On Thursday, March 3,
the United Nations
Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO)
announced that continued
unprecedented rises for
eight consecutive months
has resulted in February's
levels being the highest
since record-keeping
began 20 years ago.
Reasons behind the steep
increases are thought to
include ongoing adverse
weather conditions
due to climate change,
such as in Canada where
rising temperatures have
significantly reduced
wheat production,
in China following
severe droughts,
and Russia after
the catastrophic
heat wave and fires.
Other factors include
higher oil prices, which
affect food production
and transportation
and internal conflicts
as well as disasters
that spur governments
and individuals
to stockpile staples.
With the FAO forecasting
continued rises
for the rest of the year,
fears of an unfolding
food shortage crisis
are being raised.
Highlighting
the seriousness of
the situation and the need
for actions such as
curbing market
speculation and
food-based biofuels,
Oxfam's food policy
adviser Thierry Kesteloot
stated, “Millions more
people are sliding
into poverty as they
struggle to afford
basic food supplies.
A sit-and-wait attitude
among governments
in the hope that there
will be good harvests
over the next few months
means gambling
with people's lives.”
We are thankful for the
concerned observations
of the United Nations
Food and Agriculture
Organization
in raising awareness
of this global issue.
Our prayers
for the enactment
of sustainable measures
that ensure plentiful
sustenance for all.
Speaking about
the long-term rise
in global food prices
and shortages
during an October 2009
videoconference
in Indonesia,
Supreme Master Ching Hai
expressed concern while
offering a comprehensive
solution.
Supreme Master Ching Hai : There are
1.02 billion people
with not enough food
in the world.
While we are sitting here
in safety and comfort,
and have sufficient food
for ourselves
and our family,
our neighboring people,
our world co-citizens,
more than one billion
of them,
are living in poverty,
in hunger, in thirst.
No sufficient water,
no clean water,
no food to eat.
Children are dying
every few seconds.
Statistically,
every five seconds
one child dies of hunger.
Besides, we are facing
a food shortage
with high food prices.
The most important first step
is to stop buying and
eating meat, fish, eggs,
dairy, and any animal
products for you and
for your family's sake,
for the natural resources'
sake, and
to plant the seeds for a
better agricultural system
for everyone.
In this way, not only can
all the farmers prosper -
we help them in this way -
but everyone will
prosper and enjoy
a long and thriving life.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110303/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_un_food_prices ,
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/03/04/World-food-prices-up-for-eighth-month/UPI-42941299220983/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/8359643/Food-prices-to-carry-on-climbing-alll-year.html
http://www.france24.com/en/20110303-world-food-prices-hit-record-highs-un-food-agency
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