Starrfall on 24/4/2008 at 00:12
Also I wouldn't want to rely on China for food production for maybe the next 60 years or so because I think there's a reasonable chance they're going to fight some motherfuckers and it might be us.
Obviously not every country is in that position but it goes back to people not knowing what they're really buying.
Jennie&Tim on 24/4/2008 at 04:02
I'm not at all sure I'd want my food coming from China, given what we've found in some of their other products. I've gotten much warier of food grown outside the US in general since those episodes. Since I use primary ingredients for the most part, I have the luxury of knowing where my food came from for the most part. I like that.
I haven't noticed a particular shortage of food here. Even if grains do get more expensive, most Americans can still afford food.
The real food shortages are being felt in much poorer countries than ours.
Oh, and I like NZ lamb. Yum.
I'd point out also, that if China is selling us stuff, war is less likely.
Thief13x on 24/4/2008 at 12:14
(
http://www.cnn.com)
front page news links include "Sam's Club limits bulk rice sales"...better stock up walmart
Rogue Keeper on 24/4/2008 at 12:58
Quote Posted by Jennie&Tim
I haven't noticed a particular shortage of food here. Even if grains do get more expensive, most Americans can still afford food. The real food shortages are being felt in much poorer countries than ours.
From what I understand from the predictions of possible food crisis development, developed countries won't really suffer from empty groceries, but prices of some commodities and their derived products may rise a lot. What means that not everyone will be able to afford them in sufficient amount, or we'll have to seriously reconsider our nutrition habits. But that's not a bad thing. Afterall, many of us are eating more and we have energetically richer menu than is our optimal biological need for a day. It really won't hurt anyone to eat less meat, it puts less strain on production of cereals for livestock.
So if anyone's asking "What can I personally do to lessen the impact of food crisis", the answer is at hand. Limit you consumption of beef and pork. Or ideally convert to vegetarianism.
Of course the thirdwolders will be the first ones to go. But as every developed country has some thirdwolders hanging out under bridges and such, consequences will be more or less everywhere. It depends on what unnecessary idiocies our governments prefer to spend their budgets.
SubJeff on 24/4/2008 at 17:00
Quote Posted by Jennie&Tim
I'd point out also, that if China is selling us stuff, war is less likely.
You're thinking rationally here, which the Chinese are not prone to do. The wouldn't care if it a war caused massive economic upset. Look at the spat over Taiwan and the threats and plans to invade - even though Taiwan provides China with massive economic investment.
Swiss Mercenary on 25/4/2008 at 00:23
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
You're thinking rationally here, which the Chinese are not prone to do. The wouldn't care if it a war caused massive economic upset. Look at the spat over Taiwan and the threats and plans to invade - even though Taiwan provides China with massive economic investment.
They key word being threats.
It's not going to happen.
Ghostly Apparition on 25/4/2008 at 00:55
I'm waiting for the radio commercial advising people to invest in rice, much as they advise buying gold. You heard it here first folks. If you want to protect your wealth, Buy RICE!
SubJeff on 25/4/2008 at 07:30
Quote Posted by Swiss Mercenary
They key word being threats.
It's not going to happen.
Well they've taken it seriously enough that even with an army (and national service) and backup from the US army the KMT are back in power = reunification more likely. And they don't really want that.
Rogue Keeper on 25/4/2008 at 14:33
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
You're thinking rationally here, which the Chinese are not prone to do.
Oohh, they are very cunning! How else they would acheve their position? Of course they don't wish war with their biggest obligee - at least for now. They have much more civilized ways how to hurt him on stock and exchange markets if they'd wish to.
frozenman on 25/4/2008 at 14:39
I guess I was just like a lot of Americans when several years back I learned that corn could be converted and used for gasoline. WELL THAT'S SWELL LET'S START BURNING OUR FOOD- I had just eaten two big steaks for dinner, just the steaks.
Was corn selected as the most 'viable' biofuel source in America because there already existed a massive corn producing infrastructure?
And it gets worse: (
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/politics/threelinewhip/april08/afghanistanswapsheroinforwheat.htm) - now when the food shortage gets REALLY bad we won't have ample amounts of opium and heroin to convince us that we don't need food :(
