Burning up food prices: More corn going to ethanol production now than food production

By J. D.  Heyes

The world has a food shortage. This isn’t speculative or subjective, and it’s not fear-mongering or alarmist. It’s a well-documented fact and, what’s more, the real experts – those who aren’t influenced by government or corporate interests – have been trying to make that case for months.

Moreover, these same experts say, the shortages are causing global food prices to rise – dramatically in some cases – which is only leading to more hunger, more pain and more hardship.

So, what is the United States doing to blunt the effects of this food shortage? What is official U.S. policy regarding, say, the production of corn – the primary ingredient in scores of food products and livestock feed? Well, officially, our policy is to burn up a substantial amount of corn every year in our automobiles – food that could be used to feed Americans and the world.

 Read the rest at Natural News.

34 Responses to Burning up food prices: More corn going to ethanol production now than food production

  1. NEIL F. AGWD/BSD August 21, 2011 at 9:04 am #

    This is not new, it’s old news. But what I find interesting, and encouraging, is the source. This is from Natural New’s “About Us” page:

    “The NaturalNews Network is a non-profit collection of public education websites covering topics that empower individuals to make positive changes in their health, environmental sensitivity, consumer choices and informed skepticism. The NaturalNews Network is owned and operated by Truth Publishing International, Ltd., a Taiwan corporation. It is not recognized as a 501(c)3 non-profit in the United States, but it operates without a profit incentive, and its key writer, Mike Adams, receives absolutely no payment for his time, articles or books other than reimbursement for items purchased in order to conduct product reviews.”

    They go on to claim that they are non political, and are religion nuetral, so this sounds like the idealic socialist utopian dream to me.
    I’m not pointing this out to knock them though, just to illustrate that the source is not the Washington Post, the Heritige Foundation, or Fox News. I’m glad to see that this story, which I think is an important one, is being reported by this kind of publication.

  2. NEIL F. AGWD/BSD August 28, 2011 at 3:19 pm #

    I could have told you this was coming:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/28/us/28climate.html?_r=2&partner=MYWAY&ei=5065
    “The scale of Hurricane Irene, which could cause more extensive damage along the Eastern Seaboard than any storm in decades, is reviving an old question: are hurricanes getting worse because of human-induced climate change? ”

    But what’s funny is this:

    http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tobyharnden/100102355/perfect-storm-of-hype-politicians-the-media-and-the-hurricane-irene-apocalypse-that-never-was/
    “The images summed up Hurricane Irene – the media and the United States federal government trying to live up to their own doom-laden warnings and predictions while a sizeable number of ordinary Americans just carried on as normal and even made gentle fun of all the fuss.”

    I am LMOA!

  3. Joe August 28, 2011 at 9:16 pm #

    People died. Was it over-hyped? Possibly. Was it climate change? No. Were lives saved? Perhaps. We will never know. Just don’t have the media like “Fat Albert” blame, as he did today, blame deniers of Global warming for the natural occuring hurricane. Climate change is a natural occurance and now I see this evening that Gore now claims that anyone that denies his Thoughts that it isn’t is a “Racist.” Gore’s father was a racist and fought civil rights in the 60’s eventually passed by republicans! What a jewel he is isn’t he? A diamond or zirconium?

    • NEIL F. AGWD/BSD August 29, 2011 at 5:39 am #

      Obviously I’m not laughing about people dying. But people die all the time, hurricane or not, when it’s your time, it’s your time. But the truth is this storm was hyped beyond belief, and blamed on global warming. But the global warming prediction of hurricanes is that they will be bigger, not fizzle into a tropical storm as this one did.
      And Eyeore’s statements about AGW sceptics being the new racists is just silly. Read here: http://dailycaller.com/2011/08/28/gore-global-warming-skeptics-are-this-generations-racists/
      He says,
      “there came a time when racist comments would come up in the course of the conversation and in years past they were just natural. Then there came a time when people would say, ‘Hey, man why do you talk that way, I mean that is wrong. I don’t go for that so don’t talk that way around me. I just don’t believe that.’ That happened in millions of conversations and slowly the conversation was won.”-”
      I actually agree with him about that, and the reason we were able to win that conversation was because truth and righteousness were on our side. The reason it can’t work for the AGW argument is because the exact opposite is true. The truth is that none of the IPCC’s dire predictions are panning out, and real world observation of the climate is what is putting the lie to it. All he is trying to do is make this a moral debate because facts and reality are not going to get him any profits from his AGW investments.

