After WWII farming became more industrial with higher efficiencies, increased use of chemicals, and increased use of machines. What should have lead to an abundance of food for everyone has resulted instead to poverty, starvation and suicide. The increased costs of farming bankrupted small farmers and they lost everything to banks and big agricultural businesses. These farmers migrated to the cities where they found poverty and no hope.
Some country's agricultural industries are being destroyed by globalization and dumping of products by larger industrialized countries. Third world countries borrow money which comes with strings attached which are meant to force the country into the 21st Century of trade and globalization. The farmers are forced to compete on a global scale and many are unable to, so their production decreases or stops altogether. Theoretically globalization is a sound economic objective but when larger countries with cheaper production export their products to third world countries at lower prices, it kills the local market which cannot compete. In reality this practice creates dependence and a cycle of poverty in the Third World.
If industrialization and globalization has indeed bankrupted the small farmer and reduced self sufficiency in 3rd world countries, then it is killing people through poverty and starvation. Killing people by any means is a crime, killing large amounts of people is a crime against humanity.
I don't believe that was the intent or is the intent of the powers that be that have changed the way the world looks at food production. I believe the objective was to produce more food then the world needed. Unfortunately, this is not the result as the increased costs of farming, importing and exporting have driven up the prices of food.
It is time for many 3rd world countries to go back to sustainable farming practices on a smaller scale. Instead of the cycle of sending aid to these countries, developed nations should be helping families grow their own food to support themselves. Sending money is a quick easy band aid that makes our governments feel good about themselves. However, the aid ends up lining the pockets of corrupt government officials and people continue to starve. Investment in the country to develop agriculture would be a better solution to aid. Although not an easy one.
What can we do to help feed the world and end global starvation?
Showing posts with label global crime. Show all posts
Showing posts with label global crime. Show all posts
Monday, June 6, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
South Sudan Independence Threatened - What Can we Do?
South Sudan's independence is on the line and worse - human lives. As border disputes and struggles for power start new wars in the area many innocent people are caught in the crossfire.
What can we do 1/2 a world away?
Should we do anything?
What right do the Western countries have to interfere in local boundary issues?
There are so many questions to ask, and many people feel helpless to do anything so they do nothing. Is nothing really going to help those living in refugee camps, those who are running from areas of conflict?
South Sudan has been in conflict off and on for the last 50 years and the world has ignored their cries. I grew up in the 80s when millions of South Sudanese were being slaughtered and thousands of orphans were fleeing into refugee camps yet there was no aid song for them. Teenagers participated in 30 hour famine events for the starving Ethiopians while the country next door didn't make a footnote in the media. Now 20 years later we have a choice, ignore their plight again or do something.
Our Lame Excuses for Inaction:
We negate the issues and turn the news off when it is too much for our sensitivities, we have our own problems of crime and terrorism. We think of ourselves and thank God that we are not over there - wherever the there is. We expect our leaders to do something, but not too much, maybe wave a finger of shame at the aggressors. If it costs us anything then we don't want to get involved, after all we deserve life and liberty - they don't.
We claim that the problem is too big and too foreign for us to do anything about - we are way to busy in our day to day lives and just don't have time to care about others. We are guilty of consumerism and we continue to gobble up the resources of this world without a thought to the consequences for others. I count myself amongst those guilty of this.
These and many other lame excuses or justifications for doing nothing while others die are examples of our own inhumanity. Now is the time for action not lame excuses, what can you do to help change the world?
Our Actions for Change:
We can change the world by writing letters to our Governments asking them to step in and mediate.
We can write letters to our media and ask for more information, more coverage of South Sudan.
We can join with other organizations working toward a better Sudan.
We can be ethical consumers and stop buying items that enhance the bank accounts of warlords.
We can buy fair trade.
We can talk to our neighbours and friends about South Sudan
We can organize a petition, a protest, a sit in, or any form of event to get the word out.
We can join organizations for Sudan on Facebook and post about Sudan on our facebook walls
What else can we do? Leave your ideas in the comments section of this post.
What can we do 1/2 a world away?
Should we do anything?
What right do the Western countries have to interfere in local boundary issues?
There are so many questions to ask, and many people feel helpless to do anything so they do nothing. Is nothing really going to help those living in refugee camps, those who are running from areas of conflict?
