Comments on: Food shortages http://beancounter.blogsome.com/2008/05/13/food-shortages/ Writings on sustainable, conscious and thrifty living Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:01:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Beany http://beancounter.blogsome.com/2008/05/13/food-shortages/#comment-341 Wed, 14 May 2008 07:06:54 +0100 http://beancounter.blogsome.com/2008/05/13/food-shortages/#comment-341 Heather: I read the linked article and I believe it was referred to in the WaPo series as well. I read that many countries are raising export tariffs to deal with the food problem. I wonder what the WTO is going to do about this. I also wonder if there was a change in rural poverty victims in various countries before the whole free trade business began. arduous: I don't see how hoarding benefits anyone. If the situation is as dire as some claim...wouldn't it be dangerous to hoard? Allison: I read <a href="http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/national/2008/05/01/the-food-cost-crisis-hits-the-us.html?PageNr=2" rel="nofollow">this article</a> and <a href="http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/2008/05/09/8-ways-to-fix-the-global-food-crisis.html" rel="nofollow">this one</a>. Both came out in May and unless I am really daft...I didn't see any mention in the articles on how corn prices affected rice. I guess I'm looking for a statement that says something like, "rice is in this position today because of something something corn". Heather: I read the linked article and I believe it was referred to in the WaPo series as well. I read that many countries are raising export tariffs to deal with the food problem. I wonder what the WTO is going to do about this. I also wonder if there was a change in rural poverty victims in various countries before the whole free trade business began.

arduous: I don’t see how hoarding benefits anyone. If the situation is as dire as some claim…wouldn’t it be dangerous to hoard?

Allison: I read this article and this one. Both came out in May and unless I am really daft…I didn’t see any mention in the articles on how corn prices affected rice. I guess I’m looking for a statement that says something like, “rice is in this position today because of something something corn”.

]]> by: Allison http://beancounter.blogsome.com/2008/05/13/food-shortages/#comment-340 Tue, 13 May 2008 18:42:16 +0100 http://beancounter.blogsome.com/2008/05/13/food-shortages/#comment-340 The current US News and World Report had something about the reasons corn prices affected rice, but I can't remember what it was. I'm sure it's on their website. The current US News and World Report had something about the reasons corn prices affected rice, but I can’t remember what it was. I’m sure it’s on their website.

]]> by: arduous http://beancounter.blogsome.com/2008/05/13/food-shortages/#comment-339 Tue, 13 May 2008 12:37:26 +0100 http://beancounter.blogsome.com/2008/05/13/food-shortages/#comment-339 Also, the book sounds fascinating. It is next on my reading list after that McKibben book everyone is talking about. Also, the book sounds fascinating. It is next on my reading list after that McKibben book everyone is talking about.

]]> by: arduous http://beancounter.blogsome.com/2008/05/13/food-shortages/#comment-338 Tue, 13 May 2008 12:36:31 +0100 http://beancounter.blogsome.com/2008/05/13/food-shortages/#comment-338 I am REALLY REALLY glad you brought this up. I have been contemplating a post about food storage and have been uncertain as to whether to stir the waters. I have no issue with food storage like Barbara Kingsolver practiced in AVM that involved growing your own food and then canning and freezing it to eat in the winter. But when people talk about buying bags and bags of rice now while it's still cheap, it gives me a twinge. The more rich Americans buy rice to stock up, the less that poor Asians will be able to afford rice. And rice DOESN'T last forever. I think you are right and that in a year, we will see a lot of rice waste. I am REALLY REALLY glad you brought this up. I have been contemplating a post about food storage and have been uncertain as to whether to stir the waters.

I have no issue with food storage like Barbara Kingsolver practiced in AVM that involved growing your own food and then canning and freezing it to eat in the winter.

But when people talk about buying bags and bags of rice now while it’s still cheap, it gives me a twinge. The more rich Americans buy rice to stock up, the less that poor Asians will be able to afford rice. And rice DOESN’T last forever. I think you are right and that in a year, we will see a lot of rice waste.

]]> by: Heather http://beancounter.blogsome.com/2008/05/13/food-shortages/#comment-337 Tue, 13 May 2008 07:58:18 +0100 http://beancounter.blogsome.com/2008/05/13/food-shortages/#comment-337 I haven\'t heard that before (more waste during shortages) but it totally makes sense. I\'m curious now too! I recently read where the UN WFP is unable to fund food programs in schools (feeding the kids was what was getting them to school) because the cost of rice has gone up so dramatically). See article here: http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/05/11/a-different-sort-of-school-lunch-program/ And here we are hoarding it. You\'re right! We aren\'t rice eaters. Go eat some bread or something and (at the risk of sounding like my Mom) send those people our rice, for heavens sake! We Americans seem to freak out at every little thing and we have no idea what it really is to be in need. My family has cut way back. We\'re trying to do our part, anyway, but there\'s always more we can do... I haven\’t heard that before (more waste during shortages) but it totally makes sense. I\’m curious now too! I recently read where the UN WFP is unable to fund food programs in schools (feeding the kids was what was getting them to school) because the cost of rice has gone up so dramatically). See article here:

http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/05/11/a-different-sort-of-school-lunch-program/

And here we are hoarding it. You\’re right! We aren\’t rice eaters. Go eat some bread or something and (at the risk of sounding like my Mom) send those people our rice, for heavens sake! We Americans seem to freak out at every little thing and we have no idea what it really is to be in need. My family has cut way back. We\’re trying to do our part, anyway, but there\’s always more we can do…

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