamm, on 04/21/2008, -1/+6DAME it i do that everytime
- DRINKxREDxBULL, on 04/21/2008, -1/+8Actually free food IS part of the problem. Our government subdues corn and other crops so heavily that farmers in other nations can't compete, and don't grow crops.
This ultra-cheap corn and wheat is then dumped in African nations as "aid", making it even harder for farmers to make a living because they are competing with free grain. So the farmers don't plant, leading to food shortages, which lead to Bono begging governments to send more aid, which (you guessed it) leads to more farmers being put out of business.- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -4/+3Your analysis is about three years out of date.
"Our government subdues corn and other crops"
Is the corn getting uppity again?
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -4/+3Your analysis is about three years out of date.
- jmpeagle, on 04/20/2008, -6/+9this isn't the problem....way to not read the article
- Joe_rigby, on 04/20/2008, -4/+43Crops should be planted for use by people as fuel instead of automobiles.
- TinternAbbot, on 04/21/2008, -0/+19More appropriately, they should be planted without subsidies for whatever purpose the planter finds most economically attractive.
- regeya, on 04/21/2008, -2/+1*sigh* see my comment above...plus digging your comment down, and any similar comment below, for being redundant.
- mrzack, on 04/20/2008, -6/+44what better way to depopulate the world than with a food shortage. An eugenics conspiracy is afoot...
- Devilboy666, on 04/21/2008, -6/+10Conspiracy nuts claim that part of the NWO plan is to reduce world population to 1 billion.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -12/+8I'm totally support of this idea. When do we start on the southeastern U.S.?
- MrWhite7, on 04/21/2008, -3/+13Well that explains why you're trying to take away their guns ...
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -6/+9In case you haven't noticed, southernes aren't very good at winning wars.
We can also just cut off your welfare aid and watch you slowly turn into northern mexico. - MrWhite7, on 04/21/2008, -2/+8They do however, inflict more casualties...The Union won because of its booming industry and economy... Guess what's going down the ***** and the basis for this discussion...
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -4/+4http://www.statemaster.com/graph/mil_ira_war_cas-m ...
On a per capita basis, VA, GA, LA, NC, and TN are getting absolutely destroyed. - slightlygifted, on 04/21/2008, -1/+2the south actually had better fighters but just had a smaller population. casualty total for south: 258,000. total for north: 360,222.
- doctechnical, on 04/21/2008, -1/+3"In case you haven't noticed, southernes aren't very good at winning wars."
Remember the Alamo. - MrWhite7, on 04/21/2008, -1/+2it's not a war petro, it's a police action... mission accomplished remember?
- aukxsona, on 04/21/2008, -1/+1As a transplanted to the south person,
I hate southern remarks.
This time the North will fall...all your cities will be the down fall.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -6/+9In case you haven't noticed, southernes aren't very good at winning wars.
- AmusedToDeath, on 04/21/2008, -2/+14Hey Petrodollar - ***** you very much. I've got plenty of land to grow my OWN food down here, thanks. All you sanctimonious townies can suck it when the ***** comes down.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -8/+5"I've got plenty of land to grow my OWN food down here"
Yeah, but you still need technology and other capital inputs that you can only finance through subsidies and indirect price supports provided by the federal government.
Take a look here: http://www.nemw.org/taxburd.htm
If you live in the southeast, chances are high that your state is a net recipient of federal tax dollars, whereas my state sends more money to the federal government than it receives back.
Therefore, you should be THANKING me, because if not for people like me your state would be about as wealthy as Mexico but not nearly as fun to visit on vacation. - MrWhite7, on 04/21/2008, -0/+4And you should be thinking him for the food that subsidized farmland produces. That aside he was referring to his own personal land.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -4/+2I don't eat the foul pesticide-laden GMO ***** they grown down in 'bammy. I leave that for people who buy their groceries at gas stations. I pay a premium for the quality food that I eat and it's damn worth it.
- aukxsona, on 04/21/2008, -1/+2Mr. White,
some people are too stupid to under stand that people actually own more than a lot and can farm it. - MrWhite7, on 04/21/2008, -0/+2but your neighbors do petro, and what do you think is keeping them from stealing your beloved pesticide free stock?
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -8/+5"I've got plenty of land to grow my OWN food down here"
- MrWhite7, on 04/21/2008, -3/+13Well that explains why you're trying to take away their guns ...
- PeppermintPig, on 04/21/2008, -3/+4It would be disingenuous to label ALL conspiracy theorists as supporting that belief. Some do... and some believe in reptilian space men.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -12/+8I'm totally support of this idea. When do we start on the southeastern U.S.?
- LokitheComplex, on 04/21/2008, -3/+5There is no conspiracy beyond "the war of all against all" everything else is a pragmatism.
- RickyBarnes1960, on 04/21/2008, -1/+5One need do no more than to disassemble all socialist or collectivist props and leave individuals to provide for their own survival. Collectivism makes it all too easy for people to irresponsibly multiply. When the problem of how to feed extra mouths rests squarely on the shoulders of he or she in the sack, I'm quite certain there will be far less reproduction without responsibility, rationality and reason.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -2/+3People in places like India insist on ***** out 15 kids each, despite the fact they live in hovels no larger than a civilized family's dinner table. If you ***** out that many kids, and live in such dire poverty, it's your own goddamn fault. In the aggregate, such decisions ruin the country as a whole.
