UN SAYS OIL, CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIOFUELS PRODUCING GLOBAL UNREST

DINNER TABLE FACTS OF THE WEEK:

Last week, the United Nations sounded the alarm on the global climate change as it relates to the out of control rise of food prices around the world. Here are some of the new statistics reported by Sir John Holmes, the UN’s emergency relief coordinator:

• Food and fuel prices have risen 40% on average globally since last summer.
• Staple foods have seen price increases of 80% in three years.
• Climate Change has doubled the number of global disasters from an average of 200 a year to 400 a year, which is exacerbating food shortages.
• In the last three months, rising food prices have spawned riots and protests in Egypt, Haiti, the Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Mauritania, Mozambique, Senegal, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Bolivia and Indonesia.
• According to the World Bank, 33 countries face unrest due to increasing food prices.