Clipmarks | Food crisis Clips

UN: Georgians Effectively Blocked from Homes

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 04:04:28 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: On Saturday, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., a member of the chamber's foreign relations committee, visited Gori to observe the distribution of U.S. food aid.

Asked whether the United States was considering new military aid, Corker said "these subjects are part of a longer and mid-term discussion" when Congress reconvenes in September.

Russia supplies the EU with about a third of its oil and about two-fifths of its natural gas.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said European nations should adopt a united energy policy to avoid becoming too dependent on Russia.

He said the EU nations should "use our collective bargaining power."

"Without urgent action we risk sleepwalking into an energy dependance on less stable or reliable partners," Brown wrote in The Observer newspaper.

Brown said he spoke with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev by telephone Saturday, and told the Russian leader "to expect a determined European response" to the crisis.

Clip Source: ap.google.com

A woman leads her cow along a ruined street in Tskhinvali, the regional capital of Georgia's breakaway province of South Ossetia, Friday, Aug. 29, 2008.

The zones are near the border with separatist South Ossetia, the disputed province at the heart of the conflict that has ruined Georgia-Russia ties and caused the biggest crisis in Moscow's relations with the West since the 1991 Soviet collapse.

Fighting broke out Aug. 7 after Georgian forces launched a barrage on the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali, hoping to retake control of the province. Russian forces poured in, pushed the Georgians out in a matter of days and then drove deep into Georgia proper.

The United States has sent substantial aid to Georgia in the wake of the war, using naval ships and military aircraft. Russian officials raised speculation that the military involvement could indicate the United States was seeking to restore Georgia's armed forces, which had received massive military aid from Washington in recent years.

Tags: georgia, s.ossetia, putin, pm gordon brown, president medvedev

Environmental pollution affects the poor

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:01:23 GMT

clipped by: JackieDel

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Millions eating food grown with polluted water, says UN report

Study of 53 cities across the world finds 'widespread' use of waste water contaminated with heavy metals and sewage

Sewage water from a sea food market is drained into Jialing River, a branch of Yangtze River. Photograph: Reuters/China Daily

At least 200 million people around the world risk their health daily by eating food grown using untreated waste water, some of which may be contaminated with heavy metals and raw sewage, according to major study of 53 world cities.

Urban farmers in 80% of the cities surveyed were found to be using untreated waste water, but the study said they also provided vital food for burgeoning cities at a time of unprecedented water scarcity and the worst food crisis in 30 years.

Tags: environment, pollution, globalization, health, poverty

10 Most Expensive Foods

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:05:32 GMT

clipped by: digitalfever

Clip Source: blog.knowyourmoney.co.uk

With the world in the grip of an international food crisis, supermarket prices increasing weekly and the cost of a Pot Noodle at an all-time high it seemed like a good time to take a somewhat tasteless (pun intended) look at the world’s most expensive foods.

Tags: food, top 10, expensive, fascinating, expensive food

When It Comes to Health, Adults Shortchange Kids

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:49:44 GMT

clipped by: edwardmasen9
clipper's remarks: However many people believe it, obesity problems aren't exclusive to the US. Many programs have started to prevent obesity all with varying amounts of success. Will the newest attempt work?

Clip Source: brainblogger.com

The problems of childhood obesity are not exclusive to American soil. Both the U.S. and many European countries face this crisis. Various solutions have been proposed and executed. Everything from promoting exercise to teaching children about the origin of their food to banning candy or sweets on school campuses.

Now the European Commission has put forth a new initiative. A recent BMJ article, European Commission plans free fruit and vegetable scheme in schools, highlights the commission’s desire to get kids off to a strong start regarding healthy eating habits. Although various countries have enacted similar plans, the commission’s concern is that these plans have holes in them including:

Tags: bmj, candy, desire, eating, food, fruit, health, money, obesity, program

Sustainable Farmer

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:13:05 GMT

clipped by: zalisan
clipper's remarks: Essential to life...food and water. Get it?