- aukxsona, on 04/21/2008, -0/+4Not so families had 12 children back in the early 1880's. Often times they were dirt poor as a result.
- Devilboy666, on 04/21/2008, -6/+10Conspiracy nuts claim that part of the NWO plan is to reduce world population to 1 billion.
- Strongo, on 04/20/2008, -2/+46This is what we get for allowing Iowa to vote first ever year....
- DRINKxREDxBULL, on 04/21/2008, -0/+8There were only two candidates who went through Iowa this year and refused to offer more farm subsidies. One was Ron Paul, the other was John McCain.
- Strongo, on 04/21/2008, -1/+5sad that still doesn't make me want to vote for McCain
- DRINKxREDxBULL, on 04/21/2008, -0/+8There were only two candidates who went through Iowa this year and refused to offer more farm subsidies. One was Ron Paul, the other was John McCain.
- funkyjunk3, on 04/20/2008, -2/+11Algae and other non-food sources should be used for biofuel, and NOT at the cost of food farmland. Sure it's not as readily available as corn, soy beans, etc. However, it is a much more efficient way of producing biofuel compared to current sources and it does so without the significant reductions in the food supply.
- funkyjunk3, on 04/21/2008, -0/+6correction, the technology is not yet commercially available on mass scale to produce the algae for bio fuels yet. However, I'd rather it wait 3-4 years to get on line than to deplete the food supply.
- rodent54, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1From what I have read sooner than 3-4 years. There is a trial in New Zealand where waste water is being processed and algae harvested. Looks really good as it also removes phosphates from the water which have entered from heavy farming. A bi product of the process is a phosphate mix that can be reused on the land.
- SemiSarcastic, on 04/21/2008, -2/+1But what if that creates another shortage and we find out later that something really important that we needed is in danger of dying out because of lack of algae?
- bongle, on 04/21/2008, -0/+4The ideal that I've read about is algae growing in plastic bags in the desert being fed sunlight (plenty of that in the desert) and CO2 (no shortage of that either), then being processed into biofuel. No displaced habitats, no use of arable land, no CO2 emissions to grow it.
- BikeMessenger, on 04/21/2008, -0/+4Trouble is, in order to be successful it will have to be cheaper to produce than corn ethanol+subsidies. Classic example of how subsidies throw off the market's natural corrections.
- funkyjunk3, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1The REAL question is, is it cheaper to produce corn ethanol when the cost of human suffering is taken into account?
- funkyjunk3, on 04/21/2008, -0/+6correction, the technology is not yet commercially available on mass scale to produce the algae for bio fuels yet. However, I'd rather it wait 3-4 years to get on line than to deplete the food supply.
- 9bpm9, on 04/20/2008, -4/+25China? Worried about feeding its people? Since when?
- i1chocolat, on 04/21/2008, -0/+2Since they are hosting the Olympic 2008 and that the whole world is looking at them !
- DestroyFascism, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1Yeah, those rice farmers are screwed this time! Drought, Olympics, Big Cities to feed. Looks like they will be eating cardboard this year.
- NanoStuff, on 04/21/2008, -0/+2I'm so cool, I hate China too. We're so cool, right?
- RespectableGuy, on 04/21/2008, -18/+11let them starve, that way there will be less people to feed, which solves the sortage. also the people starving can just eat the people who starved, which creates more food.
- Devilboy666, on 04/21/2008, -1/+9There's not a lot of meat on someone that died of starvation though.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -5/+5Their bones will still make good soup stock.
- slightlygifted, on 04/21/2008, -0/+2BRAINS! OM NOM NOM NOM
- Strongo, on 04/21/2008, -3/+5I say we enact this plan! Only Respectableguy should be the first to volunteer to either be eaten or be the starved person eating other people. Once he's enlisted I'll join up too.
- MrWhite7, on 04/21/2008, -1/+4It won't be voiluntary enlistment so much as a draft...
- RespectableGuy, on 04/21/2008, -0/+3it will be a free for all, first family to the dead body gets it all! and if two family's get to the body at the same time they will FIGHT TO THE DEATH!
- SemiSarcastic, on 04/21/2008, -0/+3RespectableGuy somewhere in California entertainment execs are planning on making your comment into a reality TV show. "The Amazing Race: Cannibal Edition"
- RespectableGuy, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1it will be FOX T.V.'s biggest hit since American Idle.
- MrWhite7, on 04/21/2008, -1/+4It won't be voiluntary enlistment so much as a draft...
- slightlygifted, on 04/21/2008, -6/+4let the 3rd world countries deal with their own problems. if we donate food to keep all 7 of everyones kids alive problems are going to happen. they have 7 kids because they are used to 3 or 4 dying before adulthood. when they eventually become 1st world they will have 1 or 2 kids its that simple.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -2/+2I think Bangladesh would work better as a nation if it dropped everything but its top decile. That's like 15 million people. I think 15 million is all the people that pungent delta needs.