  4. Joe August 29, 2011 at 10:11 pm #

    Neil, He’s a political hack and a left, left wing liberal.. Their mantra is “the race card.” He’s using it as they always do. I’m old enough to remember his father fighting the “negro’s”. What a contradiction. I assume that he heard his father blathering every night about how to keep them in check. Never read that in his bio did you. Finally, I’m that last person to be a racist. Trust me! God created us all equal period. Makes me sick when they have no other cards to play when their deck is empty! Typical.

    • NEIL F. AGWD/BSD August 30, 2011 at 5:36 am #

      Well, not that I am defending Eyeore but I can’t personally hold it against him what his father did. My father was a racist too, but I’m not. I completely rejected that attitude.
      But Eyeore is trying to tie the race card to the AGW argument, no doubt about that. I don’t think it’s going to work though. It’s really a stretch.

  5. drsnyc05 August 30, 2011 at 11:59 am #

    Global Warming is nothing more than an attempt by democratic governments to guilt it’s citizens into paying more taxes. That’s all it is and all it will ever be. It’s all about about money and GW is no exception. GW advocates are all socialists. Socialists serve no purpose but to get elected, create laws that steal hard working people’s money and redistribute it to other people who will keep voting in the socialist elites. It’s been done before. You vote me in, I get you money. It’s a quid pro quo scenario and a hypocritical one, because the socialist elites who claim they are saving the planet will always live in energy hogging mansions, fly around in gas guzzling private Jets and drive around in gas guzzling SUVs. But in their sick socialist mind, mother nature extends them a “hall pass”. Their lifestyle is off limits to you the citizen. Global warming, if the scam is implemented correctly, facilitates this bourgeois/proletariat model. The middle class will disappear because they won’t be able to afford energy. This will leave people 100% dependent on their government. Sound familiar?

    • NEIL F. AGWD/BSD August 31, 2011 at 6:09 pm #

      Very well put drsnyc05. I agree with your assessment entirely.

      • Rob N. Hood September 4, 2011 at 3:05 pm #

        Right!? Except after years of talk about it, and hysterics (disclosure: I’m against it too), IT HASN’T happened. And there’s nothing concrete at this point that indicates it ever will. Now there are PLENTY of high crimes and misdemeanors going on that you people don’t care to notice, or just don’t care period. And don’t ask for the examples cuz I’ve done that here for over a year now, to no avail. But, hey, go right ahead and pull your hair out about a hypothetical hyperbolized “Left wing” scheme. You Rightys are very good at that. (e.g. the “Socialists” and their jets and SUVs… OH MY!)

        • Rob N. Hood September 4, 2011 at 3:06 pm #

          Forgot to add- I am referring to Cap and Trade…

        • NEIL F. AGWD/BSD September 5, 2011 at 4:11 pm #

          I don’t know if you know this or not, but this is globalclimatescam.com, not highcrimesandmisdemeanors.com! Whether we care about that, or not, is irrelevent, this is not the venue for such discussions. This is also not called whatrnhwantstotalkabout.com.

          • Rob N. Hood September 6, 2011 at 8:39 am #

            Sidestepping a relevent point is silly. But predictable for you.

  6. joe August 31, 2011 at 12:12 am #

    I need a “Hall Pass.”

    • V September 7, 2011 at 1:42 am #

      Gotta let the venom out the one eyed snake? He he. Sly dog you. Just sneak out when no ones looking and don’t get busted. That’s how it’s done, as long as you don’t announce it (hush hush), and don’t get busted in the process (be evasive and elusive), that “hall pass” you don’t need. 😉

  7. patrick September 1, 2011 at 11:25 am #

    no mention of distillers grains? You’d thing thay would mention this.

