Multinationals make billions in profit out of growing global food crisis
Speculators blamed for driving up price of basic foods as 100 million face severe hunger
By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor
Sunday, 4 May 2008
Giant agribusinesses are enjoying soaring earnings and profits out of the world food crisis which is driving millions of people towards starvation, The Independent on Sunday can reveal. And speculation is helping to drive the prices of basic foodstuffs out of the reach of the hungry.
The prices of wheat, corn and rice have soared over the past year driving the world's poor – who already spend about 80 per cent of their income on food – into hunger and destitution.
The World Bank says that 100 million more people are facing severe hunger. Yet some of the world's richest food companies are making record profits. Monsanto last month reported that its net income for the three months up to the end of February this year had more than doubled over the same period in 2007, from $543m (£275m) to $1.12bn. Its profits increased from $1.44bn to $2.22bn.
Cargill's net earnings soared by 86 per cent from $553m to $1.030bn over the same three months. And Archer Daniels Midland, one of the world's largest agricultural processors of soy, corn and wheat, increased its net earnings by 42 per cent in the first three months of this year from $363m to $517m. The operating profit of its grains merchandising and handling operations jumped 16-fold from $21m to $341m.
Continues @ Independent.co.uk
Stumble It!
I hate to see people suffer, but some of these idiots in third world countires bringing babies into a horrible situation should be
So, how can the profits of crime be called "earnings"?
Kissinger may have said the above, but he also said "By Controlling food you can control people"
Meanwhile millions of farmers are forced off their lands. Even here in Canada.
Also, grain is not a food for cattle and the animals have to be forced to eat it. Its only purpose is to put fat into and onto the meat, falsely called "marble".
Ed Deak.
I don't get big corporations trying to maximize their profits. Why do they need so much and what do they do with it. If anyone say that they re-invest it then thats to make more profits , again why? To what ends will it go? Doesn't look good. Alot of people down the finacial ladder will just get stepped on and no one will listen to them.
I hate to see people suffer, but some of these idiots in third world countires bringing babies into a horrible situation should be exterminated
How do you plan on doing it, gas chambers or cremation?
Let's see now, isn't it against Canada's hate law to advocate the genocide of poor people? Let's see ...
Hate Propaganda
Advocating genocide
318. (1) Every one who advocates or promotes genocide is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.
Definition of “genocide”
(2) In this section, "genocide" means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy in whole or in part any identifiable group, namely,
(a) killing members of the group; or
(b) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction.
Looks like the advocation of genocide against poor people is against Canadian law, but wait, what does "identifiable group" mean in terms of the law?
Definition of "identifiable group"
(4) In this section, "identifiable group" means any section of the public distinguished by colour, race, religion, ethnic origin or sexual orientation.
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 318; 2004, c. 14, s. 1.
Do you see "poor people" in there? Nope, I don't see it.
Kill those poor the f*ckers, kill kill kill!!!! We're allowed to say that here in Canada, it's NOT against the law! But nary say a negative peep about Jews, or those gay people, and you're sunk.
Does anyone see the hypocrisy, the twisted application, and the bias in these so-called laws of ours?
So while a long time member of Vive (Diogenes) gets banished for posting an article that criticized Jewish people for allegedly creating global economic ruin, it looks like harmone should be given a medal for advocating the extermination of poor people because they breed too much under unfavorable conditions (mostly created by rich people).
Advocating genocide against not legally defined "identifiable groups" ought to be perfectly acceptable here at Vive, right?
Paging Susan, ... paging Susan ... where are you?
I fully agree, because if you choose to ignore what they are doing, then little else matters since they dominate the scene so thoroughly.
According to Vives' new and improved "rules" I can't post anything that's written in the favor of "white supremacists" (whatever that means), yet articles written by (or mentioning favorably) black supremacists or Jewish supremacists or multicolored supremacists are presumably OK.
