The link between food and climate...

Dr. Webber is right (not that he is ever wrong) when he claims it is a bad idea to use food sources as energy i.e. ethanol from corn. The above linked article was in the news this Valentine's Day - Cereal prices hit poor countries. Whether we like to admit it or not, as we sit in our cars on the way to work listening to our nation's policy makers juggle the idea of turning America's Midwest into the new energy powerhouse, there are people starving around the World. If America, as a wealthy country, thinks its alright to hike up food prices (in the name of BAD alternative energy) because it won't hurt us too much - we need to think again. A couple of cents increase doesn't hit rich Americans as hard as it does starving Africans.

In another article today - 15,000 children are starving in Somalia, waiting for emergency aid. EMERGENCY! If we can afford a couple of cents increase every time we buy food - we should send that money to help children who are starving to death. I am not saying energy problems should not be solved as soon as possible, but we need to keep our priorities in line. If you think back to Maslow's hierarchy of needs - food comes before transportation. If riding my bike to work helps feed a hungry child in Africa - I have learned two things: the intricate web of our energy policy effects way more than I thought and it is time to change our actions. Something along the lines of walking the walk instead of talking the talk...

The most interesting thing about the cereal article is the link between this price increase and the climate. Wheat prices have risen 83%!!! in the past year, partially due to droughts and flooding. So, while we continue to use fossil fuels (in excess) and increase carbon emissions, the climate change continues to have horrendous effects on our food supplies. THEN, we want to aggravate the situation even further by turning our food sources into more energy sources?!? At what cost are we willing to continue our overconsumption of energy? It's time to start untangling this intricate web and realize the answer is a lot simpler than we are making it out to be. Reduce our energy consumption. Period.