    It is inflation from printing money and fuel costs driving up prices.

    Don’t fall for lies!

  8. joe September 4, 2011 at 11:38 pm #

    Me thinks I need two Hall passes? My God, Houston, we have a problem called reality, sanity, et al. Suggest sanity. All are good responses but not one address’s the subject at hand.

  9. V September 5, 2011 at 1:35 pm #

    Global warming is nothing more than increase in greenhouse gas production (resulting in heat retention). Greenhouse gases are released by all living organisms (humans fall under this category). Just as all living beings humans have an effect on climate. Anthropogenic means human induced.

    The earth is a great biological sphere, all processes there in are interconnected and result in changing conditions.

    Industrial revolution has seen an increase in greenhouse gas production. (as REAL recorded empirical data shows). What this means is that industry is increasing total living organism energy release. This is equivalent to population explosion.

    The total amount of greenhouse gas released by 7 billion industialized human beings – is roughly equivalent to – the greenhouse gas release of 30 billion non-industrialized human beings.

    You can’t dispute documented data:

    “After witnessing a person getting electrocuted by a fence you can’t dispute the fact that the fence is electric.”

    • NEIL F. AGWD/BSD September 5, 2011 at 4:15 pm #

      Mr non-sequitar is back. Who is disputing the level of CO2 in the atmosphere? Who is disputing the source of the increased amount of CO2? Uh…. that’d be…… Nobody!!!!

    • Jerk A. Knot September 6, 2011 at 12:52 pm #

      Point of order MR V…

      “Global warming is nothing more than increase in greenhouse gas production (resulting in heat retention). Greenhouse gases are released by all living organisms (humans fall under this category). Just as all living beings humans have an effect on climate. Anthropogenic means human induced.”

      This is an invalid premise.

      Global Warming is not the increase of greenhouse gas production. Global Warming it the rise of the global mean temperature. The Greenhouse Gas effect is a theory of what effect Greenhouse gasses has on global warming. Anthropogenic Global warming is the theory of the effect of manmade gasses above and beyond those that are naturally produced by man. IE breathing.
      I argue that any green house gas released by any living organisms is natural Unless it is done by some type of artificial machine or process. The question is if there is a measurable AGW or if GW is purly a natural process?
      Your misinformation is not conducive to the discussion.

      • V September 6, 2011 at 5:35 pm #

        “Global warming is nothing more than increase in greenhouse gas production”

        My apologies. This statement is incorrect. The line should have read: “Green house gas increase/decrease is one of many contributing factors in climate change”

        I chose this opening statement in order to respond to this nonsense: “Global Warming is nothing more than an attempt by democratic governments to guilt it’s citizens into paying more taxes.”

        That statement is absurd not because it is implausible, it is absurd because it has been proven through science (our least biased tool) that a change in greenhouse gas content has an impact on the climate.

        Misinformation my a**.

        This is not a political matter that extended into the climate, it is a climate issue that became political.

        Stop with the bull.

        GW and GC are very much real. Humans reside on the globe and resultantly have an impact on the climate.

        If you want to disprove anthropogenic contributions to climate change go and conduct some real, unbiased, scientific research and present me the findings. The fact is, though, that after examining the issue with a clear head you’ll quickly change your tune. The jury is out: our impact on our global environment is as real as the impact of climate control in your household. We are able to warm or cool our homes, what makes you think that we aren’t influencing earth temperatures?

        Absolute nonsense. Illogical, irresponsible behaviour. If not that, a complete disregard for welfare of humanity (and our environment).

        Oops, I mentioned welfare to a roomfull of republicans.

        • Rob N. Hood September 8, 2011 at 11:53 am #

          Yes, V, trust me to the folly of your quest. But you are a welcome voice, in my opinion. I will throw in a monkey wrench though… What about the new (?) thoery that the warming we’ve seen (AFW or not) can be predicted to be followed immediately by another major cool down (either mini ice age or the real thing)?

          It seems to me that both things (AGW and a new ice age) have both been predicted in the recent past (since the 70’s or so). AGW deniers love to bring up the new ice age theories vis a vis Global Warming to expose their conveniently biased views that many scientists are looney liberals or just looney period.