We recently saw a banning from the main Vive page of articles concerning the illegal activities of the CHRC, such as this one: A panicky CHRC tries damage control -- and fails
The excuse given for rejection more or less went like this:
"It was written by a right-wing news source and/or was not on topic with Vive's mission."
harmone wrote:
"Its called freedom of speech bozo, something as a citizen of Canada i have..."
Actually in Canada you don't have freedom of speech, not with Canada's hate laws and selective application. Even though you are unlikely to be prosecuted and handed down a sentence, the legal hassles can ruin you and act as intimidation against speaking your mind on a wide range of subjects.
OK but you are misreading my message.
It turns out I fully agree with you that the CHRC and its so-called "hate laws" should be flushed down the toilet with great prejudice, and quite frankly I could not care less what you or anyone chooses to say in general no matter if you're advocating genocide or not even if its directed at me. If you choose to call me names and hurl insults to your hearts content - I really don't care, and I think you ought to be able to do all of these things without having to worry about it in this supposedly "free and open" society we're supposedly blessed with, especially when it comes down to pointing out the misdeeds of various interventionist groups who seek to force their screwy agenda upon all of us.
What I'm attempting to do with my posts in this forum, is pointing out that Vive is applying it's own rules unfairly and selectively. You may not be aware that one of our long time members "Diogenes" got banned for saying far less than you have already, so unless you to are also perma banned for uttering "offensive posts" (or Diogenes is reinstated to balance things out), that's hypocrisy on the part of the moderation of this forum.
Oh, and where's that slippery hypocrite CM Burns - yeah the same gutless guy cry baby that complained about Diogenes' far less offensive posts? Why has he not jumped up and down while complaining about your genocide post? This was his article submission and I assume he's read the comments by now.
Paging CM Burns ... CM Burns where are you?
Oh, and where's that slippery hypocrite CM Burns
Paging CM Burns ... CM Burns where are you?
On what grounds do you base your claim that I am a hypocrite?
Because I haven't replied to any the posts yet? Well, I don't know if you're aware of this, but some people have jobs and a life and they don't sit in front of the computer 24/7. I am one such person. Yesterday I was visiting my brother who has just taken possession of a new beautiful new house. I was playing football with my nephews and then drinking wine with my sister-in-law. I had such a good time. When I got home around 11, I watched one of my favourite TV shows - Regenesis - ever seen it? It's made in Canada and it's really good. Now this morning, I was busy with work. I'm so sorry - really, really sorry that I wasn't around to post just for you. I never realized how much you missed me... how much you need me. Gosh, I'm ever so sorry.
You're right, there is no absolutely free speech in this country or any other country.
Wanna know why? For the same reason that shouting 'FIRE!' in a theater is illegal.
It causes damage.
It destroys.
It ruins lives.
So, what will make you happy? Of course, I reported the posts on this topic - for personal attacks. As you pointed out, advocating the extermination of non-identifiable groups may not against the law but harmone's screed will be seen for what it is.
In case you still don't get it, let me put it in simple terms for ya' kay?
killing bad
antisemitism bad
hate bad
love good
compassion good
dialog good
Vive rules good
There. Is that a little clearer?
@rearguard. I'm sure you're not aware of this but I fully expected and asked to be banned for my personal attack against Dio of a couple weeks ago.
Now, I know I should feel some compassion for a complete fucking idiot who can't understand why one's religious heritage or upbringing has absolutely nothing to do with the New World Order, One World Government, a conspiracy of international bankers or anything else! But antisemitism is... oh fuck it.. if you haven't figured it out by now why it's wrong then your heart is just too full of hate for me to think there's any hope for you.
@harmone... why don't you try walking a mile in the shoes of one of those starving people before you go advocating their extermination. Since personal attacks are against the rules here at Vive I will refrain from making a scathing, angry personal attack against you for the vile hate you posted.
You may not be aware that one of our long time members "Diogenes" got banned for saying far less than you have already...
