“Causes of War and Conditions for Peace: Food’s Role” by Raj Patel
-food insecurity à human insecurity.
-conflict is unavoidable – but how we manage it is what counts.
-Cold War – greatest war – also about food – brought about ‘Green Movement’ / ‘Green Revolution’ in ‘60’s.
-Today – more food per person than ever before.
-1940’s – Mexico – Wheat – Communism
-if food shortage then more poor without food and then “people are reduced to sexual desires and growling stomachs”
-wheat research in order to avoid Communism
-hunger and angry à leads to Change – in this case wheat was to help the populous and avoid change (possibly resulting in Communism)
-“A Fine Balance” – fictional book about India
-In U.S. – plenty of food but 1 of 5 go hungry -
-widely known but few talk about it
-when we have enough food to feed everyone
-1 of 2 children on food assistance
-Green Revolution – saved 5% of land.
-Was a gap between 1st Green Revolution and Now.
-overweight people and people going hungry.
-World Bank à Time Bandits.
-Give to the poor, then take away and punch in face.
-Poor are being shoved off in the name of progress and utilization.
-In closing – New Thoughts and Ideas – HOPE.
-In Cuba
-land opportunity – invest so they can keep and pass to their children
-agro ecological farming
-factor in that you will lose a bit of your crops to nature so you can counter it and / or survive still
-plant legumes for Nitrogen and flowers for beneficial bugs
-workers live on / near farms
-work in multiple canopies.
-after hurricane Ike – 90days to get it back in order – mono cultures in the same area took 160 plus..
-Start thinking Differently About How We Manage Resources!
-Trade of Commoners – with open eyes we will destroy the last tree of our sustaining forest with no one to help us.
-We still have ability, wired into us, to show compassion and wellness for each other.
-Common people good for arranging and distributing resources for their area – over governments and banks coming back into the area and managing it.
-LOCAL and SUSTAINABLE
-Increase trees / Dry land irrigation / Polycultures
-More Harvest is done by Women … forego breast feeding
-in talking about this in a safe zone – can lead to peace – difficult but safe.
-because of this men are doing more work and equality is growing.
-“Peace isn’t void of conflict. Peace is the management of conflict to everyone’s satisfaction.”
-“This country (U.S.) became great and free, not because it was given, but because it was demanded.”
