Why the UN Food Security Summit Failed

Published 19 Nov 2009, 10:40 am - 1 Comment -
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The UN World Summit on Food Security in Rome wrapped up yesterday with little progress on how to tackle the problem of global hunger. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was the only major Western leader to make an appearance at the event his nation hosted. Even though food prices have temporarily fallen after a sharp increase last year, many issues remain to be resolved, such as the loss of arable land to global warming, land grabs by private corporations, and continued mono-culture dominated agriculture for export by countries wracked with hunger. In the lead up to the summit, the head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, as well as UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, went on brief hunger strikes to try to draw attention to world hunger. Outside the summit, myriad displays of protest were visible through street theater and demonstrations by human rights groups and farmers. Here in the richest country in the world, hunger is also a looming problem. More Americans than ever are experiencing food insecurity, according to a new report by the US Department of Agriculture. Nearly 49 million Americans had difficulty getting enough food to eat in 2008.

GUEST: Anuradha Mittal, founder and executive director of the Oakland Institute

For more information, visit www.oaklandinstitute.org.

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1 Comment to ‘Why the UN Food Security Summit Failed’:

Ashley on 19 Nov 2009 at 4:09 pm: 1

Here is a video that discusses the summit and whether or not is was a success. Most are saying the summit failed to address the needs of the hungry- you decide what you think. http://www.newsy.com/videos/empty_plates_at_the_un_world_food_summit

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Program Info

On the Next Edition of Uprising...

We’ll analyze President Obama’s latest set of fiscal policies with economist Max Fraad Wolff. And, we’ll learn of a new campaign called Learn, Don’t Burn, to distribute 200,000 Korans to replace the 200 that may be burned this weekend. And, Anuradha Mittal of the Oakland Institute on the World Bank’s new report on global land grabs. Plus the Black Agenda Report.