A New Kind of Appeal
It's hard not to notice that gas prices seem to rise by the day. Most drivers may cringe a little more every time they fill up, but they aren't rioting in the streets. This isn't the story in some developing countries, where increasing oil prices — on top of soaring food prices — have increased the potential for widespread hunger.
To cope, the UN World Food Programme has launched an emergency appeal for $500 million. The WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency, working in 78 of the world’s poorest countries to help stop hunger. Funded entirely by individual donors and governments, the appeal was written to 60 governments in hopes to reach their goal by May 1. If this amount isn’t reached, the WFP will be forced to cut aid to countries in already desperate situations.
Although the WFP has launched many appeals in the past, this is the first time an appeal has been launched due to a market-generated crisis. The WFP says it was not prepared for the rise in staple food prices such as wheat and corn, as well as fuel.
NPR pointed out this morning that the food-price hikes are exacerbated by a shortage of rice due to bad harvests and growing demand. Rice-exporting countries in Asia are shipping less abroad to have enough of the dietary staple at home.
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FREE Rice!
Take action while playing the game FREE Rice to improve your vocabulary while helping feed hungry people. Each correct answer means 20 grains of rice donated through the World Food Programme. It's fun to see the little grains added to the bowl with each correct answer.
Let them eat subsidies.
Take a look at an article from South Africa addressing rising food prices, "Let them Eat Subsidies." It takes a look at how high food prices are causing many around the world to rise up in violent protests.
Improving food aid
Some are hoping that "today's woes may lead to fundamental changes for the better in the world's approach to hunger and food shortages," but, unfortunately, "the short-term outlook seems grim."
Japan actually has a surplus of rice
Japan has 1.5 million metric tons of surplus rice in its warehouses that could be used to offset the growing hunger crisis. Most of this rice, however, is not leaving the country. Instead, there are new plans in Japan to convert their surplus rice stores into biofuel to offset the country's dependence on foreign oil.
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