Dear Editor,
Over the last few weeks, the world has witnessed a massive aggressive movement by ordinary people in developing countries in response to the global food crisis. But are they burning their energies in a way that would lead to a change in this negative situation? Not really.
The first reality is the alarming population growth, particularly, in Third World Countries. This is a very serious point because as developed nations keep their population growth down by means of birth control, the nations of the Third World in Africa and East Asia are increasing their population on average at a yearly rate of 2 and 3 per cent. It is projected that by 2020, the Third World will hold over 80 per cent of the earth’s 8 billion people and will have run out of land to feed itself.
Clearly then, the question of proper family planning must continue to be a critical priority on national agendas within the poor states. Here is where community groups could play a role in helping residents to understand and appreciate the need to plan wisely for family and future. Also, here is where families should see themselves as economic units, providing the appropriate sustenance to allow their members to pursue and achieve their goals in life. In this sense, a large family does not have to be a burden; it could be a blessing.
In order to prevent a fierce and bitter struggle between the haves and the have-nots, rich countries must be prepared to provide food and strong leadership to the global society. This would necessitate them going beyond national priorities.
Second, there is growing evidence that the rush to promote the use of biofuels as an alternative source of energy to stem the tide of global warning and climate change by developed countries has pushed up the cost of food, particularly in poor countries. Farmlands once used to grow edible crops are now utilized for grains for biofuels. But how much of this is really assisting in the fight against climate change?
The World Bank and the United Nations have already expressed concerns about the impact of biofuels on world food prices. There is also the loss of habitats and heavy deforestation in different parts of the world caused by the production of biofuels. In any case, the CO2 savings that would accrue from the production of biofuels would be lost to the clearance of large sections of rainforest in Indonesia, the use of fertilizer to grow the crops and the actual conversion into biofuels.
Thus, there is need for a proper balance in the way rich nations promote biofuels, and the global food supplies.
When people are concerned about food for today and tomorrow then it is very difficult for them to be preoccupied with future social choices because they do not know if they will survive to benefit from such actions. As a result, climate change would mean nothing to starving people who would do whatever it takes to fend off starvation. Therefore, the effort to protect the environment must be buttressed by tangible arrangements to take care of the needs of people, particularly those who are most vulnerable, because there is a reciprocal influence between the planet and man.
This food crisis is a clear reminder of the inequalities in our world. However, many people are hungry because they neglect to adjust their lifestyle to ease the pressure of existing global conditions. For example, in spite of the high cost of foods, some citizens still engage in the throwaway culture. This culture is widespread not only in poor countries but also in rich ones. In some First World countries, the regulations and penalties discourage food stores from giving away excess foods which may be nearing their ‘Best before use date’ to charitable organizations.
They trash them instead. Again, in Guyana some people are still in the habit of throwing away food, rather than giving away to the needy. This is so true that those citizens, who have veered off the normal path of acceptable societal behaviour search and find food in refuse receptacles on a daily basis.
Finally, adjusting to the global increase in the cost of food would allow people in poor and developing countries to grow more of what they eat and eat more of what they grow.
Third World counties should channel their energies in the areas where they can produce the foods they need.
Protesting and complaining might provide assistance, because if rich countries could bail out large commercial banks such as Bear Stearns then they could help the world’s poor. But this would be short term and would be likely to fail in the long run. Further, those organizations and agencies that are attempting to help some countries are faced with challenges. The halt to food distribution in Gaza by the United Nations is a good example of some of the difficulties experienced by international agencies to feed the world’s hungry people. For that reason, those who are affected must now contemplate ways of improving the local situation rather than allowing their energies to be dissipated in activities that will not ultimately improve the lot of their families and local communities.
Yours faithfully,
Royston King
Executive Director
Environmental Community Health
Organization
