UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced last week that
he would lead a task force to deal with the global food crisis. Achim Steiner,
head of the United Nations Environment Program said, “We have enough food on the
planet to feed everyone”.
If there is enough food, why a crisis? The reasons are complex. They include
government policies supporting biofuel production, unpredictable weather,
increasing world population, a growing affluent middle class, overfishing,
depletion of topsoil and petroleum supply.
Shortages trigger price increases which first stun the poor, those earning as
little as $1or $2 a day and spending 80% on food, while their children starve or
die of diseases for lack of strength and immunity.
Behind these causes are the opaque ones of politics, globalization, greed and
ignorance. The speculation in tulip bulbs in 1636 and the housing market more
recently is reflected now in the food futures market (stock market) propelling
the price of food each hour. Multinational agribusinesses, fertilizer companies,
processing plants (and speculators) are making billions in profit at the expense
of others.
This snapshot lacks justice, humanity and joy. In this self-indulgent age there
is often little compassion for others or for the earth that sustains us. Dare we
admit that we are changing the physical and cultural environment that supports
Life? Is the earth an object of human dominance? Are humans apart from nature or
an integral part of it?
We humans are guests who need to tread softly and live in harmony with others.
We are not perfect but perfectible. What we do affects others and what happens
to others affects us all. While the crisis today relates to food, it is part of
the larger issue relating to justice, generosity and harmony. By incorporating a
vertical ideal and higher values in our lives, particularly in this darkening
age, we can leave a better world for our children's children.
