I call this post "The Return" because it has been nearly a year (10 months, 13 days to be precise) since I last blogged. I apologize to my faithful reader for my neglect. I add, in parentheses, "aka. World Food Prices...and Canada" because that's what this post is actually about. My interest spawned from an article in Time magazine and is the latest in an exchange of emails with a friend. Enjoy!
After your response I decided to do a little more research into the subject. I think I did perhaps overstate the roll of biofuels, but nevertheless was correct that they are a major factor today, and will be an increasingly impactful factor in the years to come. Second and third generation biofuels (such as the switchgrass that you mention, and algea) are perhaps a decade away (though my money says much sooner). This article at http://www.wikipedia.org/ was a very good starting point for me in my research: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007-2008_world_food_price_crisis).
The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) states that "the very tight situation of the current 2007/08 season has led to a steady rise in world prices of all cereals, pushing up the food import bill of many importing countries and generating widespread sharp increases in domestic food prices." This suggests that, world-wide, supply is a major aspect of the current crisis. Further in the same report, the FAO claims that, "World wheat stocks by the close of seasons in 2008 are forecast at 144 million tonnes, down 9 percent from their already reduced opening level." These reduced supply numbers, combined with increased diversion from food to fuel (100 million tonnes of cereals, or about 5% of total production, will be used for biofuels according to the FAO), are significant. I believe 5% is meaningful, especially if, as the FAO claims, world supply is already down. These figures indicate that supply and demand is a major factor in world food prices and that (as you suggested) market speculation is exaggerating this big problem into a crisis (1).
I also somewhat suspect that you are arguing more based on the situation in Canada, which I assume is somewhat less dire than the international situation. In fact the FAO projects an 5% increase in wheat production from 2007 to 2008 in Canada (2). But while production is projected to increase, cereals stocks are projected to be at barely half the level they were in 2006: 8.5 million tonnes in 2008 versus 16.2 million tonnes in 2006 (3).
I guess my only argument would be that this is a world food crisis, not simply a Canadian one. If the Canadian government is interested in taking up this cause (as it must), it needs to think globally, not just nationally. That means it needs to consider global factors. Especially since Canadians (for the most part) can afford to pay a bit more for food - the roughly 1.1 billion people living in extreme poverty, who are most affected by this price increase, simply cannot.
(I hope this friend doesn't mind!)
19 June 2007
The Over/Under Game
The idea for this post came from a discussion topic in a Facebook group I was once a member of. The game goes like this: pick a topic (in the Facebook group, it was albums of the 1990s) and pick one that was overrated, and one that was underrated. Here's an expanded version of the Facebook game.
Albums of the 90s:
Over: The Colour and the Shape, Foo Fighters - This album is being re-released this year, but in spite of an impressive list of singles (Monkey Wrench, My Hero, Everlong, Walking After You), the album as a whole never really did it for me.
Under: Sparkle and Fade, Everclear - When I bought this album, I really only liked one song on it (Santa Monica, of course), but I put it in the CD player awhile back to give it a second chance, and I really started to dig it. I think it's probably because I've matured to a point where I can sort of relate more to what Art Alexakis was singing about. Songs like Heroin Girl, Summerland, Strawberry (along with Santa Monica) now rate very high on my list of all-time favourites. Art's desire for freedom seems to strike a chord with me now.
TV Shows:
Over: Everybody Loves Raymond - An old college roommate got me into this show for a few months, but otherwise, I've never really even liked it. I just don't get it.
Under: Scrubs - This show is absolutely histerical. But just as important is how it seems a little more real than most sit-coms or hospital dramas. It also seems able to make me want to cry one second and laugh my way to the floor the next.
Movies:
Over: Fahrenheit 9/11 - This "documentary" was massively popular and pushed a lot of people to the political left, but it was not even close to being a balanced, fair appraisal of the topic. From using shots of smiling Iraqis (instead of the millions who were slaughtered by Saddam) to imply that Iraqis were happy under Saddam Hussein to slightly twisting the facts about bin Laden's relatives being allowed to flee the US after 9/11, this film has more built-in bias than a Fox News show.
Under: Into the Blue - Maybe it's just that I was too distracted by Jessica Alba's bikinied body to realize there was a lack of plot and acting prowess, but I really enjoyed the movie. I think more likely I like the idea of searching for sunken pirate treasure in paradise (the Bahamas) and I've always been a fan of Scott Caan (Varsity Blues, Ocean's 11, Ocean's 12, and Ocean's 13). Either way, IMDb users give it a 5.5, and I'd say that's way too low.
