Rising food prices nearing danger point
World Bank president Robert Zoellick warned leaders of the top global economies Saturday that the world is reaching a danger point where soaring food prices threaten further political instability. “I mentioned that we are reaching a danger point,” Zoellick said, adding that he had urged G20 finance ministers and central bank chiefs meeting here to “put food first in 2011.”
Zoellick said rising prices would eventually result in increased food supplies but in the intervening couple of years, “there could be an awful lot of turmoil and governments could fall and societies could go into turmoil.” Soaring food, fuel and other basic costs have been one of the key factors driving political unrest across the Middle East and North Africa which has forced the ouster of long-standing autocratic rulers in Egypt and Tunisia.
“We need to be sensitive and have a fingertip feel on what is happening in terms of food prices and its potential effect on social instability,” Zoellick told a conference call. He said the international community needs to be ready to act quickly to help countries such as Tunisia to cope with economic shocks as they try to manage political transition.
Tunisia?? What about The United States of America? Did you know that at the current time one in four children in the great old USA is actually starving to death and the number is rising?? Children shouldn’t go hungry in America! 16.7 million American children live in households that do not have access to enough nutritious food to lead healthy, active lives. I see it at the Food Pantry all the time!
There are many ways that you can help. I would recommend helping out locally at food pantries and through local shelters. I am very reluctant to donate to any government sponsored programs as they are proponents of expensive staffing and wasteful spending. The people who really need the money may never get it.
The rich men of the future will be the farmers! If I were you, I would become buddies with a few of them PRONTO. Either that or try your luck at fishing, gardening and hunting.
Happy Birthday Flora!