The Grain Fight

As the west looks to nuclear and bio-fuels as false hopes in the face of global warming, it (as has been warned) has the knock-on effect of starving the poor as resources are diverted;

And meanwhile, land used to grow biofuel feedstock is land not available to grow food, so subsidies to biofuels are a major factor in the food crisis. You might put it this way: people are starving in Africa so that American politicians can court votes in farm states. Oh, and in case you're wondering: all the remaining presidential contenders are terrible on this issue....What should be done? The most immediate need is more aid to people in distress: the U.N.'s World Food Program put out a desperate appeal for more funds. We also need a pushback against biofuels, which turn out to have been a terrible mistake. But it's not clear how much can be done. Cheap food, like cheap oil, may be a thing of the past.

Also, as the US celebrates Martin Luther King, it also deports a peace activist. Nothing changes, everything changes. And well done to the Free Tibet protesters in taking on China via the torch!
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