Rock Bands:
Over: the Doors - I like Jim et al, but they aren't worthy of the massive amounts of hype. Their music was good, but not great. They didn't last very long because Jim was an arrogant burn-out and because none of his bandmates were all that good. I love some of their stuff and hate others. I'll give them props because they're definately a must-listen for any music fan, but most of their stuff just hasn't hit me right.
Under: Cream - These guys are getting their dues (they've been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and they released a great reunion concert album/DVD), but they're still not very well known. Between Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker, they may be one of the most prolific bands, in terms of musical talent, ever. Their style influenced everyone from the Beatles to Led Zeppelin to Aerosmith to Pink Floyd to Metallica. Maybe the biggest reason they are so underrated is their brief existance (3 years, 4 albums). Whatever the reason, it's tragic.
That's all for now, thanks for reading my crap!
Albums of the 90s:
Over: The Colour and the Shape, Foo Fighters - This album is being re-released this year, but in spite of an impressive list of singles (Monkey Wrench, My Hero, Everlong, Walking After You), the album as a whole never really did it for me.
Under: Sparkle and Fade, Everclear - When I bought this album, I really only liked one song on it (Santa Monica, of course), but I put it in the CD player awhile back to give it a second chance, and I really started to dig it. I think it's probably because I've matured to a point where I can sort of relate more to what Art Alexakis was singing about. Songs like Heroin Girl, Summerland, Strawberry (along with Santa Monica) now rate very high on my list of all-time favourites. Art's desire for freedom seems to strike a chord with me now.
TV Shows:
Over: Everybody Loves Raymond - An old college roommate got me into this show for a few months, but otherwise, I've never really even liked it. I just don't get it.
Under: Scrubs - This show is absolutely histerical. But just as important is how it seems a little more real than most sit-coms or hospital dramas. It also seems able to make me want to cry one second and laugh my way to the floor the next.
Movies:
Over: Fahrenheit 9/11 - This "documentary" was massively popular and pushed a lot of people to the political left, but it was not even close to being a balanced, fair appraisal of the topic. From using shots of smiling Iraqis (instead of the millions who were slaughtered by Saddam) to imply that Iraqis were happy under Saddam Hussein to slightly twisting the facts about bin Laden's relatives being allowed to flee the US after 9/11, this film has more built-in bias than a Fox News show.
Under: Into the Blue - Maybe it's just that I was too distracted by Jessica Alba's bikinied body to realize there was a lack of plot and acting prowess, but I really enjoyed the movie. I think more likely I like the idea of searching for sunken pirate treasure in paradise (the Bahamas) and I've always been a fan of Scott Caan (Varsity Blues, Ocean's 11, Ocean's 12, and Ocean's 13). Either way, IMDb users give it a 5.5, and I'd say that's way too low.
Rock Bands:
Over: the Doors - I like Jim et al, but they aren't worthy of the massive amounts of hype. Their music was good, but not great. They didn't last very long because Jim was an arrogant burn-out and because none of his bandmates were all that good. I love some of their stuff and hate others. I'll give them props because they're definately a must-listen for any music fan, but most of their stuff just hasn't hit me right.
Under: Cream - These guys are getting their dues (they've been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and they released a great reunion concert album/DVD), but they're still not very well known. Between Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker, they may be one of the most prolific bands, in terms of musical talent, ever. Their style influenced everyone from the Beatles to Led Zeppelin to Aerosmith to Pink Floyd to Metallica. Maybe the biggest reason they are so underrated is their brief existance (3 years, 4 albums). Whatever the reason, it's tragic.
That's all for now, thanks for reading my crap!
08 June 2007
A Message to Stephen Harper
Mr Prime Minister,
When one of the greatest musical geniuses of this or any lifetime requests a meeting with you, you say yes. I know, I know, it's probably not politically expediant to talk to someone who is going to make you look like a fool: (a) by telling you how you are not keeping your promise to help relieve the burden of poverty and debt in Africa, and (b) because you'll giggle a little when you hear his name (mispronounced) with a long "o". But seriously, it's Bono...of U2...of Live 8...Time's Person of the Year (2005)...Nobel Peace Prize Nominee (2003, 2005, 2006)... DATA...the ONE Campaign...The Joshua Tree...he is larger than life.