South Sudan has been in conflict off and on for the last 50 years and the world has ignored their cries. I grew up in the 80s when millions of South Sudanese were being slaughtered and thousands of orphans were fleeing into refugee camps yet there was no aid song for them. Teenagers participated in 30 hour famine events for the starving Ethiopians while the country next door didn't make a footnote in the media. Now 20 years later we have a choice, ignore their plight again or do something.
Our Lame Excuses for Inaction:
We negate the issues and turn the news off when it is too much for our sensitivities, we have our own problems of crime and terrorism. We think of ourselves and thank God that we are not over there - wherever the there is. We expect our leaders to do something, but not too much, maybe wave a finger of shame at the aggressors. If it costs us anything then we don't want to get involved, after all we deserve life and liberty - they don't.
We claim that the problem is too big and too foreign for us to do anything about - we are way to busy in our day to day lives and just don't have time to care about others. We are guilty of consumerism and we continue to gobble up the resources of this world without a thought to the consequences for others. I count myself amongst those guilty of this.
These and many other lame excuses or justifications for doing nothing while others die are examples of our own inhumanity. Now is the time for action not lame excuses, what can you do to help change the world?
Our Actions for Change:
We can change the world by writing letters to our Governments asking them to step in and mediate.
We can write letters to our media and ask for more information, more coverage of South Sudan.
We can join with other organizations working toward a better Sudan.
We can be ethical consumers and stop buying items that enhance the bank accounts of warlords.
We can buy fair trade.
We can talk to our neighbours and friends about South Sudan
We can organize a petition, a protest, a sit in, or any form of event to get the word out.
We can join organizations for Sudan on Facebook and post about Sudan on our facebook walls
What else can we do? Leave your ideas in the comments section of this post.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Ivory Coast Dictator Gbagbo Arrested - Should UN of Helped?
I believe that the arrest of Gbagbo is a good thing, sending a strong message to the world that the days of dictators who commit crimes against humanity are numbered. Gbagbo was arrested today by pro-Ouattara rebels strengthened by the actions of French forces. The French presence on the street and the bombing of Gbagbo's location helped to disperse pro-Gbagbo forces, clearing the way for Gbagbo's arrest. By not standing by and allowing further atrocities to occur France has sent a message that the democratic process started in 1990 is important to the Western power.
However, should the UN and foreign forces get involved in these conflicts? Both the French and the UN have claimed they were not part of the push to arrest Gbagbo, the bombings and the vehicles flying the French flag in the streets were what, a Coincidence?
Reading the timeline of the democratic process and civil war in the Ivory Coast, one has to wonder if anymore could have been done? It seems to be a mess of one bully after another ignoring the people's democratic voice and seizing power by force.
The UN and France both have been in the area trying to help enforce the 2003 peace treaty with a limited force. It does not look like the UN mandate was strong enough to force the peace treaty, especially considering that it took 5 years to call the democratic election the treaty promised. Then when the results were not in his favor Gbagbo delayed leaving office and another conflict resulted.
In the 1990's the UN did not support their troops on the ground while people were being slaughtered around them, now 20 years later they still want to sit and watch? What is their purpose if not to ensure peace in the World? If the UN chooses to be ineffective should it still be in existence? Considering the resources that countries send to finance the UN, it should be effective at something. It may be time for taxpayers to demand a return for their tax dollar investment.
The people of the Ivory Coast voted for Ouattara, yet Gbagbo stayed in control of the country. The UN had declared Ouattara winner of the election and did nothing to oust Gbagbo. Could the fighting of the last year been avoided if the UN had stepped up and supported Ouattara and his government by ousting Gbagbo?
If the UN is going to the expense and trouble of overseeing a democratic election it should follow through to ensure the results of that election are enforced. The UN will only do what it's member states are willing to do and the political leadership of the member states will only ask for what its people want it to. In other words, if you want to end conflict and crimes against humanity in the world, you have to ask your leaders to.
We can have a voice, isn't that what democracy is all about? We can say enough is enough by writing letters, signing petitions, volunteering or just receiving newsletters from organizations like, oxfam, enough, and amnesty international. Your voice although small, when added to other voices becomes a booming noise from the Western Countries and that my friend, will make all the difference in the world.
So many of us watch the news, think oh that is horrible, turn the channel and forget. What does that say about us? I know we are busy people trying to get ahead in this world however, we can't forget our own humanity along the way.
Have any other ideas about how to help put an end to Crimes Against Humanity?
