We are not the worlds food bowl by a long shot. We are only one of the worlds largest exporters of food because of our small population. There are many other countries who leave us for dead when it comes to production.
The poor world, it is said, is being torn apart by a food crisis. Parts are. Those who aren't yet affected are speculative because they aren't safe either as food prices have been rising all over the world.
According to "Rising Food Prices: Policy Options and World Bank Response," increases in global wheat prices reached 181 percent over the 36 months leading up to February 2008, and overall global food prices increased by 83 percent.
Today, Malthus must be smiling in his grave. After all, it was Thomas Malthus who predicted more than 200 years ago that population growth would outstrip food production in the course of time.
He predicted that the growing demand for grain, in particular, could soon overwhelm the capacity of the entire world's grain-producing countries.
World food output has been losing its shine lately. And the followers of Malthus are roaring yet again. And why shouldn't they be since according to UN reports, for the last couple of years the world has been consuming more food than it has been producing.
Interesting little read ....
http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?no=382424&rel_no=1
Wow that last bit in bold is scary, obviously if correct, we have been dipping into reserves for two years now, food looks like a bigger Issue than oil, yet food production relys on oil, all going to end in tears im afraid.
Been browsing around various websites and forums etc, and Im amazed at the number of people who say they are hoarding food.
Game on soon me thinks.
I was just reading our American cousins provide half the Worlds food aid and only last week released 200m worth of emergency wheat to developing countries.
Isnt it high time that some other nations started taking some of the responsibility, with the US rolling into recession I can see the very charitable nature of our American cousins being severly undermined.
I see plenty of West hating nations rolling in cash and blaming us for everything but doing nothing.
If by West you mean developed countries then yes most of the food comes from the developed countries. I think the reason is because of agricultural subsidies.Yes other Countries produce more food but they have a damn sight more mouths to feed (unsustainably so), ie/ Take the Wests excess production offline and I bet 10s of millions will starve.
Are you prepared to name names?I see plenty of West hating nations rolling in cash and blaming us for everything but doing nothing.
Each couple only producing their own number? You mean, two children per couple? If you want population reduction the best number of children is zero. You preach it, but do you practice it? I'm not going to have any children, not because I think any children I produce will cause food shortage but because children are quite expensive.The Solution to the Food Crisis and the Environment is simple-reduce the World Population with each couple responsibly only producing their own number. World population would slow with food and wealth and natural resources aplenty for all.
So you think whether an impulse is natural or not depends on whether it is legal or illegal? Robbing a bank I would argue is pure animal instinct of greed working. It is nature.rape, murder and molestation of children are not "natural" human impulses but behavioural aberrations. if they were natural society wouldn't legislate against them (as it has since the 10 commandments)
I thought there was. Remember according to statistics, after John Howard came to power the polarization between rich and poor has gotten more pronounced. We also see further polarization in property prices. Here in Melbourne last year, rich inner city properties in Toorak and Malvern went up 50 per cent but in Frankston prices only went up by about 5 per cent, which is pretty close to inflation rate.Ahem. I wasn't aware we had a "class" based society here???
I think I remember reading a Melbourne Uni publication saying that people in richer suburbs are leaner because they have access to parks, public transport, etc.Your generalisation that "affluent" people are skinnier than "the lower classes" would not hold any weight
Some people say parents who feed their children fatty food should be labelled child abusers.Parents who give [fat kids] a shocking start to life are effecting everything they can be and probably shaving a decade or more off the ends of there lifes. It effects everything from their academic to sporting performance to mental health and behaviour.
We dont let parents Give kids cigarettes or booze, we dont tolerate parents that bash kids, why do we tolerate parents that let their kids get so fat that its robbing them of a " normal " life ?
Isn't the world's largest exporter of rice Thailand? Maybe you classify Thailand as the West.Im convinced we will see pull backs in globalisation, more nationalistic policies and closer bonds between certain groups of countries, the West should sit sweet, we are the worlds food bowl really
From ABC, 30 Apr. 08
CHINESE FARMLAND ACQUISITION THREATENS AUST MARKETS: AGFORCE
Rural lobby group Agforce says a plan being considered by Chinese authorities to lease Australian farmland could put more pressure on the nation's farmers and resources.
Reports from Beijing say the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture is looking to lease or buy land around the world, to ensure long-term food security.
Agforce president Peter Kenny says it could put at risk Australian production and export markets, but it should also highlight the global food shortage.
"Really it's a wake-up call I think for the rest of the world to realise that there is a shortage of food and that is going to continue and it's going to be an even bigger problem if we're not careful and particularly as far as Australia is concerned," he said.
If Australia goes for it, I can almost see invasion, should there be put any water restriction down the track.
Originally Posted by Happy
If Australia goes for it, I can almost see invasion, should there be put any water restriction down the track.
Captain RUDD: "Prepare to repel all boarders!"
First Mate GILLARD: "Aye aye, Cap'n - err ... hang on Sir, with what shall I repel them?
Captain RUDD: "Beats me GILLARD! Try using yer head, lass!
LOL
AJ
That's only for the Jazz Festival.I hear they are marching in the streets of St Petersburg protesting the food prices, and that the masses are also assembling in Cheltenham..
Cheers
............Kauri
We are all aware that the people in Zimbabwe are being kept alive by food aid programmes. A journalist with many years in this area was discussing this in a recent radio interview. He suggested that the majority of Zimbabweans do not actually understand that what food they do receive is from outside aid. They assume it is coming from the great leader Mr Mugabe.
His suggestion was that if all outside aid was withheld, then the people would get rid of Mugabe in a heartbeat.
We are all aware that the people in Zimbabwe are being kept alive by food aid programmes. A journalist with many years in this area was discussing this in a recent radio interview. He suggested that the majority of Zimbabweans do not actually understand that what food they do receive is from outside aid. They assume it is coming from the great leader Mr Mugabe.
His suggestion was that if all outside aid was withheld, then the people would get rid of Mugabe in a heartbeat.
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