But even if you aren't a fan of U2's music, Bono's dedication to a noble cause must surely have earned him your ear. Unfortunately, you, Mr Harper, don't care. Like the environment, you really don't give a shit about the millions of people who die every year simply because they don't have clean water to drink. Your mansion in Calgary and your new (temporary) home at 24 Sussex Dr have left you isolated from the realities of life that so many people endure simply because of where they were born.
And as if the chance to meet Bono wasn't enough, you also passed on the opportunity to meet another great musician turned humanitarian, Mr Bob Geldof (of the Boomtown Rats, remember I Don't Like Mondays?). If you had met him, you'd know that you've turned Canada into "an obstructionist in G8 efforts toward a substantive commitment for Africa." (Where have I heard the term "obstructionist" before...?) You're using numbers to claim we're doing our part when in reality we're barely doing one-third of what we promised we would do. What makes that even worse is that we promised to do too little in the first place!
According to anti-poverty groups, "Canada [is] blocking efforts to hold the G8 countries to their promises of helping Africa with aid." I am very nearly ashamed of being Canadian right now. I am absolutely ashamed of our Prime Minister. Why? Apparently, Canada (via Harper's government) is "blocking the G8 from using clearer language to make a firm commitment and accept accountability for fulfilling aid pledges." Harper denies this, but it fits perfectly into the Tory M.O. of twisting numbers and words while obstructing processes that don't fit Harper's narrow world view (oh right, remember the obstruction manuals?).
Stephen Harper, you are not fit for the job you currently hold. You are tarnishing Canada's reputation abroad. You are actively working to ensure the wealthiest states in the world cannot help the poorest. Stephen Harper, you are a disgrace.
Yours Truly,
Me.
UPDATE: I corrected the gramatical error in the title. It only took about a week for me to catch it. I am not always that smart.
When one of the greatest musical geniuses of this or any lifetime requests a meeting with you, you say yes. I know, I know, it's probably not politically expediant to talk to someone who is going to make you look like a fool: (a) by telling you how you are not keeping your promise to help relieve the burden of poverty and debt in Africa, and (b) because you'll giggle a little when you hear his name (mispronounced) with a long "o". But seriously, it's Bono...of U2...of Live 8...Time's Person of the Year (2005)...Nobel Peace Prize Nominee (2003, 2005, 2006)... DATA...the ONE Campaign...The Joshua Tree...he is larger than life.
But even if you aren't a fan of U2's music, Bono's dedication to a noble cause must surely have earned him your ear. Unfortunately, you, Mr Harper, don't care. Like the environment, you really don't give a shit about the millions of people who die every year simply because they don't have clean water to drink. Your mansion in Calgary and your new (temporary) home at 24 Sussex Dr have left you isolated from the realities of life that so many people endure simply because of where they were born.
And as if the chance to meet Bono wasn't enough, you also passed on the opportunity to meet another great musician turned humanitarian, Mr Bob Geldof (of the Boomtown Rats, remember I Don't Like Mondays?). If you had met him, you'd know that you've turned Canada into "an obstructionist in G8 efforts toward a substantive commitment for Africa." (Where have I heard the term "obstructionist" before...?) You're using numbers to claim we're doing our part when in reality we're barely doing one-third of what we promised we would do. What makes that even worse is that we promised to do too little in the first place!
According to anti-poverty groups, "Canada [is] blocking efforts to hold the G8 countries to their promises of helping Africa with aid." I am very nearly ashamed of being Canadian right now. I am absolutely ashamed of our Prime Minister. Why? Apparently, Canada (via Harper's government) is "blocking the G8 from using clearer language to make a firm commitment and accept accountability for fulfilling aid pledges." Harper denies this, but it fits perfectly into the Tory M.O. of twisting numbers and words while obstructing processes that don't fit Harper's narrow world view (oh right, remember the obstruction manuals?).
Stephen Harper, you are not fit for the job you currently hold. You are tarnishing Canada's reputation abroad. You are actively working to ensure the wealthiest states in the world cannot help the poorest. Stephen Harper, you are a disgrace.
Yours Truly,
Me.
UPDATE: I corrected the gramatical error in the title. It only took about a week for me to catch it. I am not always that smart.
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