Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
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Archived Articles
Hunger and the Globalized System of Trade and Food Production
2004
Back to Current Articles | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 Africa's Hungry Are Fed Bad Policies (December 30, 2004)
Poor countries’ reliance on western policies risks growing further as the US pushes for the global acceptance of genetically modified (GM) products. For long, rich countries’ conditionalities and trade and economic policies have narrowed poor countries’ options for dealing with food crises. This article concludes that Africa’s embrace of GM products will rather stem from a lack of options, than from voluntary action. (YaleGlobal)Think Globally, Eat Locally (December 18, 2004)
This New York Times op-ed piece argues that the combination of cheap and “insecure” food from overseas and the consolidation of domestic production by a few food supply giants “compromises America's ability to feed itself.” The author cautions about bio-terrorism and food processing incidents and calls for an agricultural policy shift through the establishment of small scale community-based food systems to achieve true food security.Factory Farming in the Developing World (May/June 2003)
Global meat production has increased five-fold since 1950 and the consumption of meat continues to rise fast in poor countries, where meat symbolizes wealth. This World Watch Institute article argues against factory farming of animals. It uses the example of the chicken industry in the Philippines to illustrate how the current meat industry threatens food security and has severe social and environmental consequences.Global Obesity Epidemic 'Out of Control' (November 1, 2004)
As poor countries still struggle with the legacy of malnutrition, the fast rise in obesity paradoxically emerges as a serious threat to health and development. A South African conference on obesity concludes that fear of AIDS, throughout the African continent nicknamed “slim,” dissuades people from losing weight. As a result, South African obesity levels equal those in the US. (New Zealand Herald)World Food Day: Iraqi Farmers Aren't Celebrating (October 15, 2004)
Iraq’s new agricultural legislation, which the US has helped in crafting, jeopardizes the country’s food sovereignty. The patent on life forms will make seed savings illegal, pushing farmers towards dependency on seeds from transnational agribusiness corporations. (Grain)World Food Day 2004 Highlights the Importance of Biodiversity to Global Food Security (October 15, 2004)
The Food and Agriculture Organization dedicated the 2004 World Food Day to promoting biodiversity, which could end hunger and create global food security. Up to three-quarters of genetic diversity of agricultural crops have been lost over the last century – a figure that especially affects rural families in harsh natural conditions whose survival depends on sustainable biodiversity.Hunger on the Rise in the Philippines (October 12, 2004)
Focus on the Global South raises concerns about the Philippine government’s response to a looming national food crisis. This article suggests that Philippine leaders should revise the country’s liberalization policies in food, agriculture and development rather than look for temporary relief solutions such as food coupons.The More We Grow, The Less Able We Are to Feed Ourselves (August 29, 2004)
The total global harvest is larger than ever before in human history, but even so the demand for food escerts the supply. This article asks whether the dark predictions of Thomas Malthus might come true after all. Rising wealth, global water-shortages, overpopulation and overall loss in fertile land, make the world unable to feed itself in a sustainable way. (Independent)Hungry World 'Must Eat Less Meat' (August, 2004)
SIWI, Stockholm International Water Institute, states that the diet in the developed countries is unsustainable as the world is running out of water for food production. Western Europe and North America have to change their over-consumption of meat in order for the world to be able to feed itself in the future. (BBC)Drastic Cuts in Rations as WFP Faces Pipeline Breaks (April 2, 2004)
The Angolan government’s ban on genetically modified food and insufficient donor funds have put the World Food Programme’s (WFP) food deliverance operations in the country in severe jeopardy. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)Progress on Reducing Hunger Has Stopped, UN Expert on Right to Food Says (March 30, 2004)
Each year, 36 million people die from hunger and 840 million people suffer from chronic malnutrition in poor countries. UN Special Rapporteur, Jean Ziegler, explains how poor countries are developing alternative models for agricultural trade, as they believe that the international free trade promises are illusory. (UN News Service)
2003
Back to Current Articles | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 Feeding a Hungry World: Is Biotechnology the Answer? (October 16, 2003)