- BikeMessenger, on 04/21/2008, -0/+5Thats cold dude.
- SemiSarcastic, on 04/21/2008, -1/+3...Cold as Ice.
- RespectableGuy, on 04/21/2008, -2/+0it's not like any of them are human.
- Devilboy666, on 04/21/2008, -1/+9There's not a lot of meat on someone that died of starvation though.
- Croecop, on 04/21/2008, -5/+25This is horrible news!
* Orders two cheese steaks and pizza fries *- gryphon50, on 04/21/2008, -0/+2pizza fries? what the heck is that?? sounds intriguing.
- Croecop, on 04/21/2008, -0/+3French fries covered in mozzarella cheese and pizza sauce. Delicious.
- UNDERSTAR, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1You sir, are missing out.
- gryphon50, on 04/21/2008, -0/+2pizza fries? what the heck is that?? sounds intriguing.
- Mehster, on 04/21/2008, -10/+3Just more fear propaganda to justify bombing of roadside fruit stands.
- TinternAbbot, on 04/21/2008, -5/+31It does my heart good to see articles from The Economist on the front page every now and then. Every time I see the word "Huffington" I feel a minor stroke coming on...and I'm only 22!
- nick111, on 04/21/2008, -0/+3That's far too young to be middle-aged already.
What do they say?
If you're not a rebel in your 20s you've got no heart
If you're not establishment in your 30s you've got no brain
If you're not a socialist by your 40s you've got no soul?- TinternAbbot, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1I always heard it that if you're not a democrat before 30 you've got no heart but if you're not a republican after 30 you've got no brain. I don't think republican works in that context any more, though. Libertarian would be better.
- nick111, on 04/21/2008, -0/+3That's far too young to be middle-aged already.
- dtfinch, on 04/21/2008, -3/+7I need a food shortage.
- iantobe, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1 mistake, burry me
- chalkboy, on 04/21/2008, -2/+13Let them eat Cake!
- zmower, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1The cake is a lie. :(
- mongrel, on 04/21/2008, -4/+37Some dude in the Burger King line a few months ago overheard my friend & I bitching about gas prices, and "piously" chimed in how HE was using corn ethanol fuel in his pickup which barely cost him anything. To which I replied, "thanks for that, this time next year that Whopper will cost twice as much."
- Seventus, on 04/21/2008, -3/+13A wave of food price inflation is also because of China's recent decision to reduce the production of fertilizers, therefore making it more expensive to purchase them. They said that they've done this in order to protect their farmers. For once, something that does affect the price of rice.
- sndream, on 04/21/2008, -1/+3Fake!!!! China been importing fertilizers from US for decades. Only George Bush will be stupid enough to make a decision like that.
- antoniuk, on 04/21/2008, -3/+8I know we need to take care of our fellow person and all but with all the out of control breeding and lack of planning for an exploding population, why is it the responsibility of the countries that take care of themselves to pony up money to those that are irresponsible.
I say we bail them out on the condition that they practice negative population growth- MrWhite7, on 04/21/2008, -2/+5Same reason we bail out the banks and feed the poor over here. If you let the poor starve or the banks crash, things will go to hell. The trick is to appease the masses just enough that they won't overthrow you.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -1/+2Not necessarily. If you starve them enough they will be too weak to rebel. See http://www.amazon.com/Moral-Economy-Peasant-Rebell ...
- BikeMessenger, on 04/21/2008, -3/+4It's the same reason rich parents continue to pay for their out of control childrens habits, and also the same reason those kids never learn.
- toppgun, on 04/21/2008, -2/+2I resent that statement. when any of my friends get out of line their parents lay down the law. If I got out of line my parents would lay down the law.
//rich kid
//there is no rich person conspiracy to keep the masses down so stop saying it digg- MrWhite7, on 04/21/2008, -2/+3an anecdote does not an argument disprove OR of course you'd say that you're part of the conspiracy.
- toppgun, on 04/21/2008, -2/+2I resent that statement. when any of my friends get out of line their parents lay down the law. If I got out of line my parents would lay down the law.
- mrraven200, on 04/21/2008, -1/+1Reducing world population is an excellent idea. However I hope you aren't going to be a hypocrite and have kids yourself while you express this philosophy for other peoplein the third world. Remember first world people like your children would use MANY times more resources than a child in the third world. Population control starts at home.
- MrWhite7, on 04/21/2008, -2/+5Same reason we bail out the banks and feed the poor over here. If you let the poor starve or the banks crash, things will go to hell. The trick is to appease the masses just enough that they won't overthrow you.
- BesideYouInTime, on 04/21/2008, -3/+9Food subsidies aren't necessary as bad as they're made out to be in the article. I remember reading an article about six months ago about some African country that was being advised by the IMF or World Bank or some other NGO. They were having consistent problems over a number of years with hunger. In the end they went against the advice of the NGO and reinstituted agriculture subsidies and their hunger problems were gone within a year. Unfortunately in practice 'free trade' means we pressure third world countries to give up their own subsidies while leaving ours intact. Corn subsidies in the US are outrageous.
