For all current and previous students of World History, here's an article that should remind you of the circumstances of the French Revolution. Due to rapidly increasing prices for grain in the world, and the fact that many poor people around the globe can't afford to buy enough of it to feed themselves and their families, riots are breaking out in many locations. Read the article at the link below:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/04/14/world.food.crisis/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
Then address ne or more of the following questions:
Do you agree that the high demand for corn to make ethanol is creating a corn shortage that's driving up the price of grain generally, or is something else going on to cause such steep price increases? If so, should we stop making ethanol, and in turn, continue to burn fossil fuels (i.e., oil) that may contribute significantly to global warming?
Is it the responsibility of governments around the world, and in particular the United States (the richest nation on earth), to provide money to people who are rioting over high grain prices because their children have no food? (Government students, think of this in terms of our discussion of political realism vs. moral idealism.)
4 comments:
Bonjour, Mrs. Stotler! When are you going to update edline so I can panic over my grade and cry myself to sleep? Okay, for the blog. "Ne or more of the following questions" is that a typo. It was bothering me. I think the corn shortage is based on the demand for corn to use as ethanol, but I do not think we should burn more fossil fuels, we should embrace the earth as It stands and try to cherish it for future generations. Whatever happened to the lush green forests with the forbidden fruit of various colors? All chopped down, man. Ethanol might help the environment more, but people still need to have their corn to eat, and the prices of food, not just corn, seems to be increasing in grocery stores. Who can afford to eat nowadays? I don't think we should give the people money that are rioting, that just seems like we are giving in and supporting riots that might turn dangerous, or giving the idea that we will always be there to help other nations even though our nation needs help. I think their goverment should stand up and be like "Welp, we were wrong" Let's have their children starve and see how they feel about the issue.
~H.B
When I first heard about this I thought it was a really good idea because the rumor was it was going to cause gas prices to decrease, not thinking about what other affects it would have on prices of other things and what it would do to the land! It's scary whats happening to the world and it seems like the more we try to fix it the bigger hole we fall into! I honestly want to know what is the government going to do what half the population can't support their own families. Are they really going to let it come to that? There has to be another way!!! What are they goinng to do when gas prices get so high that people can't make it to their jobs,then were will they make their money?? I dont think it's fair how things are happening their not thinking about the people.Those who have little money and are just getting by what about us??We're the one's who are going to suffer? someone needs to do something and FAST!!!
Well, we are suppose to get something back for getting our taxes in on time, aren't we? Like they are giving us money depending on how many kids are in the family or something like that. Mrs. Stotler, I think you know what I am talking about, right?
~ H. B
Heather, I do know what you're talking about, but the tax rebate is NOT about getting your tax return filed on time. It's a one-time measure passed by Congress and signed by the president to stimulate the economy by giving taxpayers back $ so they'll go out and spend it. Think it'll work?
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