A new research initiative supported by the Gates Foundation, USAID and the World Bank, claims that “biofortification” – the selection of crops with greater nutritional contents – will combat malnutrition. Yet, this focus on technology disregards the root causes of hunger, which lie in an unfair system of food production and distribution. (Inter Press Service)Challenging the Rules: Global Hunger and the Politics of Food (October 16, 2003)
Oxfam identifies economic policies such as the IMF-imposed Structural Adjustment Policies, and unfair trade rules as main issues that cause and perpetuate world hunger. Solutions could include supporting small farmers and farmer organizations.Hunger in a world of Plenty (October 10, 2003)
One out of eight people in the world is malnourished, and the vast majority of these people live in countries that produce enough food to feed them. Though governments and businesses tout capitalism as the answer to these economic woes, this article claims that capitalism is the very cause of such problems, stating, "poverty and inequality aren’t an accident under capitalism. The system is structured to produce them." (Socialist Worker)Starved by the IMF (October 9, 2003)
The neo-liberal policies of the IMF and the World Bank forced poor countries to focus on export of agricultural goods, instead of subsistence farming. This has created a situation where poor countries produce abundant cash crops, but insufficient quantities of food, leaving millions of people hungry. (Rabble)UN Official Plans to Urge US Reconsider Food Policies (September 24, 2003)
The US provides great amounts of food aid. But by granting subsidies to US farmers and cutting down aid to farmers in poor countries, it becomes harder for poor farmers to sustain themselves. (New York Times)Farmers Switch to Commercial Farming (September 2003)
After Swaziland’s droughts and declining harvests the World Food Programme started to provide emergency food aid to almost one fourth of the population. To adapt to changing climate conditions, Swazis have begun to abandon pure subsistence farming of the “traditional” crop maize for the sake of drought resistant cash crops like cotton. (AfricaNews)The Right to Food (August 28, 2003)
UN special rapporteur Jean Ziegler worries that transnational corporations’ control over the food system might hinder people’s access to food. He calls for the rapid development of a coherent legal framework that forces transnational corporations to comply with human rights standards such as the right to food.Vatican Council Backs Genetically Modified Foods on Moral Grounds (August 8, 2003)
A recent Vatican council document urges Pope John Paul II to back biotechnology, considering genetically modified organisms the only way to meet the growing worldwide food demand and thus, to alleviate world hunger. (CNSNews.com)Are Ordinary People in the US to Blame for World Poverty? (August 8, 2003)
Eating less or refusing to buy brand name products won’t fight hunger or save poor citizens across the globe. US policies and policy makers that create structural changes to corporate privileges and food production will get at the roots of global inequality. (Socialist Worker)Hungry in America (July 31, 2003)
The Nation denounces the US government for being “indifferent to the basic needs of its citizens,” by not providing food to the 33 million people who suffer from hunger in the world’s richest country.Why People Still Starve (July 13, 2003)
Reporter Barry Bearak describes a Malawian family experience with starvation. The article provides real-life references to the root causes of hunger, including trade, international food aid, and environmental problems. (New York Times Magazine)Markets = Famine (July 8, 2003)
The food supply of poor countries is too vital to be left to the market and donors. Nonetheless, rich countries with their own food supply systems pressure African nations to comply with market trends and risky agricultural policies. (ZNet)Behind the Famine in Ethiopia: Glut and Aid Policies Gone Bad (July 1, 2003)
Neo-liberal policies cut Ethiopian farmers off from government price supports and push for private sector production without providing poor farmers with the necessary equipment and training to compete globally.(Wall Street Journal)Brazil’s War on Hunger off to a Slow Start (March 30, 2003)
Brazil’s Zero Hunger program has generated more controversy than results, mired in internal debate within the new government. President Lula da Silva adopted IMF prescribed austerity measures that reduced the scope of aid provisions to hungry families, provoking widespread resentment. (New York Times)Once Secure, Argentines Now Lack Food and Hope (March 2, 2003)
This report illustrates how the recent financial crisis has hurt Argentina's public, including widespread hunger, malnutrition and a public health crisis. (New York Times)Liberalisation Makes Rajasthan's Drought Lethal (February 5, 2003)
