My thoughts on…the world food crisis
all feeling the effects of it. In America, Wal-Mart has been limiting the amount of rice customers can buy. In Jamaica, the government has been suggesting that Jamaicans start eating cassava (we never took to that too well) and growing our own rice. That part of the crisis I actually like, as it forces us to become more self-reliant. It’s just a pity that it’s circumstances like this that force us to depend on ourselves.
There are also food riots in Mexico and West Benegal. Rice has gotten so popular that people are even starting to buy rice futures. But it’s not only rice that’s short. Pasta, beef, chicken, milk, bread and other basic foods are either in short supply or much more expensive. The UN says it’s a result of cereal crops being used for biofuels in reaction to rising oil prices, increased demand from India and China and extreme weather conditions. I’m inclined to blame the Chinese and the Indians, but it’s mostly America’s fault. And no, the blame doesn’t fall upon Bush’s shoulders’ this time. Dear God, why do you Americans love blaming him so much. It’s not all his fault you know. It’s the fault of capitalism.
American companies has been heavily outsourcing to both India and China recently, and this great influx of investment has led to the development of more business, meaning more jobs as well as higher incomes. Now these people have more purchasing power, and trust me, they’re exercising it. It wouldn’t be so bad if it were some other places, but these are some of the most heavily populated countries on Earth. China has 1.3 billion people, India has 1.1 billion. Americans have also used 20% of the maize crop to use for biofuels, affecting the world market for cereals.
It’s not affecting my family too much. Not we’re not rich, we just know how to stretch our dollar. But I’m afraid that we can stretch it so far and no more. Still, we’ve been through tougher times and prevailed. All I can do is sit and hope that greed overtakes opportunists all over the world so that we’ll have a surplus of rice and other staple products, and if worst comes to worst, maybe expand my cassava diet beyond bammy (traditional deep-fried Jamaican cassava bread).
