(an email)

THANKS, DAVID, COMMENTS BELOW IN CAPS

>    Subject: UN Warns of Biofuels’ Environmental Risk
>
>
>   By MICHAEL CASEY
>   AP Environmental Writer
>   BANGKOK, Thailand
>
>   The world’s rush to embrace biofuels is causing a spike in the price of corn
>   and other crops

THE REASON THE PRICE IS GOING UP IS THAT HUNGRY PEOPLE ARE COMPETING
FOR WHAT’S LEFT TO EAT AFTER THE ACREAGE GOES TO FUEL PRODUCTION

and could worsen water shortages and force poor communities off
>   their land, a U.N. official said Wednesday.

FORCING PEOPLE OFF THE LAND IS SECONDARY TO FOOD AND WATER SHORTAGES?

>   Foremost among the concerns is increased competition for agricultural land,
>   which Suzuki warned has already caused a rise in corn prices in the United
>   States and Mexico and could lead to food shortages in developing countries.
>
>   She also said China and India could face worsening water shortages because
>   biofuels require large amounts of water, while forests in Indonesia and
>   Malaysia could face threats from the expansion of palm oil plantations.

also:

The New York Times
Governments in Europe and elsewhere have begun rolling back generous,
across-the-board subsidies for biofuels, acknowledging that the
environmental benefits of these fuels have often been overstated.

SEEMS THAT THE POTENTIAL TO STARVE TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TO DEATH
TAKES SECOND PLACE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.

UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, GOVTS WILL PROBABLY CONTINUE THE CURRENT LEVEL OF
SUPPORT AND KEEP FOOD PRICES LINKED TO FUEL,

THIS IS PROBLEMATIC FOR THE FED AS CPI WILL KEEP RISING WITH GASOLINE
PRICES, WHICH WILL DRAG FOOD ALONG WITH IT. AND BOTH OF THESE FEED
INTO THE COST SIDE AND PUSH UP CORE MEASURES AS WELL.

♥