Last Days – Roelof's News Reports #1

[Roelof]

Nairobi - To counter the global food crisis, Africa could triple or quadruple domestic production over two seasons through simple changes to agricultural practices, a United Nations food expert said on Monday.
In response to rising food prices, the continent must drop its reliance on food imports and learn to feed itself, said Mafa Chipeta, sub-regional co-ordinator for the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) in east Africa.
"Within two seasons we can change (dependence on imports)," he told Reuters on the sidelines of the launch of a regional FAO conference in Nairobi, Kenya. "We can boost production by three or four times by making simple changes."

http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/...341586,00.html

[Roelof]

Johannesburg - Top retailers from around the world will from Wednesday meet at the 52nd World Food Business Summit to discuss rising food prices and food security, it was announced on Tuesday.

The summit, with the theme Growth and Sustainability - Building Profit with Responsibility - is hosted by CIES, the Food Business Forum in Munich, Germany until June 20.
Delegates will be discussing issues including food security; food safety; rocketing commodity prices, fuel prices and other input costs; threats to energy supplies; and environmentally sustainable development. Other topics on the agenda are the impact of biofuels on food production; changing eating patterns; global warming and its effect on food production; and changing consumer habits and demands.

http://www.fin24.com/articles/defaul...8-1786_2341965

[Roelof]

A truce between Israel and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip is set to come into effect on Thursday, according to Egyptian officials who have mediated between the two sides for months.

Neither Hamas nor Israeli officials would publicly confirm the accord, although both said that they would respect a cessation of violence from the other side.

“Israel took a decision last week to support the Egyptian track. Actions are needed more than words. If there is an end to the terrorist attacks from Gaza onto Israel, if there is an end to the Hamas arms build-up in the Gaza Strip, and if there is movement on the hostage Gilad Schalit - that will indeed be a new reality,” said Mark Regev, the Israeli government spokesman.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle4158143.ece

[HisLeast]

I heard a story on the news on how hard things are getting in Afghanistan. I'm not sure precisely who was speaking but they were lambasting the US for not sending more food aid. Made me want to pull out my hair... why does nobody lambaste the Afghans for allowing Opium farmers to take over all the arable land?! (Opium production went up 162% in the past few years).

[quiet dove]

I know there is discussion of many countries here, I was wondering if any has heard anything or has any thoughts on how the flooding in Iowa and other areas might effect food in the US. I don't know how much farmland and all has been flooded and what the repercussions of this flooding may be, which is of course why I am asking all my brainier brethren/ sisters here.

[brakelite]

QD, I was just reading about those floods last night. Seems there will be a huge impact on corn and soy bean production, much of which is exported thus affecting more than just the local economy.

[White Spider]

Yeah, just want to say brakelite is right about the effects of the flooding, that's what I heard also.

I also heard some farms with livestock were hit, don't know how much of an effect that'll have.

And as the flood levels flow southward it may hit more farming areas. Forget the name of it but a rural area near a lake right next to the Mississipi was being flooded last I checked, don't know if they were able to fix that or not, anyone know what I'm talking about?

[wombat]

Hello, everyone! Here is some news I learned about this morning. There is a great protest going on in the Negev region, in which the people of the area are speaking of breaking off from Israel and creating their own state because the government is not doing enough to prevent attacks from the Palestinians. Here's the link.
http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3557170,00.html

[Roelof]

wombat

Thanks, very interesting news.

[Roelof]

The US military has accused Iranian-backed Shia groups of setting off a huge car bomb that killed more than 60 people in a mainly Shia area of Baghdad, hinting at yet another new twist in the complex web of violence gripping the Iraqi capital.

"We believe the attack was not conducted by AQI [Al-Qaeda in Iraq]," Lieutenant-Colonel Steven Stover, a US army spokesman, said. "Though vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices are a trademark of AQI, our intelligence, corroborated through multiple sources, is this atrocity was committed by a Special Groups cell led by Haydar Mehdi Khadum al-Fawadi."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle4163675.ece

[wombat]

Hello, everyone! I just read this morning that Britain has ratified the Lisbon Treaty. Thought I'd pass that along, as it proves other nations are proceeding with ratification even though Ireland voted against it.

[Roelof]

Hello, everyone! I just read this morning that Britain has ratified the Lisbon Treaty. Thought I'd pass that along, as it proves other nations are proceeding with ratification even though Ireland voted against it.

wombat

The End Times for the EU is still on track (I assume so)

[Roelof]

WASHINGTON -- A large Israeli military exercise this month may have been aimed at showing Jerusalem's abilities to attack Iranian nuclear facilities.

In a substantial show of force, Israel sent warplanes and other aircraft on a major exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean early this month, Pentagon officials said Friday.

Israel's military refused to confirm or deny that the maneuvers were practice for a strike in Iran.

Russia's foreign minister Friday warned against the use of force on Iran, saying there is no proof it is trying to build nuclear weapons with a program that Tehran says is for generating power.

http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/Isr...mo_code=64B3-1

[Roelof]

40% of the world population of 6.5 billion live on less than US$2 per day

More than 25 000 children world-wide die daily becuase of not enough food or medicine

More than 200 million Christians world-wide are very poor.

(p99 of Finesse magazine, July 2008)

[sunsetssplendor]

I received an email from my cousin who recently returned
from Belize where a tropical storm destroyed some crops.
Eggs are 12.00 dozen. Rice was 24.00 for a bag. Not sure
how many pounds. The people of Belize are very poor. This
is happening all around us. I fear for us. People are starving
to death and the government doesn't care. What can be done?