Bad harvests in Russia and Pakistan plus unbridled speculation are causing the price of basic food products to soar around the world. The UN and other experts are predicting an upcoming social crisis as commodity prices rise beyond the means of many. Food riots broke out in 25 countries two years ago when there was a deeper shortage of food and speculators drove up prices to record levels. Already there were food riots in Mozambique a couple of weeks ago. Speculators are mostly to blame as they are buying up whole stores of grains to drive up the prices and when people are desperate they will sell them to the highest bidders, locking out the world's poor. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/oct/25/impending-global-food-crisis
I've noticed how much food has gone up in the last few years. Many small farmers are having a hard time keeping up with the cost of maintaining their business. We should be offering tax breaks for local small business farms.
One of the BIG reasons for the price increase is the ONE SOURCE for seeds, fertilizer, pesticides, etc.... MONSANTO! Their monopoly over genetics and farmers is undoubtedly causing the prices of food to go up, speculation aside. It's time farmers took control over their own genetics and get into organic farming practices NOW! When those heavily treated Monsanto crops fail, there won't be recourse because all the farmers will be heavily indebted to Monsanto and will have no choice but to continue growing crops for the benefit of Monsanto and the detriment of consumers around the world.
Personally I think every one should have their own tiny farm. Even just a few plants growing in the windowsill. Imagine how much we could save if everyone did that.
Yes, they are evil! And we still throw away enough food to feed the world. Eating too much meat is also evil. Then the speculations with food, the destruction of soil by wrong agricultural techniques. Well, they think its ok, a way of fighting overpopulation.
That would be a dream come true, people forget sometimes that farming can be the most beautiful thing on earth if done in harmony with the environmnt.
Go farming. This has had minimum attention in economic news over the past couple weeks, but it was news none the less. Russia is the one refusing to export much of their product.
Everytime I go to the grocery store I'm shocked at the prices. Hunting and farming are really the way to go, but unfortunately a large percentage of people affected by high food prices probably live in highly populated areas with no access to land on which to hunt and farm.
^ Have to be thankful of that, being one of those on the rural lands you speak of When we get city people out hunting we invariably see a cow or goat on the top of said "hunters" car. It's a constant surprise to see people hunting (most of the hunters IMHO) who should never have been given a license having no clue to gun safety and wildlife appearance and habits. In trying to enforce the law on the land, I have had weapons pointed at me more than once. At this point I try to hide during hunting season....pretty hard when you live on the land. Personally I am always thankful that the majority of people choose to live in the population centers or we would have no woodlands at all. Geez ...living in the wildlife populated woodland, one comes close to taking on a redneck mentality....even to greeting weapon bearing intruders with a rifle in hand. In so far as sharing what one has....I've always found the work involved and the "long winter (huh ? - talk to some canadians, we have near 120 day growing season here), has to date kept others from joining....I mean it just can't be my own prickly nature - right ?...lol Have a good one. Blessings Namaste Enjoy !
I became a city slicker for a while. I still had my garden on the patio. You'd be surprised what you can grow in a small raised bed or in buckets. .
hunting and gathering lifestyles are going to be in vogue... i can feel it... it will be our duty to eat the rich.... "meats on the menu boys"..... but seriously, there is loads of wild food to be had.... and besides, it's just nature doing her thang... it will be as it has always been.... survival of the fittest...