Clip Source: www.sustainablefarmer.com

Jerry Nelson offered to write us an article about life at Koinonia, a sustainable farm outside Atlanta that nourishes both body and spirit. He tells us that the farm was founded more than 60 years ago by Clarence Jordan as an experiment in inter-racial living, and he also tell us about life there today. . . . more

Rebecca Titus recently earned her bachelor's degree from Michigan State. She had once planned to become a geneticist (and she still plans to earn a Ph.D.). But Rebecca has now decided her future is on the family's fruit and vegetable farm. She has already recruited 150 members for their CSA, with even bigger plans for the future . . . more

[Video]

Food for Thought: "The Other Energy Crisis" - After you read Dr. R. J. (Ron) Erskine's advice on what it takes to raise animals (see above), please take a moment to read his essay on pressing threats to our food supply . . . more

Tags: farms, food, water, health, nature, nurture

Healthcare Crisis

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:37:30 GMT

clipped by: lap322

Clip Source: www.washingtonpost.com

"Health-care costs are climbing much more rapidly than incomes or the growth in the overall economy," said Sara R. Collins, assistant vice president of the foundation and one of the authors of the study. As gas and food prices have soared and real estate values have fallen, the federal minimum wage is now $3 an hour lower, in real terms, than it was 40 years ago, the study said.

Two-thirds of the working-age population was uninsured, underinsured, reported a medical bill problem or did not get needed health care because of cost in 2007.

The insured also are facing increasing woes: 61 percent of those with medical debt or bill problems were insured at the time they needed medical attention.

Universal health-care insurance, the foundation argued, is key to improving health care, and its design would dictate its effectiveness.

Americans are struggling to pay medical bills and are accumulating medical debt at an increasing rate, according to a survey released today.

Expensive Food; Cheap Lobster

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:31:36 GMT

clipped by: Joshua Zumbrun
clipper's remarks: The only upside of the food crisis?

Clip Source: www.slate.com

Food prices are soaring. So why are prices for the delicious crustacean falling?

By Daniel Gross

Thanks to rampant inflation, this has been a summer of discontent for foodies, who have been forced to swap precious imported cheeses for Monterey Jack and to downscale barbecues from sirloin to skirt steak. But as I discovered on a recent Maine vacation, there's at least one high-end food product whose price is falling this year: lobster.

Tags: expensive, food, cheap, lobster

The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 06:16:20 GMT

clipped by: Spiritualmonkey

Clip Source: video.google.com

The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil

http://www.powerofcommunity.org/cm/index.php When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba's economy went into a tailspin. With imports of oil cut by more than half – and food by 80 percent – people were desperate. This film tells of the hardships and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people during this difficult time. Cubans share how they transitioned from a highly mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using organic methods of farming and local, urban gardens. It is an unusual look into the Cuban culture during this economic crisis, which they call "The Special Period." The film opens with a short history of Peak Oil, a term for the time in our history when world oil production will reach its all-time peak and begin to decline forever. Cuba, the only country that has faced such a crisis – the massive reduction of fossil fuels – is an example of options and hope«

[Video]

Tags: agriculture, farming, video, cuba, food, peak oil, the long emergency, community

The oxygen crisis

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:53:06 GMT

clipped by: JICWyllie

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Compared to prehistoric times, the level of oxygen in the earth's atmosphere has declined by over a third and in polluted cities the decline may be more than 50%. This change in the makeup of the air we breathe has potentially serious implications for our health. Indeed, it could ultimately threaten the survival of human life on earth, according to Roddy Newman, who is drafting a new book, The Oxygen Crisis.

the planet's forest cover was at least twice what it is today, which means that forests are now emitting only half the amount of oxygen.

Desertification and deforestation are rapidly accelerating this long-term loss of oxygen sources.

The story at sea is much the same. Nasa reports that in the north Pacific ocean oxygen-producing phytoplankton concentrations are 30% lower today, compared to the 1980s. This is a huge drop in just three decades.

This oxygen starvation is reducing regional fish stocks and diminishing the food supplies of populations that are dependent on fishing.

Tags: environment, oxygen, i-climate change, i-decrease

Frozen Katrina

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:33:53 GMT

clipped by: spirithiker
clipper's remarks: People will freeze to death this winter while republicans ignore assistance in favor of voting for offshore oil drilling. Last year LIHEAP was only able to assist 16% of eligible recipients forcing the poor to choose between food, medicine or heating fuel. And Bush proposed cutting the aid by $379 million.

The total annual funding for this program amounts to less than what the U.S. spends every week in Iraq.

