Food Riots Have Already Begun as Global Grain Prices Skyrocket, Supplies Dwindle
by David Gutierrez
Global Research, October 4, 2008
NaturalNews
(NaturalNews) Riots and other forms of civil unrest have already broken out
around the world in response to a global grain shortage and surging food
prices.
According to data from the World Food Program and the early warning and
global information system of the Food and Agricultural Organization, street
protests and rioting over high food prices have broken out in Guinea,
Indonesia, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Uzbekistan, Yemen and West Africa in
the past several months.
Prices of wheat and rice in particular have skyrocketed recently. Rice
prices have increased 50 percent in the past year, while wheat prices went
up 115 percent in the same time period. The high prices have been attributed
to increased fuel and shipping costs, plus a worldwide grain shortage.
In response to the shortage, India has placed limited restrictions on rice
exports to protect its domestic food supply, while Argentina, China and the
Ukraine have all restricted exports of wheat and other grains. In an
unprecedented move, the President of the Philippines recently made a
personal appeal to Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, asking Nguyen
to guarantee the Philippines a set quantity of rice imports.
The Philippines is heavily dependent upon rice imports to feed its
population.
“This is a wake-up call,” said Robert Zeigler of the International Rice
Research Institute. “We have a crisis brewing in rice supply.”
Rice is a primary food source for half of the world’s population.
The global grain shortage has been blamed on droughts and other unusual
weather caused by global warming, as well as the increasing diversion of
grain into animal feed to meet the growing demand for meat and dairy
products, especially in Asian countries.
The prices of foods made with grains, such as bread and beer, are also on
the rise. In addition, the increased costs of animal feed are being felt in
higher prices for meat, dairy and eggs.
Global Research Articles by David Gutierrez