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- Pledge: Halve global hunger by 2015
- People lacking food: 850 millionThe Guardian: Food summit fails to agree on biofuels (June 6, 2008)
- Money pledged for seven-year project: $6.5 billion
- Oxfam: $14.5 billion needed for 2008 alone
- Pressures on food supply: Rising demand, bad weather, biofuels
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Members of the United Nations met the week of June 4, 2008 to discuss the current worldwide hunger crisis. A major topic of discussion at the conference were biofuels and their effect on food costs. The contentious summit led to little in the way of agreement. $6.5 billion was pledged to solve the crisis, and nations resolved to halve global hunger in the next seven years. How they would accomplish the goal is still under debate.
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Crisis Causes
Droughts, floods and other worldwide weather issues have reduced food production. As nations become more affluent, they demand more food, putting more pressure on food supplies. Current interest in biofuel as a replacement for oil has led to more arable land being used to grow fuel instead of food, further reducing potential supply. -
Biofuels
Many crops used as food are also used as biofuel. Brazil, which grows sugar cane for biofuels, argues that the use of corn for ethanol is escalating the price of the staple, and thus is at the heart of the global food crisis. United States representatives, whose nation focuses on corn as a biofuel source, respond that any land used for biofuel could be used to grow food crops, meaning the U.S. is not to blame.The New York Times: U.N. Says Food Plan Could Cost $30 Billion a Year (June 4, 2008) Other critics argue that biofuel should be made only from nonfood crops or waste. -
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U.N. World Food Crisis Summit Questions
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Is there a food crisis? Why is food so expensive? 2 Answersthere is a food crisis and it is global. "Global Food Crisis 2008 Food prices have been rising for a while. In some countries this has resulted in food riots a... read more -
Which companies have the strategic vision & resources to sponsor a summit whose attendees are world leaders? 1 AnswerThe evil oil companies who seek to brain wash our world leaders into buying more oil by anointing their eye balls with a coxswain of pig feet and gingerbread cr... read more -
N. korea has launched its multi stage balistic rocket. U.N. SC approved an emergency session for this afternoon. What will be discussed ? 2 AnswersIn my humble opinion, based on my analysis of events of this nature in the history of the world beforehand, and my analysis of Barak Obama's policies and the po... read more -
What comfort food do you turn to either in times of crisis or when you just need a pick-me-up? 7 AnswersMy comfort food is one of most popular local food here: chicken noodles or pork noodles. Local chicken noodles in my area is called "bakmi", in Chinese Hokkian ... read more
view more questions...
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