Biofuels Fuel Food Crisis

The Wall Street Journal has reported that the World Bank estimates an 83% rise in food prices over the past three years, driven by surging commodities. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have pointed to the U.S. support of corn-based ethanol as one of the culprits of this situation, which has caused riots in Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast and Senegal, as well as the deployment of army troops in Pakistan and Thailand to deter food theft.

World Bank President Robert Zoellick has warned that over 30 countries -- including Indonesia, Yemen, Ghana, Uzbekistan and the Philippines -- are at risk of social upheaval due to the food crisis.

Read the Wall Street Journal story:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120813134819111573.html

Read the Economist article about why corn-based ethanol is bad (and why Castro was right):
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8960412

Sign a petition urging GM and Ford to stop support of corn-based ethanol:
http://www.coopamerica.org/takeaction/fordandgm/index.cfm

photo courtesy aheavens, Creative Commons