Posted on 06/04/2008 9:09:37 AM PDT by yankeedame
3/06/2008 9:51:00 PM.
UN food agency chief Jacques Diouf said today that billions of dollars are being wasted on feeding obese people in the West while millions starve around the world.
"No one understands... how over-consumption by obese people in the world costs $20 billion each year," the head of the Food and Agriculture Organisation told an international summit on the food price crisis.
On top of this, he added, there are "$100 billion in indirect costs resulting from premature deaths and associated diseases."
Diouf also highlighted how an estimated $1.2 trillion was spent on weapons in 2006 while aid to agriculture fell by more than half, from $8 billion in 1984 to $3.4 billion in 2004.
"In real terms, the share of agriculture in public aid to development has fallen from 17 per cent in 1980 to three per cent in 2006," he said.
Recent food riots "are but the chronicle of a catastrophe that was foreseen," said Diouf, whose agency has been harshly criticised.
Diouf lamented the failure to reach a goal set by the 1996 World Food Summit in Rome of reducing the number of hungry by half by 2015.
"With current trends the summit's goal will be attained in 2150 instead of 2015," he added.
Diouf said "the international community reacts, unfortunately, only when the media bring into the living rooms of wealthy countries the sad spectacle of those who suffer in the world."
Clue phone for the idiot at the U.N....could it be that money and materials dedicated to help are squandered, misappropriated and outright STOLEN by the UN when they aren't raping little girls and boys?
no=not
Hmmm, socialism vs. capitalism, hmmm, what to chose?
“Jacques Diouf needs to take a field trip to Zimbabwe to discover how the breadbasket of Africa can be transformed into the basket case of Africa within just one generation by following the polocies condoned by the United Nations.”
I am always a fan of one-sentence summations as long as they are not spin. Very well said, thank you.
That’s because he doesn’t have a good Jewish tailor.
Like this POS has never had foie gras, creme brulee or champaigne?
The UN doesn’t just prop up those corrupt, evil governments, they put them on the UN Human Rights Commission.
Totally agree. Cut UN expense accounts down to zero NOW. Send proceeds to Africa.
Apples and slices of oranges. What's the figure on the TOTAL spent on food - not just "aid", but all food?
I agree with you...I will say that the amount of food people waste is a sin for a variety of reasons- that said are we to be blamed two years from now for the starving people in Myramar??? Are we to be blamed for the corrupt African governments who take our generous donations and use them as political leverage???
this may be looked upon as shrill but when I donate money, and I give generously, it is to US based organizations helping Americans, and I do so for a reason....and I am not ignorant enough to think that all US based charity’s are saints either...
Yep, let’s hear it for “Equality of Outcome”, not “Equality of Opportunity”!
But, they are black, so it is okay! They are justified, don't you know? It is all "Whitey's" fault!
I was hoping somebody would bring Starvin Marvin into this so I wouldn’t have to.
Cartman after being dumped in Ethiopia: “There’s GOT to be a Happy Burger around here somewhere!”
What's the latst on US ships and aid to Burma? Did they ever off load? Are they still there?
We're doing the best we can Jacques - but it's not easy shoving these corn cobs into the gas tank while fat people are rioting all around us.
...Wake up Whitey!....we’re only 15% of the world’s population and a low birth rate means that number will only shrink...skinny folks world wide resent us....Obama wants them to like us..maybe he’ll send them a meal he enjoys....salmon/steamed broccoli/organic tea.....then maybe the skinny ones will forgive our whitness.
This all gets back to a central tenant of corruption in all governments. Create a problem (or let a problem fester), to become the solution, to establish greater control.
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