- BikeMessenger, on 04/21/2008, -1/+3I agree. If we are going to preach it, we need to practice it more consistently.
- topgigmedia, on 04/21/2008, -4/+22Meanwhile, Americans continue to super-size their 150 piece bucket of fried chicken at KFC...
- Brian48216, on 04/21/2008, -1/+22You have captured my interest.
Where can I find this fabled 150 piece bucket?- dtfinch, on 04/21/2008, -0/+4http://origin.theonion.com/content/node/34588
This restaurant offers 300 piece buckets, but it's catering:
http://www.mrcsconcord.com/catering.htm- keviniskool, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1They have to be great. They use the marquee tag.
- dtfinch, on 04/21/2008, -0/+4http://origin.theonion.com/content/node/34588
- JesusHatesYou, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1Want to cure world hunger? Ban food-eating contests or assassinate the top 10 including Kobayashi and the Black Widow. Ban turkey bowling too.
- Brian48216, on 04/21/2008, -1/+22You have captured my interest.
- TheDiligentOx, on 04/21/2008, -8/+7While there are many economic factors in play as suggested in the article one of the main problems is that there is barely enough food for everyone and some countries use much more than others.
We can all help the situation by eating as little meat as possible. Animals take more energy to feed than you gain by eating them so more people can be fed with the same amount of land if they don't eat meat. There would be more food on the market making it cheaper and more affordable for the poor. If you must eat meat then chicken is better than larger animals like cows because they are more food efficient.- BikeMessenger, on 04/21/2008, -1/+1mmm BBQ chicken
- buckrogers1965, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1Remember how everything tastes like chicken? What you are eating is so not chicken.
- mehan, on 04/21/2008, -4/+5..you're suggesting that I give up delicious steak so that the ***** in asia and africa eat and breed more poverty?
***** no.- TheDiligentOx, on 04/23/2008, -0/+0You're a terrible person.
- slightlygifted, on 04/21/2008, -2/+4its very expensive to ship meat to africa from america without it spoiling. if we dont eat the meat the grocery store will just throw it out. what those 3rd world countries need to do is control the population with condoms or laws (2 kids max) until the amount they grow now is enough to feed everyone. yes the laws may be harsh but you know what? its either that or everyone starves. it's really not our problem.
- amfort, on 04/21/2008, -0/+3You are missing the point. If there is less demand for meat, the grocery stores won't just throw out extra meat. Grocery stores won't keep buying the same amount of meat if sales go down. Then farmers won't have buyers for meat, and will sell grains for food for people rather than using them to feed the animals. That's the theory anyway. I don't see many people giving up meat, though.
And it is our problem. They are human beings, and in the same world we are in. If they are suffering, we should care. - TheDiligentOx, on 04/23/2008, -0/+0Exactly. Less demand for meat means less cattle bred means more food. I'm not suggesting people give up meat completely. Just eat less. For most people this will probably make their diet more healthy anyway.
- amfort, on 04/21/2008, -0/+3You are missing the point. If there is less demand for meat, the grocery stores won't just throw out extra meat. Grocery stores won't keep buying the same amount of meat if sales go down. Then farmers won't have buyers for meat, and will sell grains for food for people rather than using them to feed the animals. That's the theory anyway. I don't see many people giving up meat, though.
- BikeMessenger, on 04/21/2008, -1/+1mmm BBQ chicken
- InspectorGadget, on 04/21/2008, -7/+18The problem isn't too little food. The problem (in addition to retarded subsidies, GMO fearmongering, etc.) is that nobody in East ***** has bothered to learn how to use a condom and not pop out another mouth to feed despite billions in UN, American, and European efforts to accomplish just that.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -1/+3What if the sudden loss of 150 million people caused Bangladesh to leap up like an uncompressed spring, creating a giant plateau full of waterfalls where the big river delta used to be?
- RickyBarnes1960, on 04/21/2008, -2/+2The irresponsible act of having as many children as you want to have isn't isolated to developing nations. Good old homegrown Americans are as guilty as any other. No country is immune from the "disengage brain and drop pants" virus.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -3/+7Some countries contribute more to our overall well being than others though. Bangladesh has more people than Russia, but is worthless. The Ruskies gave us mathematicians and technology and *****.
What the ***** has Bangladesh done for the world? Let's neutron bomb that worthless country and try again. - karaokekidd, on 04/21/2008, -1/+4Really? Where are the 20 children family's in the US? I see the odd 5 child family, but it's nothing like the developing world where 10+ children is normal.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -3/+1"Where are the 20 children family's in the US?"
Ever been to the south? http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,270554,00.html
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -3/+1"Where are the 20 children family's in the US?"
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -3/+7Some countries contribute more to our overall well being than others though. Bangladesh has more people than Russia, but is worthless. The Ruskies gave us mathematicians and technology and *****.
- mekareami, on 04/23/2008, -0/+0Especially with "Abstinence Only" as the only sex ed the kids are taught.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -12/+3Good. There are way too many people on the planet. If only we could selectively weed out the uneducated and unskilled...oh wait, that's exactly what we're doing!