What now for Gbagbo? Should he face charges at the ICC or be judged by the new Ivory Coast government? Should he be executed or languish in jail? What are your thoughts about what should happen now?
However, should the UN and foreign forces get involved in these conflicts? Both the French and the UN have claimed they were not part of the push to arrest Gbagbo, the bombings and the vehicles flying the French flag in the streets were what, a Coincidence?
Reading the timeline of the democratic process and civil war in the Ivory Coast, one has to wonder if anymore could have been done? It seems to be a mess of one bully after another ignoring the people's democratic voice and seizing power by force.
The UN and France both have been in the area trying to help enforce the 2003 peace treaty with a limited force. It does not look like the UN mandate was strong enough to force the peace treaty, especially considering that it took 5 years to call the democratic election the treaty promised. Then when the results were not in his favor Gbagbo delayed leaving office and another conflict resulted.
In the 1990's the UN did not support their troops on the ground while people were being slaughtered around them, now 20 years later they still want to sit and watch? What is their purpose if not to ensure peace in the World? If the UN chooses to be ineffective should it still be in existence? Considering the resources that countries send to finance the UN, it should be effective at something. It may be time for taxpayers to demand a return for their tax dollar investment.
The people of the Ivory Coast voted for Ouattara, yet Gbagbo stayed in control of the country. The UN had declared Ouattara winner of the election and did nothing to oust Gbagbo. Could the fighting of the last year been avoided if the UN had stepped up and supported Ouattara and his government by ousting Gbagbo?
If the UN is going to the expense and trouble of overseeing a democratic election it should follow through to ensure the results of that election are enforced. The UN will only do what it's member states are willing to do and the political leadership of the member states will only ask for what its people want it to. In other words, if you want to end conflict and crimes against humanity in the world, you have to ask your leaders to.
We can have a voice, isn't that what democracy is all about? We can say enough is enough by writing letters, signing petitions, volunteering or just receiving newsletters from organizations like, oxfam, enough, and amnesty international. Your voice although small, when added to other voices becomes a booming noise from the Western Countries and that my friend, will make all the difference in the world.
So many of us watch the news, think oh that is horrible, turn the channel and forget. What does that say about us? I know we are busy people trying to get ahead in this world however, we can't forget our own humanity along the way.
Have any other ideas about how to help put an end to Crimes Against Humanity?
What now for Gbagbo? Should he face charges at the ICC or be judged by the new Ivory Coast government? Should he be executed or languish in jail? What are your thoughts about what should happen now?
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
When Your Grandchildren Ask You What Will You Say?
When our grand kids ask us how we could let atrocities like genocide and human trafficking of women happen what are we going to say? It didn't effect us so we ignored it. We had our own problems and crime to hide from so we ignored it. We were too busy working and buying stuff so we ignored it. We were optomistic happy people and that was negativity so we ignored it. In today's society with as much information as we have about atrocities and crimes, we can not pretend we didn't know. Regardless of the reason the result is the same, we know and we don't care enough.
Recently I read Shake hands with the Devil by Lt. General Romeo Dallaire and A Problem from Hell: America and Genocide by Samantha Powers. Two very good books with a very disturbing messages, the UN is all bark with no bite, conflicting political agendas delay action and since no one knows what to do they do nothing. Governments knew what was happening, leaders like President Clinton took no action while 800 000 people were slaughtered in 100 days and the Balkans became a flashback to the days of Hitler. Governments only take action when the people of the country want action to be taken, no one wanted to stop the killing of Tutsis or Muslims in distant impoverished countries. So what happens if genocide takes place in the Western countries? Will anyone care to come to the rescue?
Search human trafficking of women in Europe and you'll be surprised by the information that has been uncovered by journalists and NGOs. We know women from Eastern Europe are kidnapped and forced into a life of prostitution but do we care? Women go missing in the US and Canada to be forced into prostitution but do we care? Whether human trafficking of women for the sex trade is happening half way around the world or just down the street we don't care. We even blame the women for choices they made that landed them there in the first place, even though many were teens doing the same stupid things we did. We were just lucky to not be abducted.
What about kids? Surely we care when a child is harmed. Not really, genocide and displaced people around the world include children but we look the other way. Then there is the 11 year old girl who was gang raped in Texas while being video taped, obviously we care about this child. Not really, many are blaming her and saying she wanted it..... Exactly how can an 11 year old child consent to being gang raped?
