This article is By Rep. Frank Wolf, a Republican from Virginia.

Famine in Ethiopia

I just received news that a child I was sponsoring in Ethiopia through the Christian Children's Fund has died of complications from the measles. Let's keep the people of Ethiopia and Eritria in our thoughts. Famine is so hard for us to imagine.

I know this isn't exactly a debate topic, but I wanted to get this out there.

I gave an assigment in my classes last week to bring in a current events article from sub-saharan Africa and connect to course material and explain the relevance or newsworthiness of the article.

Several of the articles had to do with the 30 + million sub-Saharan africans immediately affected by famine.

One or more of these articles suggested that one of the problems is that relief sends food but not the required material to reclaim lost agricultural land. My lectures also vaguely touch on the problem of sub-Saharan governments spending much money staying in power or getting to power. This money is being diverted from pssible solutions. Additionally, as in Somalia, control of the supply of relief is also power. Should the world risk investing in sub-Saharan africa and risk that the money doesn't go to agriculture at all, or should we continue to send food and wait for a better time (unlikely in light of the AIDs epidemic) to invest in food production.

Also another possible direction for this thread would be some questions and answers about your experiences in helping a child in Africa. You get a halo in my book, but are these organizations administration heavy or are they getting as much money over to Africa as possible?

That is so sad . When do you think people will start eating the food we grow in this country? Why are they scared of it? Are the Europeans so terrified of our crops they would want people to starve?

Darcaine

I said Europeans because they are the ones spreading disinformation about genetically altered foods.

The main concern about GM foods in Europe is the lack of information surrounding them. NOT the legitimacy of that information.

The fact is, most Europeans distrust American foods because of older issues from back before the GM debate. American cattle are injected with growth hormones which are illegal in the EU. American foods contain many additives which are again, illegal in the EU.

In Europe, the trend has been mostly towards healthier naturally grown foods, and when Europeans watch documentary after documentary (the majority of which come form America) about the weight problems facing the average American, the end product of all this is a general distrust in any food which comes from America.

There are European companies exploring and researching gene technology, but these have not tried to push their product onto a reluctant market, as the American based companies have. (Although I admit, they would have little chance to sell anything if they did).

With regards to Africa, I think the general attitude in Europe is, why send GM foods to people who have no right to choose? Its taking advantage of peoples misfortune to promote a product which most of the world views with extreme distrust.

Right..according to you let them starve. BTW the foods show me proof of "heathier". The market is reluctant due to ignorance. Weight problems? What does this have to do with badly needed foods. Ignorance is killing alot of people. It has more to due about $$$ than facts.

Darcaine

Darcaine

Wow. We have EVERYTHING here at America's Debate. Including a thread on GE foods: America's Heavy-Handedness Regarding Foreign Trade, Bio-tech foods and other matters....

Please join us there so we don't derail quarkhead's thread.

I'm very sorry for your loss, quarkhead

Darcaine,

I'll read the other thread before I make any further comment, and then I'll post it there.