[mattduke]

The global food crisis intensified on Tuesday as Kazakhstan, one of the world’s biggest wheat exporters halted foreign sales and rice prices shot to a record high after Indonesia stopped its farmers from selling the grain abroad.

ft

[Revi]

This is really scary. When does the world have another big grain harvest? Do we have to wait until October? That's 6 months away. There could be real problems by then if there are food riots now, in April.

[steam_cannon]

Yeah, a lot of threads on grain shortages. This is the direction it looked
like trends were headed. Kind of interesting seeing things start playing out.
The trains starting to come off the tracks, but there's a lot more to go.

[jlw61]

What is the impact of these two countries banning exports? How much and when do they harvest? Is this even an issue?

[Tyler_JC]

By itself, Kazakhstan can't cause a panic in the grain markets.

But when you add that country to the list of other countries that are blocking off the grain trade...it gets scary.

The problem is that liquidity is being sucked out of the system. There is less grain on the market and every little piece of bad news sends prices skyrocketing.

$4 bread is survivable for Americans but it could be a death sentence in the poor countries.

Imagine if oil exporters started saying, "Nope, no exports this year.".

If Mexico or Norway were to do this, we'd see $200 a barrel oil TOMORROW.

That's the situation with food right now. The Philippines says no more exports this year and rice shoots up 38% in one day.

God help us if harvests are poor this year in the countries still willing to provide exports.

[roccman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tyler_JC', '
')
If Mexico or Norway were to do this, we'd see $200 a barrel oil TOMORROW.

[Armageddon]

I bet America throws away enough food everyday to feed the entire world. The fatasses need to cut back. I am so sick at looking at fat fucking people you have no idea. Don't people have any self respect ? What about their poor spouses ? Do fat wives enjoy their big, fat , hairy ass husband laying on her with his little boner ? I don't know how he gets his little dick in her with their fat ass stomachs in the way.

[Tyler_JC]

I don't see it having a greater than 50% probability. Hence my willingness to make a bet with an even payout.

[gollum]

armageddon your post is in bad taste. As for the subject I believe we are entering into the era of resource nationalisim. Probably in the big picture of things the USA is set up pretty well in this new world. Of course our standard of living will fall but we shold be able to feed and house everyone.

[roccman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('gollum', 'a')rmageddon your post is in bad taste. As for the subject I believe we are entering into the era of resource nationalisim. Probably in the big picture of things the USA is set up pretty well in this new world. Of course our standard of living will fall but we shold be able to feed and house everyone.

[bodigami]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('roccman', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('gollum', 'a')rmageddon your post is in bad taste. As for the subject I believe we are entering into the era of resource nationalisim. Probably in the big picture of things the USA is set up pretty well in this new world. Of course our standard of living will fall but we shold be able to feed and house everyone.

[Pops]

Some charts.

An anecdote.

So has anyone seen 50# sacks of flour lately?

[Atlantean_Relic]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('zensui', '
')
I think Armageddon's post is spot on.

We monkeys tend to embrace world views that fit most nicely with our own illusional thinking.

ITO "feeding and housing everyone"...

two references that are must reads:

Catton's "overshoot"

Hanson's www.dieoff.com
...and it's true that the more fat there is the less sexual intercourse "shared area" there is... I have read, but it makes sense. Sexual selection anyone?

[Pops]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Revi', 'T')his is really scary. When does the world have another big grain harvest? Do we have to wait until October? That's 6 months away. There could be real problems by then if there are food riots now, in April.

[Starvid]

The grain exporters would be better of it they kept exporting and used the massive revenues to hand out cash to their poor. That would be far more economically efficient and everyone would be better off.

The reason they don't do that is because it requires a functioning government which is not rife with corruption.

[Tyler_JC]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Starvid', 'T')he grain exporters would be better of it they kept exporting and used the massive revenues to hand out cash to their poor. That would be far more economically efficient and everyone would be better off.

The reason they don't do that is because it requires a functioning government which is not rife with corruption.

[Armageddon]

http://www.rense.com/1.imagesH/starve_dees.jpg