High Food Prices Causing Social Unrest Worldwide

History records Marie Antoinette in 1789 uttering the words “let them eat cake” to the growing unrest cause by higher bread prices in Paris and we know out that turn out.

Fast forward to 2008 and history is repeating itself. This time on a global scale. With raising foods prices sprialling out of control due to such factors as freakish weather, less planting of crops, increase food consumption in countries like China and India, countries safeguarding local markets first, thereby reducing exports and a weakening US dollar, persons feeling the effects are protesting their anger and fustration across the world. They are seeing more and more of their income spending on food and barely anything left to survive on.

Rice prices have so skyrocketed that China, Vietnam and India respresenting more than a third of global rice exports have curbed sales already. Philippines, the world’s biggest importer have raided warehouses to crack down on hoarding by traders.

Countries like Italy, Cameroon, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Vitenam and Cambodia have recorded protests and social unrest in one form or another. Egypt has had its share of troubles too. With police firing tear gas and arresting dozens of protesters in a crackdown of demonstrations in the city. Then there is Haiti, with thousands flooding the streets, shouting “We are hungry”. Business and schools close early for fear of violence whilst UN peacekeepers tried desperately to maintain law and order in a country where millions are already starving because of tons of food rotting in Haitian’s ports due to bureaucracy.

Eugene Thermilon 30, a Haitian day labouer can no longer afford pasta to feed his wife and 4 children since the price nearly doubled to $0.57{US} a bag. Their only meal on a recent day was two cans of corn grits.

“Their stomachs were not even full,” said Thermilon. By the next day,he still had nothing to feed them.

Governments worldwide have introduced measures like subsides and removal of duties to ease consumers but according to the UN, food prices aren’t going to get cheap any time soon.

See previous articles – World On The Brink Of Food Shortage!!! – 10 More Years Of Expensive Food : Says UN

Millions Starve As Tons Of Food Rots In Haitian’s Ports

Passengers Can Now Use Cell Phones In Mid-Air

The European Commission cleared the way for all airlines to allow their passengers use their mobile phones, for calls, texts and emails. Ryanair will be among the first to avail of the facility this summer and are equipping their planes with the relevant technology. Air France has been testing allowing passengers send emails and attachments for the past three months on board one of their planes and has extended the trial to include calls and text messages. And Bmi, Portugal’s TAP and Emirates will join them in offering the service to passengers. But Germany’s Lufthansa said it will not be offering the service as its research showed passengers would prefer quieter flights. All texts and emails will all cost more than regular roaming charges and the airlines will get a cut. Mobile phone use has not been allowed on flights in case it interferes with the aircraft systems. Now an on-board cellular network will connect passengers’ phones to the ground via satellite, and avoid linking directly to networks on the ground. Passengers will not be allowed to use their phones during take-off and landing and the system will only operate at 3,000 feet, the normal cruising altitude for planes. The pilot will be able to switch off the system if necessary, for instance during turbulence. See previous articls – “Honey I Am On The Plane”! – Phones Calls In Mid-Air Coming Soon {Adapted from International Press Reports}

Cuban Blogger Yoani Sanchez Wins Journalism Award

Yoani Sanchez has been awarded one of Spain’s top journalism awards, the Ortega and Gasset prize for digital journalism. Sanchez won the prize for her ‘shrewdness” in overcoming hurdles to freedom of expression in Cuba, her vivacious style and her drive to join the global space of citizen journalism.”

El Pais, a Spanish newspaper awards the prize annually. Sanchez blog ‘Generacion Y’ chronicles her daily life, economic hardships and political constraints in her country.

See previous article – Cuba Locks Down Top Cuban Blog

{Taken from International Press Reports}

Cubans Can Now Watch Foreign TV

As what is seen as on going changes to breathe life into Cuba’s collapsing political and economic system, Raul Castro’s government is offering a new 24 hr channel with foreign contentto Cubans. This is the latest change since Raul Castro took over from his ailing older brother Fidel Castro.

Describing what he terms as “excessive prohibitions in the country”, the government also lifted the ban prohibiting Cubans from staying in their own hotels which was reserved for tourists only. Also private farmers have also been encourage to start planting crops like coffee and tobacoo on unused state lands to boost agricultural production.

See previous articles – Cubans Can Now Use Cell Phones After Their Government Have Denied Them For So Long!!!

Cuba Lifts Ban On Computers and DVD Players

{Taken from International Press Reports}