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Comments

• [1] ted from manhattan June 26, 2009 - 12:16PM

  what role does the political corruption play in these countries?

  
  
• [2] nat from brooklyn June 26, 2009 - 12:17PM

  When discussing famines I have often wondered if they are ultimately the result of too many people living in areas that cannot ecologically sustain them. By no means do I want to sound like this isn't a tragic situation. It is also very easy to make such observations from the US which is wealthy enough to sustain this unsustainability in our own country. This question is a tough one for me, who tends to want to end human suffering.

  With that preface, I would like to hear the guests opinion on whether food aide supports population booms in areas of the world that cannot sustain them, and what if any alternatives exist? Is there a way to ultimately make these areas self sufficient and sustainable ecologically in the long term?

  
  
• [3] Wyn Achenbaum from Stamford, CT June 26, 2009 - 12:27PM

  Might I suggest that you read "Progress and Poverty," by Henry George?

  A contemporary-language abridgment is available online at http://www.progressandpoverty.org/ (hardcopy is available, too, there or via Amazon).

  You'll come to a new understanding of why we have poverty and hunger in a world with so much wealth and so much technology. And you'll know how what it will take to correct it.

  
  
• [4] JP from The Garden State June 26, 2009 - 12:36PM

  nat from Brooklyn,

  I believe population is a huge part of it. You can even apply it to our own country. If we became sustainable in the true sense like the slow food movement wants, places like Las Vegas, the largest growing city in America, would have to close up shop. You can’t do sustainable farming in its true sense in the middle of the desert. Just saying we need to be sustainable is s copout for a very complex problem. The green revolution has to seriously start talking about overpopulation in third world countries and overpopulation in our own country and real solutions to very complex food distribution problems to remote places if they want a true “sustainable” farming system in this country and the rest of the world. Just telling us to buy expensive organic vegetables at Whole Foods is not going to solve this problem by a long shot.

  
  
• [5] JP from The Garden State June 26, 2009 - 12:39PM

  Oops, meant to say “slow food revolution” not “green revolution”.

  
  
• [6] Wyn Achenbaum from Stamford, CT June 26, 2009 - 12:46PM

  JP and Nat, overpopulation may possibly be a problem in a few places, but I encourage you to read P&P (above), because large sections of that book, particularly in the first few chapters, look closely at that issue.

  The problem is a different one, and few who are not familiar with what Henry George saw and explicated really understand. His contribution was unique, and we ignore his observations at the peril of billions of people, including ourselves.

  
  
• [7] JP from The Garden State June 26, 2009 - 01:28PM

  Wyn Achenbaum from Stamford, CT ,

  I must apologize for I have not read “Progress and Poverty”. I do know first hand in this country its all about profits for large seed, chemical and food corporations coupled to a distribution system that only caters to these groups and of course has had the blessing and support of many local and federal government agencies. Go to the Midwest and all the AG transportation and storage is set up for soy, wheat and corn only. I know nothing will change unless this and many other complex problems have to be reconsidered and dramatically changed. That being said, what would Mr. George’s solution be for local sustainable farming in this country and still be able to feed large populations in remotely located cities that don’t have the proper climate to locally grow sustainable food crops to feed its own large condensed population. I’m just looking for realistic solutions for problems we have right now, not a painfully slow food movement that would take decades to even remotely realistically get into place and properly working. I fear way to much irreversible damage will be done by then if we wait for this “slow boat to China” slow food movement to actually get any realistic results.

  As for over population not being the real problem, just wait until China and India’s middle class really starts to grow and buy cars and lots of meat (maybe not so much meat from the Hindu population). That’s when the poop’s really going to hit the fan if solutions to overpopulation are not seriously addressed….

  
  
• [8] darkstar from Iowa July 02, 2009 - 06:40PM

  Goverment plays a great role in starvation two fold. 1st msny goverments don't want food reaching the general population. Why, the fear they will get healthy and strong and be able to fight to overthrow them. Second, the also fear geneitally altered products because of the unknown.

  Another point I would like to raise,I'm in Iowa in the so called land of plenty. We have many people here that go without food in normal times. Much of this was before bad economic times. Record flooding of a 500 year level hit very hard in many towns and cities here and we are still trying to recover. Food banks were begging for food to help. Those who had been desperate for food before were stretched even thinner. By no means is any town or city in Iowa overpopulated.

  I know the one of the authors and I know the spent years researching and writing this book. They spent a lot of time in Africa also. I know they know what they are talking about. If you can take a look at the book. It will explain alot for you.