Posted on 09/03/2010 8:17:30 PM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
MAPUTO, Mozambique, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- A 30 percent rise in bread prices triggered riots in Maputo, Mozambique, that killed at least seven people and injured 228, government officials said.
The riots Wednesday and Thursday in the country's capital prompted fears that food protests could spread across poorer African countries relying on agricultural imports, similar to the riots of 2007-08, the Financial Times reported Thursday.
Wheat prices rose in reaction to Russia's extension of its grain export ban for another year, increasing the potential of more riots over food shortages, officials said.
"Bread is the key item in the basket for ordinary people," Adriano Nuvunga, a political analyst in Maputo, told the Financial Times. "People are worried that the rising costs have reached the point of no return."
The 2007-08 food crisis, when the cost of agricultural commodities hit a record high, sparked riots across many developing countries, particularly in Africa.
In Pakistan, prices for many food items have risen by 15 percent or more after devastating floods that destroyed a fifth of the country's crops and agricultural infrastructure. Flooding has also hit distribution networks, leading to shortages.
In China, officials are threatening to punish price gougers, while in Serbia, a 30 percent hike in the price of cooking oil reported for next week has led to trade union protest warnings.
Food price rise spurs unrest for poorest
My daughter just recently came back from Malawi and she said they were running out of food. So this story backs that up.
Perhaps Sam Kinison’s advice would apply here....”MOVE TO WHERE THE FOOD IS!”
RIP.
I was talking with my sister the other day. She lives in Oregon, in the region where the majority of the worlds supply of grass seed is grown.
She said that for the first time, farmers in the area can make more money growing wheat than grass seed. Many former grass farmers planted winter wheat last year instead of grass, and more plan to follow suit this coming winter. Oh, they grew a mix of wheat and hay in the summer.
But I'm reviving this old thread because Obama's just now decided to fix Mozambique with a reading program: http://www.tradeaidmonitor.com/2012/01/having-recognized-that-successful-early-reading-education-programs-contribute-to-future-student-success-both-in-and-out-of.html
I hope they don't have to eat their books.
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