SumSam
May 5th, 2008, 05:51 PM
India Rejects Blame for Higher Global Food Prices (http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-05-05-voa20.cfm)
Politicians across the Indian political spectrum are condemning President Bush's remark, linking high food prices in the West to a growing middle class in India. From New Delhi, VOA Correspondent Steve Herman reports Indians are pointing the finger back at the United States.
The governing coalition and opposition in India rarely agree on much, but they are united in condemning the American president for saying a growing demand for food grains by India's middle class is partly to blame for the surge in global food prices.
Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony calls President Bush's comment "a cruel joke" contending that U.S. policies, including advocating bio-fuels, are responsible for higher food prices.
Ecologist Shiva argues Indians, overall, are eating less, not more, despite a growing middle class here.
"Per capita consumption of food has dropped from 177 kilograms per capita per year to 152 in the last decade and a half. Instead of Mr. Bush citing that 350 million middle class, he should be citing the Indian children being denied. One million a year are dying for lack of food," added Shiva.
India has always been a land of vast economic inequalities...maharajas lived in opulent luxury, while hungry masses scrounged out a living and lived at the mercy of the monsoon rains. Economic development fueled by manufacturing, software and services boom has created a big middle class that aspires to Macdonalds and Dominos Pizza, but that still leaves about 500 million Indians that eke out a living and live at the mercy of the monsoon rains...
...the more things change the more they remain the same. Jesus said "the poor ye always have with you."
:(
Politicians across the Indian political spectrum are condemning President Bush's remark, linking high food prices in the West to a growing middle class in India. From New Delhi, VOA Correspondent Steve Herman reports Indians are pointing the finger back at the United States.
The governing coalition and opposition in India rarely agree on much, but they are united in condemning the American president for saying a growing demand for food grains by India's middle class is partly to blame for the surge in global food prices.
Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony calls President Bush's comment "a cruel joke" contending that U.S. policies, including advocating bio-fuels, are responsible for higher food prices.
Ecologist Shiva argues Indians, overall, are eating less, not more, despite a growing middle class here.
"Per capita consumption of food has dropped from 177 kilograms per capita per year to 152 in the last decade and a half. Instead of Mr. Bush citing that 350 million middle class, he should be citing the Indian children being denied. One million a year are dying for lack of food," added Shiva.
India has always been a land of vast economic inequalities...maharajas lived in opulent luxury, while hungry masses scrounged out a living and lived at the mercy of the monsoon rains. Economic development fueled by manufacturing, software and services boom has created a big middle class that aspires to Macdonalds and Dominos Pizza, but that still leaves about 500 million Indians that eke out a living and live at the mercy of the monsoon rains...
...the more things change the more they remain the same. Jesus said "the poor ye always have with you."
:(