The food crisis is man-made

A billion will soon confront food insecurity

The World Food Programme of the United Nations claims that:

World hunger is projected to reach a historic high in 2009 with 1,020 million people going hungry every day, according to new estimates published by FAO today.

The most recent increase in hunger is not the consequence of poor global harvests but is caused by the world economic crisis that has resulted in lower incomes and increased unemployment. This has reduced access to food by the poor, the UN agency said.

"A dangerous mix of the global economic slowdown combined with stubbornly high food prices in many countries has pushed some 100 million more people than last year into chronic hunger and poverty," said FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf. "The silent hunger crisis — affecting one sixth of all of humanity — poses a serious risk for world peace and security. We urgently need to forge a broad consensus on the total and rapid eradication of hunger in the world and to take the necessary actions."

On the road to soup kitchen America

Christine White of Food First reports:

The numbers are in, and the reality is harsh. According to a recent USDA report, one in nine Americans are using federal food stamps. This bleak statistic reflects the intensifying food crisis that plagues our nation. In March 2009, enrollment jumped 2 percent to 33.2 million people. And in the wake of a deep recession and high unemployment, the numbers will continue to grow. In a privileged nation of plenty, threatened by a chronic obesity epidemic, how is it that millions are going without? [emphasis added]

Drought in California expected to continue

MSNBC, source of the report, also claims that: "Federal water managers said Friday that they plan to cut off water, at least temporarily, to thousands of California farms as a result of the deepening drought gripping the state." MSNBC continues:

Dwindling supplies would have to be routed to cities to ensure residents, hospitals and fire crews have enough to meet minimum health and safety needs, said Don Glaser, the federal reclamation bureau's Mid-Pacific Region director.

The water shortages are so severe most cities will have to start mandatory ration programs by summertime, and residents will be asked to reduce their usage by 20 percent, Snow said.

Poverty and the economic crisis

Images of food and housing insecurity in the United States

Some crisis links (11.7.2008)

They're depressing….

Jobs became scarcer in October, according to reports (see this, this, this and this). Unfortunately the employment news is grimmer than the latest official report lets on. The unofficial but likely more accurate unemployment rate is about double the official rate, according to Shadow Government Statistics:

Ford Motor Company continues to hemorrhage cash, according to official and unofficial reports (see this, this, this and this). General Motors and Chrysler are also treading water and should mimic Ford's troubled story when they release their latest earnings reports.

The world stands before another food crisis, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (here) and the Financial Times (via Naked Capitalism). The global financial crisis will be the proximate cause of the food crisis, according to the FAO report.

And, as one would expect in an economic environment characterized by institutional decay and a global crisis, retail sales have again plummeted (see this).

Some encouraging news: Writing for the Wall Street Journal, Jeffry Shapiro whines:

It seems that no matter what Mr. Bush does, he is blamed for everything. He remains despised by the left while continuously disappointing the right.

But this good news is not the best news possible. The best possible news: Congress impeaches Bush and Cheney; the two are then sent to be tried for the War Crimes they committed by the International Criminal Court at The Hague.