- AmusedToDeath, on 04/21/2008, -3/+3We're all really enraptured by your unearned sense of superiority over the rest of the planet. Can we get rid of you first?
- i1chocolat, on 04/21/2008, -1/+0That is a good idea @petrodollar, can be the first for the operation ? It'd be a great help to the world, haha
- siszam, on 04/21/2008, -1/+1Considering the ignorant things you've said on this thread about southern people and letting people starve you better pray they don't start weeding out the ignorant. You'll be at the head of the line.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -5/+4lol @ the pwnage that is being meted out to the failed theories of Amartya Sen. What will the birkenstock-footed activists at America's elite private colleges do now that God has wiped his ass with their blueprint for solving world hunger?
- NonLeftistDiggr, on 04/21/2008, -0/+6Digg could use many more articles from the economist for world/political submissions
- pixelguru, on 04/21/2008, -2/+19FTA, "Roughly a billion people live on $1 a day."
There's the problem... if they instead lived on 1 Euro / day, they would currently be MUCH better off.- SemiSarcastic, on 04/21/2008, -0/+6Well Europe, the world needs you. THROW ALL YOUR MONEY AT THE PROBLEM!!111!!111!!
- SemiSarcastic, on 04/21/2008, -0/+2...by using hot chicks and T-Shirt canons!
- WauloK, on 04/21/2008, -0/+0Poor Mrs Flanders :(
- JointVenture, on 04/21/2008, -1/+9Yeah, lets let the EU and CHina fix this one. Time we sat one out and let all the people who have been crying that we ***** everything up have a go.
- SemiSarcastic, on 04/21/2008, -0/+6Well Europe, the world needs you. THROW ALL YOUR MONEY AT THE PROBLEM!!111!!111!!
- nullcodes, on 04/21/2008, -3/+11There will be no food shortage next year. The reason for the high prices is major crop failures in countries such as Ukraine and Australia. Such simultaneous crop failures are a coincidence. A statistical possibility only once in x or so years, I seriously doubt we'll see this shortage again next year. A slight decrease in production can cause a major price hike, because of the way it works .. the fact that food is essential.
People need to stop panicking and being vulnerable to idiots trying to pass their petty agendas
Look at wheat production statistics. Look at 2005,6 as compared to last/this year. When the prices were low people would claim farmers are starving because globalization has caused a collapse in food prices. So which is it? High prices are bad, low prices are bad. Stable prices is stagnation (prices are not reducing enough to help the poor and farmers are not able to make a profit).. also bad. WTF?
Next year when there is a price collapse, again globalization will get blamed by the loony environmentalists and anti globalization idiots and isolationists who caused this problem in the first place.
A few years ago .. everyone was bitching at the WTO for falling prices of food causing a drop in food prices. Now, everyone is bitching that prices are high. WTF
http://www.focusweb.org/india/content/view/739/30/
http://www.stuffedandstarved.org/drupal/node/74
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0912-04.ht ...
http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/cafta/Agri ...
People forget that back in 2003,2004 everyone was bitching about globalization causing a collapse in food prices and sending farmers to bankruptcy.- RussellDovey, on 04/21/2008, -0/+2Except that Australian crops are going to keep "failing". Our rainfall band has shifted north of where it used to be, out of the main growing areas.
- aukxsona, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1I was thinking that too. Not to mention the floods that hit Thai are getting more common. The droughts in the South west and the corn belt are getting more common as well. This isn't a temporary problem. It may get slightly better, but in the end it won't fix itself.
- DestroyFascism, on 04/21/2008, -0/+2Australia's growers a fooked and the government has had 15 years to take up the offer of Irrigation piping at 12c a meter. Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane could now be pumping all of its waste water over the divide using non renewable and renewable energy to do so. The saving would be 20 billion liters a day at least. Once cleaned using solar evaporators it could then attract a token fee for distribution. A simple long term plan but these governments could not find their asses if they were sitting on a mirror. If Australia wants to live outside the conditions of its variable and harsh environment it needs to be smarter and use what it already has which is one of the worlds rain sheds. The Murray - Darling. I bet they build grandiose highways instead to transport the food we can't grow anymore.
- RussellDovey, on 04/21/2008, -0/+2Except that Australian crops are going to keep "failing". Our rainfall band has shifted north of where it used to be, out of the main growing areas.
- katorga, on 04/21/2008, -9/+4Starving the world is the goal of the green movement. The entire environmental crisis is rooted in the fact that there are too many consumers in the world. Get over it; if we are ever going to halt global warming at least half the world's population needs to go.
- SemiSarcastic, on 04/21/2008, -0/+6Or in the process of that occurring have the world be split between Green Movement and Non-Green individuals and have them duke it out in a conflict that will encompass the entire world for a 5-8 year period of bloody turmoil and massive destruction which would guarantee the exact same result.
...
Hey, I worked during world war 2. - petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -2/+2"half the world's population needs to go."
Umm, try 90%. - regeya, on 04/21/2008, -0/+4Oh, really?