The monsoon hasn’t come to northeastern India since 1998, but development workers say India’s economic liberalization, not drought alone, is responsible for the current famine. Relief organization Christian Aid has seen an increase in rural poverty and acute hunger since India began liberalizing its economy and dismantling agricultural subsidies. (Guardian)Let Free Trade Help Alleviate Hunger in Zimbabwe (January 27, 2003)
World Food Programme head James Morris says that allowing grain to be bought and sold freely on the market would help alleviate Zimbabwe’s severe food crisis. The government fixes the price of grain below regional market prices, inhibiting businesses from selling in Zimbabwe. (Associated Press)Lula Launches War on Hunger - Both Causes and Effects (January 30, 2003)
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s “Zero Hunger” plan takes a multifaceted approach to addressing the causes, not just the symptoms, of hunger. The plan aims to create jobs, improve access to education, and expand land reform in addition to providing immediate hunger relief. (Inter Press Service)Nestlé U-Turn on Ethiopia Debt (January 24, 2003)
After receiving a flood of letters in protest from the global public, Nestlé backed down from its demand that Ethiopia pay $6 million in reparations. The company settled on $1.5 million, which it will pour directly into famine relief efforts. (Guardian)
2002
Back to Current Articles | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 Nestle Insists on Ethiopia Refund (December 19, 2002)
Swiss-based Nestle demands that famine-stricken Ethiopia reimburse it for $6 million lost after the Communist regime nationalized a firm owned by its subsidiary company in 1975. While Nestle made $3.9 billion in profits the first six months of this year, Ethiopia faces one of the worst food crises in its history. (BBC)Ethiopian Crisis is Real but not New (November 15, 2002)
International aid groups warn that drought, increased food prices and soil erosion have placed Ethiopia’s subsistence-based communities in danger of starvation. NGOs say that both developed and developing countries must focus on the root of the problems, such as trade imbalances. (AlertNet)Homegrown: The Case for Local Food in a Global Market (November 2002)
Advanced technology and modern food production systems offer consumers an unprecedented choice of any type of food, anywhere, at any time. Meanwhile, this WorldWatch paper questions the efficiency of long-distance food trade by pointing out the unseen environmental, agricultural and social costs and calls for a shift from global to local food production and consumption.A Richer World Keeps Failing to End Hunger, Says UN (October 28, 2002)
Rich nations produce enough food to feed the entire world, but global famine has reached an unprecedented scale. Special Rapporteur of the UN Commission on Human Rights Jean Siegler argues that wealthy countries, by failing to alleviate hunger, violate the international human right to food for millions of people. (Inter Press Service)IMF Blamed for Malawi Famine (October, 2002)
A report from the World Development Movement reveals that IMF and World Bank enforced policies are responsible for turning a food shortage into large-scale famine in Malawi.The Real Reasons For Hunger (June 23, 2002)
“Leading Indian ecological activist Vandana Shiva disagrees with Amartya Sen’s analysis of global hunger and democracy.” She argues that trade liberalization and globalization are primary causes for hunger today and, in fact, undermine the democratic process. (Guardian)IMF Accused of Role in Malawi Famine (June 14, 2002)
NGOs accuse the IMF of causing famine and death in Malawi. They hold the Fund responsible for creating “the commercial debt that the government sought to pay off with proceeds of the grain sale.” (One World)The Real Reasons For Hunger (June 23, 2002)
“Leading Indian ecological activist Vandana Shiva disagrees with Amartya Sen’s analysis of global hunger and democracy.” She argues that trade liberalization and globalization are primary causes for hunger today and, in fact, undermine the democratic process. (Guardian)Buying and Selling: Trade Leads to Greed, Hunger (June 3, 2002)
As rich countries blame the lack of economic growth in developing countries on corruption in poor-country governments, the rich have fixed international trade rules to benefit themselves. This exemplifies the hypocrisy of the rich as well as their determination to perpetuate global inequality. (East African Standard)Price of Free Trade: Famine (March 22, 2002)
The impact of trade liberalization in Central America has already led to skyrocketing interest rates and bankrupt farms. The author argues that the proposed Central American Free Trade Agreement will exacerbate these problems, deepening an already widespread famine in the region. (Los Angeles Times)At the Heart of Hunger (2002)
The Christian Science Monitor's investigation of the hunger crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa includes photos, maps, and in-depth reports on AIDS, the environment, international trade, and genetically modified foods.
