We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Saturday, July 28, 2012

From American Drought to “Global Catastrophe”

Click here to access article by Thomas A. Lewis from the Daily Impact.

It is becoming clear that many in the world are facing dire food shortages due to severe weather disasters in the US and other parts of the world, due to corporate concentration of food production, and financial speculators looking for quick and easy big profits. This looks like a perfect storm that can have any number of serious consequences--food riots, political upheavals, mass starvation, booms and busts in agricultural markets, etc.

I have surveyed a number of related articles this morning and have concluded that this one offers the best introduction to the impending crisis. In addition, it offers an excellent gateway to other sources of information by providing numerous links.

Other sources I found useful in understanding this subject are here, here, and here.
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