Working with the Devil

At the time of writing, the world is still reeling from the tragedy in Japan and the attack upon Libya – 112 Cruise missiles deployed on the first day. According to official sources each missile costs nearly $600,000. Total cost on day one for Cruise missiles alone is therefore $67 million.

At the same time, tent cities have appeared across America because the country ‘does not have enough money’. T’was always so: never enough money to keep people alive and in decent, dignified conditions, always enough to wage war.

The Arab League secretary general, Amr Moussa, deplored the broad scope of the US-European bombing campaign in Libya and said that he would call a League meeting to reconsider Arab approval of the Western military intervention.

Well, (a) if you work with the Devil you must take the consequences, and (b) did you think a bunch of professional liars with an agenda to hijack your lands would actually tell you the truth? Cameron, Obama, Sarkozy – you’d be hard pressed to find a more apt profile of evil anywhere in the world.

So what’s this got to do with the food industry? Everything! The Western ‘powers’ decision to attack yet another oil rich country (anybody see the link here?) will only make worse the rising cost of fuel and, as a result, food. Add to this the fact that countries such as China now have a population that are enjoying improved diets, meaning more demand for basic crops, and it isn’t a pretty picture.

Families in the UK (food inflation remained at 9% in March) are facing stubbornly high food bills, while they also juggle higher water bills, higher phone line rental charges, prescription charges and an increased cost of a television licence.

It is becoming increasingly clear (note the uprisings in the Middle East/North Africa) that we cannot solve the problems of food shortages and price rises and the rising cost of, and depletion of, commodities within the current system. We need a rationally planned economy where all the world’s population basic needs are met – shelter, food, warmth, education, community and culture. Just don’t rely on Cameron and his cronies to be interested.

ROD MILLINGTON

chief editor