Posted by
J. A. Colon on Monday, April 14, 2008 11:24:15 PM
On a surprising report, the United Nations “Rapporteur” for the right to Food, Jean Ziegler stated that “the production of biofuels is a crime against humanity”; and the argument used to substantiate such statement is the one that conservatives with brains in the United States have tried to use time and time again: IT RAISES THE PRICES OF CROPS, THUS INCREASING THE PRICE OF FOOD, THUS CREATING FAMINE. To conservatives in the United States, this is just common sense.
The European Union however, is proving to be stubborn and unable to consider common sense arguments. They stated as a defense against this report, that reducing or eliminating the use of crops for bio fuels would delay the achievement of their goals of producing Ethanol.
Ziegler made another point well known by the conservative community. The importation of subsidized crops to Africa, where they are offered at half or one third of production price ruining Africa’s production. Why will they buy crops at production price when they can get them at fifty percent discount? These welfare mentality, even though is motivated by kindness, is actually ruining many African Nations economy, and preventing them from standing in their own two feet.
The rising cost of foods as a result of the diversion of crops to produce Ethanol, is not only affecting the United States, but is also causing riots all over the world.
Amazingly enough, according to the article, the World Bank also pointed the obvious: "biofuel production has pushed up feedstock prices". In addition, the Head of Nestle, Mr. Peter Brabeck-Letmathe stated that: "to grant enormous subsidies for biofuel production is morally unacceptable and irresponsible".
And French Agriculture Minister Michel Barnier stated that food production should be a priority. The problem is that the process for producing second-generation biofuels, those made from leaves, straw, and algae, is far from being perfected. The problem is that first generation biofuels, those made from maize, wheat, sugar cane, colza, and sugar beets, are done at the expense of feeding the population of the planet.
Environmentalists however, advocate the subsidizing and use of food crops for fuel at the expense of the hungry, and we all can see the results when we go to the supermarket or when we hear about the violence created by those desperate to feed their families.