I've seen claims by greenies that part of the problem with hunger isn't lack of food, or too many people (though I think there are far too many people concentrated on two continents) but that our farming practices suck. Yeah, we take a crappy farming method, make it industrialized, and keep throwing chemical crap to make it grow, make other things NOT grow, and kill the bugs, and keep doing that; meanwhile, people in 3rd world countries can get higher yields out of more "organic" methods but the WTO wants to force farmers in those places to adopt crops and methods that can be sold on the global market...
Globalization, to a certain extent, is okay. But when you ruin croplands in other countries so that Clem and Bubba can have their Pop-Tarts, that's going too far, friend.- RussellDovey, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1Higher yields from organic farming? Bull-*****-*****. Organic farming is good to the soil, and good to those who eat organic food, but you pay for that with increased land use.
- aukxsona, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1Actually Biointensive square foot organic methods do yield higher results then common row farming methods. This has been proven since the seventies? You didn't know that?
- RussellDovey, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1Higher yields from organic farming? Bull-*****-*****. Organic farming is good to the soil, and good to those who eat organic food, but you pay for that with increased land use.
- amfort, on 04/21/2008, -1/+3Now that you know the solution to the problem, why don't you volunteer to be the first to go?
- gryphon50, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1I wonder if you are Republican. If so, keep in mind that part of your party's plank is against contraception. Bush is even against it here and even in other countries, he stresses abstinence only. That approach is not working too well, apparently.
- coyoteblue, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1Damn, he's right. environmentalists hate people. That must be why they're trying to make the Earth a better place to live in.
- SemiSarcastic, on 04/21/2008, -0/+6Or in the process of that occurring have the world be split between Green Movement and Non-Green individuals and have them duke it out in a conflict that will encompass the entire world for a 5-8 year period of bloody turmoil and massive destruction which would guarantee the exact same result.
- michael43, on 04/21/2008, -6/+6The Bible predicts a "day's wages for a loaf of bread".
- JointVenture, on 04/21/2008, -2/+1Are you saying we need to dig up Obamas mothers grave and look for a Jackal?
Convienent how both his parents are dead at such a young age.
Hmmmm hmmmmmmmm Satangate! - aukxsona, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1Didn't know that? Chapter and verse please. Which version as well...I only have King James. Not trying to be sarcastic, but I really can't believe it says that.
- michael43, on 04/22/2008, -0/+2Revelation 6.6
Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures saying " A quart of wheat for a days wages and three quarts of barley for a days wages and do not damage the oil and the wine"
NKJV- aukxsona, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1Thanks
- michael43, on 04/22/2008, -0/+2Revelation 6.6
- BlacklabelSAR, on 04/21/2008, -2/+4The Bible also characterizes God as sadistic and malevolent. God created Mankind just so it could worship him? C'mon God, get some self-esteem.
- arcooke, on 04/21/2008, -1/+1Blah, blah, blah.
- JointVenture, on 04/21/2008, -2/+1Are you saying we need to dig up Obamas mothers grave and look for a Jackal?
- siktath, on 04/21/2008, -12/+8Nice job Environmentalists & Socialists! Your unholy union has caused poor people across the world to starve. Thanks for pushing government subsidized ethanol, Environmentalists. Thanks for closing off the poor's markets, Socialists. How bad do you think you'll make things this year?
- SemiSarcastic, on 04/21/2008, -3/+3Oh I can think of a few things BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!11!!11!!11!!1!!
- beoir, on 04/21/2008, -3/+2"Socialists" only care about themselves. When a union worker in Europe or America gets 20 dollars an hour, they are taking away 10 peoples jobs in a third world country. 2 dollars an hour times 40 hours a week times 52 weeks a year is 4160, which is between the 85th and 90th percentile in the world. 85th percentile is pretty good i would say http://www.channel4.com/money/chat_vote_win/richom ...
- joe8pack, on 04/21/2008, -1/+6Rush I thought you were prohibited from posting to Digg as part of your plea agreement for the illegal acquistion of 10,000 hydracodone and other assorted pain killers.
- siktath, on 04/21/2008, -1/+1Get back to work! No one told you to leave your station!
- RussellDovey, on 04/21/2008, -0/+8Environmentalists want solar power, not biodiesel. We want electric cars. You're a tard.
- siktath, on 04/21/2008, -5/+1Yes, you want to pull as much metal out of the earth using as much fuel as you can to build your errant solar power. You also want to burn coal instead of gasoline to power your electric cars. You remind me of an abusive husband, telling your precious earth that you love it after you give it a good smack. Hit away!
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -3/+1What about environmentalists like me who just want to slaughter 90% of the earth's population? Would you be on board with that if we agreed to start with the middle east?
- siktath, on 04/21/2008, -2/+1I hear the military needs new recruits. You should sacrifice yourself for my greater good.
- coyoteblue, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1Well, lets think this out. If we have cars that run on electricity, we won't be using gas. If the electricity that powers those cars comes from renewable sources, such as wind and solar energy, then the whole damn issue will be solved.