  10. Joe September 6, 2011 at 10:02 pm #

    Are you disagreeing with yourself? Man, you may be on meds?

    • V September 7, 2011 at 1:52 am #

      “…disagreeing with yourself.” In all likelyhood that would be the result of not being on your “meds”.

  11. Joe September 7, 2011 at 9:31 pm #

    I assume properly prescribed and ingested they are appropriate. I don’t know your circumstances other than you make irrational unfounded statements. Enough said I guess?

  12. Rob N. Hood September 8, 2011 at 5:38 pm #

    How ’bout you, Joe, watch an educational flick…. on Netflix. Called “Gashole”. This would be better use of your valuable time besides the soul-killing simple-minded snide remarks.

  13. Joe September 8, 2011 at 9:18 pm #

    “Snide”? Nice word. Haven’t heard that word for years. As to Ethanol, it is costing consumers billions in additional monies in food prices versus alledged cost savings at the pump. Now, you can keep your “snide” remarks to ones self. A finger pointed is four pointing back.

  14. Rob N. Hood September 9, 2011 at 8:21 am #

    I’m not in favor of Ethanol, never have been. Talk about changing the subject…. Did you actually watch the movie or just wingin’ it? Snide too polite a word for you? Sorry ’bout that. I think Dan approves. Enough said I guess?

  15. Rob N. Hood September 9, 2011 at 6:51 pm #

    Clever, btw, you being snide about me using the word snide. Veeerrrry clever. Got to keep my eye on you I guess.

  16. Joe September 9, 2011 at 6:59 pm #

    Just don’t let your “eyes” wander. “Always keep your eye on the goal.” I do.

  17. Rob N. Hood September 10, 2011 at 7:16 am #

    Good for you. What is your goal if I may dare to ask a rather obvious question?

  18. Joe September 10, 2011 at 9:59 pm #

    That’s for me to know and you to uncover. Try it.

  19. Rob N. Hood September 11, 2011 at 7:17 am #

    And you accuse me of not answering questions….? I am Shocked, Shocked I say, to find someone on the Right that is hypocritical! Pinch me Dorothy, I must be dreaming.

  20. Joe September 11, 2011 at 10:21 pm #

    All I know is that ethanol sucks and not one person I know buys E85 and it is costing billions out of the average comsumers pockets like me and my family, draining our natural water tables and causing undo hardship on consumers with their federal subsidies. All subsidies should be rescinded, oil, farms, wind, ethanol etc.. Period and change the tax laws and make them all equal. Oh, that’s right it will never change due to people that never paid in but get full benefits would have to have some skin in the game. Forgot, that’s not the left wing liberal way. Take from the “Rich” that earned it and give the the one’s that are lap dogs and expect it like Pavlov’s dog when the bell rings going simply to their mailbox on the first of the month to simply cover their expenses without lifting a finger. What a life they must lead. Have a neighbor that does it all the time and it makes me sick and he brags about it! Keep your caustic comments to yourself and address the issue raised.

  21. Rob N. Hood September 14, 2011 at 8:32 am #

    Caustic comments? Hypocrisy is very common and something we all must work at to diminish. If you think honesty is caustic, that’s your right I guess. What I have proposed on these very pages include some of the only real solutions to ridding this country of expensive and counter-productive subsidies, including tax loopholes etc. which cost the middle class dearly. However, instead of any substantive discussion about it I have been ridiculed and scolded to stay on topic etc. So, your statement above doesn’t fill me with too much hope that we average people can really coordinate our efforts for the betterment of what made this country great in the first place, which was the creation of a real middle class. The “middle class” is a very rare thing in human history and it is and has been under attack for a long long time. Even when it was first created and again when it was strengthened, for necessary reasons. The problem is understanding who and what is attacking it. It has been the same attacker all along, and we are currently losing. But people like us will continue snapping at eachother’s heels while the attackers keep winning more and more ground. That is a main part of their plan. And the attackers aren’t communists, or Muslims, or …. well… what do I know, I have no credibility here, nor will I ever be granted any.

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