Crime happens all around us but we marginalize it by making it someone else's problem and by doing so fool ourselves into believing we are safe. Yes women are abducted and forced into a life of sex slavery, but that is over there it wouldn't happen here. As long as we stay within our four walls and protect our children from harm we will all be OK. We are better parents, our girls wouldn't find themselves in bad situations where they end up being forced into the sex trade. There isn't anything we can do about it so why do anything at all. I am sure that the victims of these crimes will understand why we didn't care about them, after all they don't care about us - right. Whatever excuse or story we tell ourselves will keep us safe, right - Just ask Madeline McCann's parents, or Jaycee Lee Dugard.
Since we do nothing and our laws are written to protect the criminal and prosecute the victim things will only get worse. The Internet and global transportation have made crimes international and criminals harder to catch. There needs to be an international police agency separate from any political government set up to enforce major international crimes and protect citizens from crimes against humanity. The UN can't do it and NATO is tied too closely to its member governments political whims. Although there is a need, there is no will to create international laws and even less will to enforce them.
When I asked my grandparents how their generation could allow the Holocaust, they responded that they didn't know what was happening on the other side of the world. Considering the lack of communications and the lack of access to the camps I believe them. However, today is different with the Internet and CNN, we do know what is going on across the globe. What will you say when your grandchild asks what you did to help stop ____________________? I wonder what Bill Clinton, and the other leaders of the UN will say when God asks them what did they do to stop the genocide in Rwanda and Yugoslavia. What will you say when He asks you?
Recently I read Shake hands with the Devil by Lt. General Romeo Dallaire and A Problem from Hell: America and Genocide by Samantha Powers. Two very good books with a very disturbing messages, the UN is all bark with no bite, conflicting political agendas delay action and since no one knows what to do they do nothing. Governments knew what was happening, leaders like President Clinton took no action while 800 000 people were slaughtered in 100 days and the Balkans became a flashback to the days of Hitler. Governments only take action when the people of the country want action to be taken, no one wanted to stop the killing of Tutsis or Muslims in distant impoverished countries. So what happens if genocide takes place in the Western countries? Will anyone care to come to the rescue?
Search human trafficking of women in Europe and you'll be surprised by the information that has been uncovered by journalists and NGOs. We know women from Eastern Europe are kidnapped and forced into a life of prostitution but do we care? Women go missing in the US and Canada to be forced into prostitution but do we care? Whether human trafficking of women for the sex trade is happening half way around the world or just down the street we don't care. We even blame the women for choices they made that landed them there in the first place, even though many were teens doing the same stupid things we did. We were just lucky to not be abducted.
What about kids? Surely we care when a child is harmed. Not really, genocide and displaced people around the world include children but we look the other way. Then there is the 11 year old girl who was gang raped in Texas while being video taped, obviously we care about this child. Not really, many are blaming her and saying she wanted it..... Exactly how can an 11 year old child consent to being gang raped?
Crime happens all around us but we marginalize it by making it someone else's problem and by doing so fool ourselves into believing we are safe. Yes women are abducted and forced into a life of sex slavery, but that is over there it wouldn't happen here. As long as we stay within our four walls and protect our children from harm we will all be OK. We are better parents, our girls wouldn't find themselves in bad situations where they end up being forced into the sex trade. There isn't anything we can do about it so why do anything at all. I am sure that the victims of these crimes will understand why we didn't care about them, after all they don't care about us - right. Whatever excuse or story we tell ourselves will keep us safe, right - Just ask Madeline McCann's parents, or Jaycee Lee Dugard.
Since we do nothing and our laws are written to protect the criminal and prosecute the victim things will only get worse. The Internet and global transportation have made crimes international and criminals harder to catch. There needs to be an international police agency separate from any political government set up to enforce major international crimes and protect citizens from crimes against humanity. The UN can't do it and NATO is tied too closely to its member governments political whims. Although there is a need, there is no will to create international laws and even less will to enforce them.
When I asked my grandparents how their generation could allow the Holocaust, they responded that they didn't know what was happening on the other side of the world. Considering the lack of communications and the lack of access to the camps I believe them. However, today is different with the Internet and CNN, we do know what is going on across the globe. What will you say when your grandchild asks what you did to help stop ____________________? I wonder what Bill Clinton, and the other leaders of the UN will say when God asks them what did they do to stop the genocide in Rwanda and Yugoslavia. What will you say when He asks you?
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