***** think, man.- siktath, on 04/22/2008, -0/+1Do you prefer to starve? Why are you so stupid? I bet you were born this way. I bet you probably still work for someone else. I bet you always will. I bet you'll die mediocre and forgotten.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -3/+1What about environmentalists like me who just want to slaughter 90% of the earth's population? Would you be on board with that if we agreed to start with the middle east?
- siktath, on 04/21/2008, -5/+1Yes, you want to pull as much metal out of the earth using as much fuel as you can to build your errant solar power. You also want to burn coal instead of gasoline to power your electric cars. You remind me of an abusive husband, telling your precious earth that you love it after you give it a good smack. Hit away!
- kavaliro, on 04/21/2008, -0/+5GM crops are not the work of the good guys. GM does not equal progress. Fear of GM does not mean superstition, it means people who see the train wreck starting and do not wish to contribute to it.
Other than that, the article was decent.- TheDiligentOx, on 04/21/2008, -0/+3Agreed! We need biodiversity in our crops. Not engineered homogeniety. And before anyone shouts "scaremongering" the sole intention behind my opinion is to feed as many people as possible in the *long term*. Using the quick fix today makes tomorrow's problem even harder to overcome.
- regeya, on 04/21/2008, -1/+1So a crop of rice with all the nutrients of mother's milk is a train wreck?
Maybe not for fat scare-mongering Europeans, but keeping it away from the world's hungry IS a train wreck.
If we're going to back away from the brink gracefully, we're going to have to do things that will seem unorthodox, even ugly. Or we can just let people die. I guess you want people to die.
Food rioters, converge on kavaliro in 3, 2...
- garths, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1In other news:
Tsunamis - the noisy version of being really hungry - phraud, on 04/21/2008, -2/+2Hopefully this is not a major push for Codex Alimentarius
http://www.codexalimentarius.net/
http://foodquality.wfp.org/FoodSpecifications/Code ...
http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/ - slightlygifted, on 04/21/2008, -7/+15***** these third world starving countries. they need to not let their population grow past what their land is able to support. stop sending your charity money to feed all the kids over there, they will just live to have 7 kids that will also need money to stop them from starving. they need to learn how to use a condom. or anal.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -1/+3Conversely, we could implement sophisticated DNA technology to jigger their demographics to produce only mail-order brides.
- mrraven200, on 04/21/2008, -2/+1***** these first world countries full of obese people eating more than their fair share while hogging up all the oil and killing poor brown people with endless wars to get even more as well as starving the rest of the world with biofuels to power their bloated unnecessary SUVs. i corrected your post, you're welcome.
- Ruger11mcrdpi, on 04/21/2008, -1/+1fifteen cents a day! FIFTEEN ***** CENTS! I blame the old man... YOU! get two of your friends, get a nickel each and help this ***** kid!
- hittnrun, on 04/21/2008, -4/+1We need more biofuels so we can fvck the poor people and save the earth from the mean profiteers. This will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and we can fvck the arabs & the oil companies.
OK, who do you want to fvck more??? The arabs & the oil companies or the poor?????
Make your choice, tree huggin' b!tches. lol- umitseric, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1You pose a question of who to ***** more? but it seems you said we are going to ***** both of them. I'm not sure but to me you sound pretty ***** retarded.
"... and save the earth..."
"make your choice, tree huggin' b!tches."
- umitseric, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1You pose a question of who to ***** more? but it seems you said we are going to ***** both of them. I'm not sure but to me you sound pretty ***** retarded.
- USSSH2855, on 04/21/2008, -0/+2Well another ride though space have get me here, with my spaceship, so there is a foods shortage? well boys and girls let fix it.
- elliotys, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1Now I feel guilty about my new garbage disposal.
- TheSpook, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1You should. Better to send the plate scraps to a starving child.
- Bayman, on 04/21/2008, -3/+5We need to let go of civilization...go back to tribalism. Find your own food, stop depending on programs to feed you.
- objectivist, on 04/21/2008, -1/+4The first sentence is ridiculous. The second is rational.
- Bayman, on 04/21/2008, -2/+2Is it civil to put food under lock and key and charge human beings the most basic of life's necessities and then force them to fight like savages over a few grains of rice and wheat? Yeah, I'd say its ridiculous.
- petrodollar, on 04/21/2008, -3/+4Ask the parts of Africa that still engage in tribalism how well that's going for them.
- Bayman, on 04/21/2008, -2/+2Is it civil to put food under lock and key and charge human beings the most basic of life's necessities and then force them to fight like savages over a few grains of rice and wheat? Yeah, I'd say its ridiculous.
- bosssmiley, on 04/21/2008, -0/+2You mean return to the Dark Ages? The programmes you decry are part of what allows our fantastically complex and specialised industrial society to function in the manner it does. Division of labour mate: no-one ever cured cancer while ploughing.
- objectivist, on 04/21/2008, -1/+4The first sentence is ridiculous. The second is rational.
- 3leggedHorse, on 04/21/2008, -1/+3 This is just the beginning. ***** there is a world of hurt in-store for the next generation, probably extinction.
There is a saying I live by. If you take and take and take. Eventually you will pay and pay and pay.
