Media survey: Politicians rethink food-based ethanol

Christian Science Monitor
Not too long ago, corn ethanol was being touted as the energy wave of the future for fighting global warming. It was said to be much better than coal and oil, those carbon-based sources of greenhouse-gas emissions.
But lately the drawbacks to this form of energy production have become more obvious, its critics more [...]

Bank head says greed behind food price rises

Reuters
The food price crisis is caused largely by greed and speculation rather than food shortages, the head of Southern Africa’s development bank said on Tuesday.
Spiralling food costs — called a “silent tsunami” by the World Food Programme — have ignited fury and a rash of protests from Haiti to Somalia to Bangladesh. Exporting countries have [...]

Russia’s New Strategic Industry

A decade ago, the public perception of the agriculture industry was one of subsidies, trade distortions and rigged markets. More recently, public awareness has focused on concerns over food security, price inflation and even shortages.
The demand factors are easily identifiable — population growth, urbanization, rising incomes, changing diets and fuel requirements. With the exception of [...]

Speculate to accumulate

The International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organisation promised that more trade would help to eradicate poverty and hunger. Foodcrops? Self-sufficiency in food? They had a better idea. Local farms would be closed down or encouraged to concentrate on exports. This would make the most, not of natural conditions which might be good for [...]

Burma - Photos of Devastation

Here.

Somali war, food shortages spur Yemen refugee spike

Here.

Burma (Myanmar) - Poverty and wealth

GDP per Capita (US$)

Country
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000

Burma
1,120
1,190
1,200
1,200
1,500

United States
28,600
30,200
31,500
33,900
36,200

China
2,800
3,460
3,600
3,800
3,600

Thailand 7,700
7,700
8,800
6,100
6,400
6,700

Data are estimates.

SOURCE: Handbook of the Nations, 17th,18th,19th and 20th editions for 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 data; CIA World Factbook 2001 [Online] for 2000 data.

Most people live in the 40,000-odd villages of the country, while the majority of the urban population resides in the capital city of Rangoon. Among [...]

Germany Says U.S. Must Cut Biofuel Subsidies to Help Rainforest

The U.S. is encouraging deforestation and pollution by offering incentives for plant-based oils grown in South America, German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel said, urging the government to stop subsidizing biofuels.
“We’re struggling with the U.S. government to cut these subsidies,” Gabriel said today in an English-language interview in Berlin.
Palm and soy-bean oil is regularly grown for [...]

Cyclone Nargis strikes Burma

The Burmese government appeals for aid as the worst natural disaster since the 2004 tsunami hits east Asia.
Video here.

Bangladesh companies in food move

Factory owners in Bangladesh have started distributing subsidised food to thousands of their lowest paid workers.
Recent price rises have forced many Bangladeshis to reduce the amount they eat each day.
There have been a series of protests at garment factories in recent weeks over the rising cost of living.
Bangladesh is suffering from its worst food [...]