Secret Report Says Biofuels Caused Food Crisis

UK newspaper the Guardian has obtained a confidential World Bank report that says the rise of biofuels has caused global food prices to skyrocket. The most detailed study of the crisis made thus far, the report finds that food prices are up by 75%, a figure radically different from the stated claims of the United States government, which has argued that biofuels account for less than a 3% rise in food prices.

The Guardian called the unpublished study "damning," adding that "sources believe the report, completed in April, has not been published to avoid embarrassing President George Bush."

GET INFORMED

• Read the Guardian story
• Read "Castro was right" (Economist)
  
• Read "UK to slow expansion of biofuels" (BBC News)
  

GET INVOLVED

• Sign the Oxfam petition to the G8, UN and EU leaders to mobilize emergency funding to stop the global food crisis
  
• Sign the Co-op America petition urging GM and Ford to stop supporting corn-based ethanol

photo courtesy mrobenalt, Creative Commons