Aid group to cut food ration to millions

Source: CNN.Com

CNN.com

(CNN) -- World Vision, one of the world's largest humanitarian organizations, announced Tuesday that it cannot feed 1.5 million of the 7.5 million people it fed last year and made an urgent appeal for international donors to step in. The cutback could affect donations to 35 of the 100 countries in which the agency works, said Rachel Wolff, media relations manager for disaster response.

The cutbacks are occurring across the developing world. Some of World Vision's food aid programs have been cut altogether, such as those in East Timor and Sri Lanka, while others have been reduced, such as those in Burundi, Niger, Cambodia, North and South Sudan. The cuts affect people in nearly every region of the world.

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She cited two primary, interconnected causes: an increase in food prices and an increase in the need for food. Wolff said the magnitude of the shortfall is unprecedented and predicted that the situation "probably will get worse as the year progresses." "What's unique about this is that it's happening all over the world," she said. Among the causes is the diversion of corn to the production of ethanol rather than food, she said.




Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/04/22/food.program.cutback/index.html

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Meanwhile, we spend more than $500 millions on our political campaigns. And we don't even stop to think about the contrast in these two worlds.

makes me feel ashamed. We are so off track.

Compassionate conservatism has to be the most reprehensible of the legacies of George W Bush but it will also be one of the legacies of the American people when history looks back at the 21st Century - reality is even Democrats are begining to take the "out of sight, out of mind" approach to reality.

A growing number of Americans do not care about health insurance simply because their sole priority is merely having enough to eat and it will only get worse as a growing number of Americans have to choose between paying the light bill or having food on the table.

There is nothing compassionate about the conservatism of the past eight years. At least Ronald Reagan allowed for ketchup. George W Bush probably considers it a luxury item.

But what really has Congress done to address the problem? Which of the candidates have really offered a possible solution? Hunger is our dirty little secret.

How many of us really will sacrifice for others? How many will forego buying that latest CD and instead buy a sack of groceries and drop it off at the food pantry so someone will have something to eat?

How many of us really even care? How many of us know what it is to open a kitchen cabinet and find it empty? How many of us know what it is to have absolutely nothing to eat?

What is frightening is that people really do not understand that we have a similar problem in this country. Just as poverty is increasing in this country, so is hunger. We assume no one goes hungry in our country. There are food stamps and other assistance programs. There are food pantries. Not everyone is eligible for food stamps. And food pantries around the country are facing shortages themselves.

We really are a shameful country. And a shameful people.

I spent the day walking my fence line, and I would like to know if there is anything I could do to help.

I've honestly considered Starlink GM corn for cattle feed or this mysterious "biofuel" I have heard about. My neighbors are cropping hay. Does anyone know what this whole food crises thing is about?

I heard only 10% of product purchased on the commodities market is for delivery, the rest is just contracts between speculators swapped for cash with no actual delivery ever made.

Um, enlighten me you devilcrats.

I would really like to hear an explanation.

Enjoy your (short) stay.

Sorry.

Damn near anything else goes, though.

but why are you blaming Democrats? :shrug:

program for gleaners and they are asking farmers and gardeners to plant extra for gleaning purposes. They will come to the property and collect the food and take it to the hungry. I refer to the 4H group in my county in California, I would think other 4H groups may have similar programs. If you grow corn, grow extra for the 4H. May be a tax deduction, though I'm not certain. Personally I don't like GM corn but it's your choice. If you must leave your field fallow, plant beans and/or buckwheat as a cover crop. That way, you keep your soil fertile, (nitrogen and phosphorus)plow it under and you may not even need to use fertilizers next season. 4H will come and pick the beans. This will save you tons of money and eventually eliminate the need for petroleum based fertilizers. There are more efficient crops for biofuel than corn. It will take research. This isn't exactly what you asked, but ithe topic is feeding the hungry, so it's my best answer. Welcome to DU.

Those farming the sandy desert fringes of the 3rd world have expanded the deserts by burning out the so called "soil" they farm.
Artificial petroleum based fertilizers were a lose/lose situation for them.

Vote For USA at http://thevotenation.com !!!

Let's help the US out, we are currently in 6th. We can do better than that.
We should spread the address as well!

They could buy more food for the hungry?

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/287959_nonprofits09.html

& Chapman (Lennon shooter) once worked for them. They supposedly have some intelligence ties. I've always wondered how on the level this org is.

snip
She cited two primary, interconnected causes: an increase in food prices and an increase in the need for food. Wolff said the magnitude of the shortfall is unprecedented and predicted that the situation "probably will get worse as the year progresses." "What's unique about this is that it's happening all over the world," she said. Among the causes is the diversion of corn to the production of ethanol rather than food, she said.

snip

Easily overlooked is the cost of a bbl of crude. When it reaches $200 bbl.......... The fuel costs of "our" charity programs end it all as the Darwin theory kicks in by the tin pot rulers of those areas that have reached the environmental peak population decades ago.

Of course, those reporting have rose colored glasses and will hit us with "the guilt" complex. We will blame ourselves .


Maybe Hugo should lower the price of oil in order for the greedy western powers to donate the shrinking surplus to feed those that have become hooked on this welfare program