| The Silent Tsunami: Linking the Global Food Crisis to Deforestation and Biofuels? |
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bridges vol. 17, April 2008 / Feature Article By Michael Obersteiner & Petr Havlik mp3 download
Agriculture is in limbo these days. The biofuels issue makes it onto the front page of many newspapers and magazines. The latest issue of TIME magazine selected the title "The Clean Energy Myth" and decried the problem of politicians and big business pushing for biofuels while ignoring the fact that biofuels are driving up food prices, contributing to the destruction of tropical rain forests, and making global warming worse. Food riots are breaking out in many parts of the world. In Haiti the president had to hide in his palace, protected by his presidential guards and United Nations Peace Keeping Forces. The Malaysian government was overthrown by food rioters. In Egypt the army was commanded to produce bread, Bangladesh is in turmoil, and even China is getting worried despite its policy of 95 percent food self-sufficiency and substantial food reserves piled up for 2008. |