They way we treat our disadvantaged, poor and homeless is atrocious.

Clip Source: www.truthout.org

Currently, eight million homes rely on heating oil during the winter months, and last winter's prices forced too many citizens to choose between heat, food, and medicine.

heating oil prices are now 36 percent higher than they were last winter

As for the 54 million households heating with natural gas, prices are expected to be 67 percent higher this winter.

Current funding for the Low Income Heating Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is below 1980's levels

Hundreds of homes rendered uninhabitable, families' finances stretched to the limit, some driven away altogether to take shelter with friends or family.

Indeed, the crisis has gotten the attention of Democrats - and some Republicans - in Congress, but an effort to respond was thwarted by yet another GOP Senate filibuster.

While Republicans continue to push drilling as their election year elixir, real pain, real lives, and real security are ignored.

Tags: human rights, public assistance

mmmmmm.... rat meat saves the world

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:27:57 GMT

clipped by: kroqben

Clip Source: www.breitbart.com

Rat snacks can solve world food price crisis: Indian official

Regular rat snacks would translate into fewer rodents eating precious grain stocks -- 50 percent of which are lost in the northeastern state of Bihar every year to the animals, said Vijay Prakash, secretary of the state's welfare department.

"This will help in mitigating the global food crisis. We are sure that it will work wonders," Prakash told AFP. "It will save half our grain, and will also reduce villagers' dependence on food stock."

"The only issue is how people react to rat meat, but I think it will not be a problem," he said.

"Rat meat will make up nutrition deficiencies among villagers, since rats are a major source of protein," Prakash said.

Eat rats, 'solve global food crisis'

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:34:04 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: Sc-fi book, I read, related the absence of rats in an underground area to a past famine. Hreat source of protein

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Eating rats is the best way for rich and poor people to solve the global crisis of rising food prices, an Indian official said as he unveiled his plan to put rodents on menus.

Regular rat snacks would translate into fewer rodents eating precious grain stocks, 50 per cent of which are lost in the north-eastern state of Bihar every year to the animals, said Vijay Prakash, secretary of the state's welfare department.

"This will help in mitigating the global food crisis. We are sure that it will work wonders," Mr Prakash said.

"It will save half our grain, and will also reduce villagers' dependence on food stock."

Mr Prakash's plan promotes consumption of rat meat in homes, street stalls, restaurants and even international five-star hotels.

He said he was also holding talks with prestigious hotels outside India to encourage them to put rat meat on their menus, but admitted his scheme had to overcome public prejudice.

Tags: mac rat, has, a, certain, ring, to, it

2nd Largest US Corn Harvest boon to crisis

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 06:44:36 GMT

clipped by: Dhakyoor
clipper's remarks: Upcoming harvest for corn crops is the 2nd largest ever and Agri experts say it may stabilize the food shortage and lower prices. Whew! Some good news at last.

Clip Source: news.yahoo.com

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Despite springtime rains and floods, U.S. farmers will reap their second-largest corn crop ever, the government said on Tuesday, potentially relieving pressure on food prices now headed for the third year in a row of sharp increases.

Food prices are forecast to rise by 5 percent this year, the largest annual increase since 1990, and by 4.5 percent in 2009, led by higher red meat and poultry prices.

"I don't think we're going to see a lessening here over the last six months of the year," Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer told Reuters. He said "we're seeing a leveling off" of price increases.

"I think it helps ... It takes some of the pressure off food prices," said private consultant Keith Collins. Collins said a decline in oil prices, which started in mid-July, "helps as well" to temper food price increases.

Tags: us food crisis, us food prices, world food shortage, corn crops

Las Vegas Got Loosing Hand- Credit Crunch

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:37:19 GMT

clipped by: klippety
clipper's remarks: Our very understanding of our society is changing. Let's deal with it and make it better. Perhaps there will be some water left if Vegas slims down some so we can use it where it is really needed. Food anyone or golf?

Clip Source: www.reuters.com

Vegas's losing hand 5:55pm ET

Some casino developers are folding in their cards as a chaotic credit market deals them a bad hand on the boom that turned much of the Vegas Strip into a construction zone. Full Article

Slideshow: Credit crunch timeline

Boyd delays Las Vegas project

Full Coverage: Crisis in credit