georgephillip
Diamond Member
Is the link between ever-widening economic inequality, climate change, fossil fuel dependency and the global food crisis undeniable?
That's the opinion of Nafeez Ahmed writing in the Guardian last March who claims the "fundamental triggers for the Arab Spring were unprecedented rises in food prices."
"Since 2008, global food prices have been consistently higher than in preceding decades, despite wild fluctuations. This year, even with prices stabilising, the food price index remains at 210 which some experts believe is the threshold beyond which civil unrest becomes probable.
"The FAO warns that 2013 could see prices increase later owing to tight grain stocks from last year's adverse crop weather.
"Whether or not those prices materialise this year, food price volatility is only a symptom of deeper systemic problems namely, that the global industrial food system is increasingly unsustainable.
"Last year, the world produced 2,241m tonnes of grain, down 75m tonnes or 3% from the 2011 record harvest.
"The key issue, of course, is climate change..." (???)
Why food riots are likely to become the new normal | Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed | Environment | theguardian.com
That's the opinion of Nafeez Ahmed writing in the Guardian last March who claims the "fundamental triggers for the Arab Spring were unprecedented rises in food prices."
"Since 2008, global food prices have been consistently higher than in preceding decades, despite wild fluctuations. This year, even with prices stabilising, the food price index remains at 210 which some experts believe is the threshold beyond which civil unrest becomes probable.
"The FAO warns that 2013 could see prices increase later owing to tight grain stocks from last year's adverse crop weather.
"Whether or not those prices materialise this year, food price volatility is only a symptom of deeper systemic problems namely, that the global industrial food system is increasingly unsustainable.
"Last year, the world produced 2,241m tonnes of grain, down 75m tonnes or 3% from the 2011 record harvest.
"The key issue, of course, is climate change..." (???)
Why food riots are likely to become the new normal | Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed | Environment | theguardian.com