Over the last few decades, the United States, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have used their leverage to impose devastating policies on developing countries. By requiring countries to open up their agriculture market to giant multinational companies, by insisting that countries dismantle their marketing boards and by persuading them to specialize in exportable cash crops such as coffee, cocoa, cotton and even flowers, they have driven the poorest countries into a downward spiral.
In the last thirty years, developing countries that used to be self-sufficient in food have turned into large food importers. Dismantling of marketing boards that kept commodities in a rolling stock to be released in event of a bad harvest, thus protecting both producers and consumers against sharp rises or drops in prices, has further worsened the situation.
It's human nature to seek personal advantage. History indicates, however, that when one's attempts to get rich(er) push other people to the brink of starvation, violence ensues. Let's solve the problem this time before it results in too many sacked mansions and mobs tearing victims limb from limb.
April 26 2008, 06:58:01 UTC 13 years ago