We're in the midst of a global food crisis - the second in
three years. World food prices hit a record in January, driven
by huge increases in the prices of wheat, corn, sugar and oils.
These soaring prices have had only a modest effect on U.S.
inflation, which is still low by historical standards, but
they're having a brutal impact on the world's poor, who spend
much if not most of their income on basic foodstuffs.
The consequences of this food crisis go far beyond economics.
After all, the big question about uprisings against corrupt and
oppressive regimes in the Middle East isn't so much why they're
happening as why they're happening now. And there's little
question that sky-high food prices have been an important
trigger for popular rage.
So what's behind the price spike? American right-wingers (and
the Chinese) blame easy-money policies at the Federal Reserve,
with at least one commentator declaring that there is "blood on
Bernanke's hands." Meanwhile, President Nicolas Sarkozy of
France blames speculators, accusing them of "extortion and
pillaging."
But the evidence tells a different, much more ominous story.
While several factors have contributed to soaring food prices,
what really stands out is the extent to which severe weather
events have disrupted agricultural production. And these severe
weather events are exactly the kind of thing we'd expect to see
as rising concentrations of greenhouse gases change our climate
- which means that the current food price surge may be just the
beginning.
For related articles and
more information, please visit OCA's
Politics and Democracy page, and our
Environment and Climate Resource page.