I was about to write something about the FAO's recent warning about the food situation, but it turns out I don't have to, since Liz Borkowski at the Pump Handle beat me to it - great link to Raj Patel's piece in the Guardian as well. Definitely worth a read!
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has released a new Food Outlook, and the news isn't great.
Global wheat and rice production have both suffered setbacks this year as Russia has suffered from drought and Pakistan from floods. Poor cassava harvests in Asia are also a concern, given that cassava is the staple food of nearly a billion people. Tight supply has caused prices to rise for these and other food commodities.
The fear is that we'll face another global food crisis like the one that caused riots in several countries in 2008. The FAO suggests it's not time to panic yet, but a little worry would be appropriate.
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My in-laws in Honduras say the bean harvest was ruined by too much rain and prices are high, and this is the second-most-important staple for them.
See link below on one aspect of the movement to address our planetary situation. I have been often disheartened to see people in the Peak Everything community denigrate such endeavors - just cant see the point. Introductory video by Deepak Chopra.
http://worldshiftcouncil.org/