So while a long time member of Vive (Diogenes) gets banished for posting an article that criticized Jewish people for allegedly creating global economic ruin,
How 'revisionist' of you.
Here is the truth: http://www.vivelecanada.ca/modules.php? ... ic&t=63484
Locked forum topic "Problem Solved: Go to Sleep"
I locked the forum topic posted by Diogenes "Problem Solved: Go to Sleep" because it contained obvious anti-semitic sentiments. The article Diogenes posted and then defended cited the "wickedness of the Jews" and called on "ancestral European" to rise up against the "Enemy of Mankind, International Zionism and World Jewry", etc etc. This is hate speech and has no place on our site. To keep it on the site would also likely contravene Canadian law.
See: http://www.vivelecanada.ca/modules.php? ... 54#1226254
Locking the thread means no replies can be posted to it. I will be deleting the forum thread after co-editor Dr Caleb has had a chance to see it.
Diogenes' membership in Vive has also been suspended, so he can lo longer post to the site. We are also considering the rare step of permanent deactivation of his account since this is not his first offence. He had already been informed of our policies regarding posting hate speech to the site, and had been suspended at least twice before for posting anti-semitic articles, most recently within the last month.
BTW, CM Burns posted a profanity/personal attack on Diogenes in response to the same thread, which I've warned CM Burns about and removed with a note re why.
OK, I agree about removing the contents and leaving the thread as a record of why we had to take action. I know that Diogenes is well aware of our policies re posting unacceptable material re hate speech, and I honestly don't understand why he would deliberately provoke us by posting something like this, but the fact remains we have to take action.
This isn't truth, this is racism and anti-semitism from you AGAIN Diogenes. Didn't you learn anything last time I had to ban you for this? We do have a three strikes you're out policy, and you knew I'd have to take action if you did this again.
This time it may well be a permanent ban, although I will discuss it with my co-editor before making a final decision out of courtesy to him.
Vive is completely against discrimination based on ethnic group, and this definitely qualifies. This thread is locked and you're banned Dio. The only reason I'm not deleting the thread yet is so that people can see why I'm taking that action.
CM Burns, yeah, you could watch the language here. Yelling FU at people is not nice. I'm not suspending your membership, but consider this a warning to please refrain from personal attacks like that.
Quite different from the reasons you falsely claim, eh?
PS - harmone, you don't need to worry about the poor much longer, they're already being exterminated. Hope this news brings a little ray of sunshine into your life!
To be clear, we don't generally consider any criticism of Israel automatically anti-semitic, and have posted information on the new progressive Jewish organization founded to criticize Israeli policies for eg. But material referencing an alleged world Jewish/Zionists conspiracy or pointing to the Jewish people as some sort of root of all evil IS considered to be anti-semitic however.
Whether you like them or not, we also do our best to follow Canada's hate laws and the laws of the CHRC. If you have a problem with these, take them up with them, because we don't make the rules, we just try to follow them.
superputz2, rearguard, harmone, and CM, you can all consider yourselves officially warned for posting material considered unacceptable to the site.
Incidentally, we don't apply site rules selectively, but we do try to make the punishment fit the crime. First action we try to take is to moderate threads, eg delete offensive posts and lock threads, and we try to do that rarely to allow free discussion.
The more offensive posts you post, the more times we have to warn you, the more likely you will get temporarily banned. If we have to temporarily ban you several times, which happened in Dio's case (it was at least 3), then and only then do we consider a permanent ban.
And of course the site is run by volunteers, and due to high volume, it can take a little while to read and find offensive posts. This is why there is a "Report Post" button comes in handy--if you notice something that contravenes our rules, click it. It's a lot more productive and likely to call the attention of the moderators, since then we get a private message that a post has been reported. Posting angry posts to the thread itself just tends to make things worse.
Let's move on and try to be a little more constructive, shall we? This thread is now locked.