And believe you people have taken the piss with this world.- aukxsona, on 04/21/2008, -0/+2I don't think so. I honestly don't. A lot of people are saying the end is nigh, but I believe strongly that those who adapt. I mean truly adapt will be fine. Intelligence is not watching the crowd and seeing what they are doing wrong, but looking at your needs and finding a way to fill them and make them secure. Legal, Illegal, Logically, or Illogically. It really doesn't matter when it comes to survival. Morals don't even matter. Country doesn't matter. Nothing matters except survival of yourself and your closest loved ones. If things were really going to go to hell in a hand basket, I would be teaching everyone of my daughters how to kill. I don't think it will. I think things might be difficult, but the end? No. Life is cyclical. Nothing ends it only changes. Just adapt to the changes and calm down.
Hatis is surrounded by water, why don't they fish? China has tons of people, why don't they conquer. India has exotic weather and rare plants, why not use this to get more money. They also have a population to rival China's. (Almost) Why not also conquer? All the island states should fish, gather seaweed, etc... No instead their minds are stuck in the system. Work buy food. This isn't an intelligent way to live.
- aukxsona, on 04/21/2008, -0/+2I don't think so. I honestly don't. A lot of people are saying the end is nigh, but I believe strongly that those who adapt. I mean truly adapt will be fine. Intelligence is not watching the crowd and seeing what they are doing wrong, but looking at your needs and finding a way to fill them and make them secure. Legal, Illegal, Logically, or Illogically. It really doesn't matter when it comes to survival. Morals don't even matter. Country doesn't matter. Nothing matters except survival of yourself and your closest loved ones. If things were really going to go to hell in a hand basket, I would be teaching everyone of my daughters how to kill. I don't think it will. I think things might be difficult, but the end? No. Life is cyclical. Nothing ends it only changes. Just adapt to the changes and calm down.
- kdfrawg, on 04/21/2008, -0/+3And it is going to get much worse before it can get any better. Our planetary stewardship has been abysmal; our children will have to pay for that.
- RickyBarnes1960, on 04/21/2008, -1/+3If there is widespread famine, the blame is squarely on the shoulders of each and every individual who neglected to acquire the knowledge and resources necessary to provide for themselves. It is the immense downside to collectivism that, as long as you can depend on the collective, you thrive. When the collective is in trouble, unfortunately, so are you unless you've retained the ability and resources necessary to think and do for yourself. We may think we've transfered the responsibility for our own sustenance to the local supermarket but the responsibility is still squarely on the shoulders of every individual to see to it they have the food they need to survive. When the stores run out, you run out. They will not own it to you to keep the shelves stocked. It is not up to the government or corporations and small businesses to save you either. It has always been and always will be up to you. Responsibility cannot be given away. Having said all of that, if you want insurance against famine, learn whatever it will take to produce your own food, stock seed, acquire the tools and earth you'll need to do it and begin now ... not tomorrow. Stop sitting around expecting others to save you. When the chips are down, when it comes to feeding themselves and their own, you will go hungry or worse. You will not survive on altruism alone. It's your life. Work for it or starve.
- theillbehaviord, on 04/21/2008, -6/+1Who gives a *****, it dosent affect us stop bitching lolol
- JointVenture, on 04/21/2008, -2/+1Oh nooooooooooo the world is coming apart? We better fix it with social programs, welfare, free food for people who live in deserts.
If we'd only listen to Al Queda this wouldnt have happened!- siszam, on 04/21/2008, -1/+3We could keep on doing what Republicans do........pretend to love God while neglecting the sick and poor and start wars so the rich can profit. I mean, how dare tax payers expect the government to use their money for the welfare of the people like the constitution says it should. More entertaining to point and laugh at hungry people.
- DestroyFascism, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1Ha ha look mom hes a starving man with a big fat tummy,,,,,
- siszam, on 04/21/2008, -1/+3We could keep on doing what Republicans do........pretend to love God while neglecting the sick and poor and start wars so the rich can profit. I mean, how dare tax payers expect the government to use their money for the welfare of the people like the constitution says it should. More entertaining to point and laugh at hungry people.
- joe8pack, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1your all dead, your just waiting to fall over.
- willywong, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1you're
- joe8pack, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1you
- willywong, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1you're
- sndream, on 04/21/2008, -0/+2I wonder when will aquaculture technology be mature enough so that it's economical for us to grow food in suburbs and we can finally leave nature alone and let her heal.
- one2gamble, on 04/21/2008, -0/+2you mean hydroponics?
It already is mature enough, there are huge facilities in the US,Canada and Mexico. - stack3r, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1wow clue up dude.
Aqua culture is practised in sustained living and has been for along time.
Now that you know this go start a garden.
- one2gamble, on 04/21/2008, -0/+2you mean hydroponics?
- wirednerve, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1Soylent Green is people!
- 223Sniper, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1this is the 21st century right (according to the western calendar that is)? wtf...
- sndream, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1Darn, I was going to say when will hydroponic farming gonna take over traditional farming. Not aquaculture, ok time to bed for me.
- mike17032, on 04/21/2008, -0/+5Fuel costs go up. Fuel is used quite a bit to get food to your table. Hence food is going to go up as well.
Not a hard concept. -
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