Caution urged on food miles issue - Reuters

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Caution urged on food miles issue
Wed Nov 7, 2007 12:05pm EST

By Jeremy Lovell

LONDON (Reuters) - Ending imports of fresh food
from Africa under the pretext of combating climate
change risks destroying entire communities that
have become dependent on the trade, Ghana's High
Commissioner to Britain said on Wednesday.

So-called food miles -- the distance food travels
from producer to consumer -- have become a highly
divisive issue as environmentalists try to persuade
people to reduce the amount of climate warming
carbon gases their lifestyle emits.

"We do understand, of course, that our friends here
are anxious to make a difference. However, the
figures simply do not add up," said Annan Cato,
noting that less than 0.1 percent of Britain's carbon
emissions relate to airfreighted food.

"At what cost to global justice do we shut the door
on the economic prospects of small farmers in Africa
by refusing to buy their produce," he told a meeting
of artists, musicians and scientists to discuss global
warming's impact on Africa.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL0784940520071107

[Hydra]

1. I have an idea!

Why not let the people in Africa GROW THEIR OWN? Stop buying up all their land for cash crops and making them buy GM seeds that can only be used once!

[RC]

2. WHAT!!? And cut into Monsanto's bottom line?

You crazy man? The CEO and his Board are supporting several houses each. Think about them for once, will ya. :sarcasm:

[Hydra]

3. Hehe

I WAS thinking about them...bankrupt, ratty clothes, begging on street corners. Their natural environment.

:evilgrin: