Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2008 4:28 PM

 

 

NBC News recently reported what Rush Limbaugh and many others have been saying for some time now: The push for biofuels — in particular, ethanol — is a major factor in higher food prices. These high prices hurt not only Americans, but consumers worldwide, and they are also helping to cause food shortages around the world.

This year roughly one-forth of the U.S. corn crop will go to make biofuels. Next year? As much as one-third will go for fuel, not food.

The impact is huge. Corn, is part because of other government subsidy and regulation, has become an ever-bigger part of the food supply. When prices go up, it’s trouble — especially for the poor.

But it’s worse than that. Ethanol is a big scam. Tough talk? No, just the facts, ma’am. Ethanol has been sold as a way to energy independence, as environmentally friendly, and as good for our economy. Three strikes.

Ethanol doesn’t have much effect on foreign oil because it initially substitutes for more expensive domestic oil. Moreover, most environmentalists now insist that producing ethanol is worse, not better for the environment.

And ethanol is not good for the economy. If it provided real economic benefits, its use wouldn’t have to be mandated, nor its production subsidized to the tune of $1 a gallon.

Soaking the taxpayers to wreck the environment and to increase hunger — with no gain in energy independence — well that just doesn’t make any sense.

 

Over past decades many other countries have gotten their grains from the US, but now the U.S. is helping to starve third world countries. How do we feel about aiding death, in place of feeding the hungry, just to run our cars. Is this supposed to make us feel better?

 

 

 

 

 

BANGLADESH: Middle classes scramble for subsidized rice

Government-run outlets selling subsidized rice and other basic commodities are now being besieged by members of the middle class as food prices continue to rise.

In Dhaka people are queing up for hours a day in the midday sun to buy 5kg of rice per head under the government’s Open Market Sale (OMS) scheme - established whenever a potential food crisis is perceived. The authorities have opened over 2,500 such outlets nationwide, with an additional 3,800 set to open in the coming days.

 

 

 

THAILAND: Rising rice prices fuel fears of food shortages and starvation

International aid agencies are increasingly worried by the recent dramatic rise in food costs, and particularly rice prices, across Asia and the effect this will have on food assistance projects for the poorest people in the region.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is watching the rising price of rice, especially in Thailand, with alarm. “I have sleepless nights,” Jack Keulemans, regional procurement officer for the organisation, told IRIN.

full report

 

TIMOR-LESTE: WFP shifts focus of food assistance

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) will cut food aid for displaced people in Timor-Leste this month to ensure assistance reaches the most vulnerable and food insecure communities throughout the country.

The policy decision is based on a report that shows some WFP aid is reaching people who are not food insecure, while bypassing tens of thousands of other Timorese in need.

full report