BEFORE THE G-8 SUMMIT-Merkel Warns Food Crisis Could 'Destabilize Nations'

[Snowy Owl]

BEFORE THE G-8 SUMMIT
Merkel Warns Food Crisis Could 'Destabilize Nations'

The G-8 summit in Tokyo, which opens Monday, faces a number of alarming problems, and Germany's chancellor has sent a letter to other leaders of the world's industrialized nations arguing that the sudden rise in the price of food needs urgent attention.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,564063,00.html​

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has set a tone ahead of this week's G-8 summit in Japan by sending a starkly-worded warning to her colleagues about the consequences of rising food prices. The crisis, she wrote in a six-page letter to other G-8 leaders last Monday, might "endanger democracy, destabilize nations and lead to international security problems."
Merkel organized a working group last April to analyze the recent rise in world food prices and to recommend solutions. Her government experts have found that "speculative trading in futures markets ? have a significant influence on the level and volatility of staple food prices." To answer the "dramatic nature" of the crisis, the commission recommends "heightened agricultural productivity" in developing nations, a "quick supply of seeds, fertilizer and farm equipment to selected regions" as well as "the instant abolition of export restrictions."

These measures should guarantee that financial and food help will reach the people most affected by the crisis, according to the commission.

Sign up for Spiegel Online's daily newsletter and get the best of Der Spiegel's and Spiegel Online's international coverage in your In-Box everyday.


The chancellor also mentioned that Germany has made available $750 million (?477 million) to ease the food shortage in poor nations. Her commission found that 30 of the world's poorest countries needed about $20 billion to import needed food. At the G-8 meeting in Tokyo, Merkel wants to organize a UN task force to address the problem, and help plan the way ahead.

Over the weekend Merkel also noted in a guest commentary in the German paper Tagesspiegel am Sonntag that the recent spike in oil prices would be a topic at the G-8 summit.

"It's important to increase transparency in international oil markets," she wrote, in order to "hamper speculation, which is responsible for a perceptible portion of the price rise."

msm/ddp

 

[FrenchieGirl]

Re: BEFORE THE G-8 SUMMIT-Merkel Warns Food Crisis Could 'Destabilize Nations'

BEFORE THE G-8 SUMMIT
Merkel Warns Food Crisis Could 'Destabilize Nations'

The G-8 summit in Tokyo, which opens Monday, faces a number of alarming problems, and Germany's chancellor has sent a letter to other leaders of the world's industrialized nations arguing that the sudden rise in the price of food needs urgent attention.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,564063,00.html[/center]

.....

Merkel organized a working group last April to analyze the recent rise in world food prices and to recommend solutions. Her government experts have found that "speculative trading in futures markets … have a significant influence on the level and volatility of staple food prices." To answer the "dramatic nature" of the crisis, the commission recommends "heightened agricultural productivity" in developing nations, a "quick supply of seeds, fertilizer and farm equipment to selected regions" as well as "the instant abolition of export restrictions."
....

The World Bank also issued a report in April 2008 entitled: "Policy Research Working Paper 4594 - Implications of Higher Global Food Prices for Poverty in Low-Income Countries"

http://www-wds.worldbank.org/extern...58349_20080416103709/Rendered/PDF/wps4594.pdf

Abstract

In many poor countries, the recent increases in prices of staple foods raise the real incomes of those selling food, many of whom are relatively poor, while hurting net food consumers, many of whom are also relatively poor. The impacts on poverty will certainly be very diverse, but the average impact on poverty depends upon the balance between these two effects, and can only be determined by looking at real-world data. Results using household data for ten observations on nine low-income countries show that the short-run impacts of higher staple food prices on poverty differ considerably by commodity and by country, but, that poverty increases are much more frequent, and larger, than poverty reductions. The recent large increases in food prices appear likely to raise overall poverty in low income countries substantially.

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: BEFORE THE G-8 SUMMIT-Merkel Warns Food Crisis Could 'Destabilize Nations'

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END -->

دعا قادة مجموعة الدول الصناعية الثماني الكبري أمس الدول المنتجة للنفط إلي زيادة قدراتها الانتاجية والتكريرية ?في الامد القصير? للحد من ارتفاع اسعار النفط.​

The leaders of the Group of Eight major industrial nations yesterday the oil producing countries to increase their productive capacity and refining ?in the short term? to reduce the high oil prices.

وقال رؤساء دول وحكومات مجموعة الثماني المجتمعون في مدينة توياكو اليابانية في بيان: ?نحن قلقون جدا لارتفاع اسعار النفط الذي يؤدي إلي مخاطر علي الاقتصاد العالمي?.​

He said the Heads of State and Government of the Group of Eight meeting in the Japanese city of Boyac? in a statement: ?We are very high oil prices, which leads to risks to the global economy?.

واكدوا أن جهودا تشاورية ضرورية لحل الاسباب الكامنة لذلك لمصلحة الجميع.​

They stressed that efforts consultative necessary to resolve the underlying causes for the benefit of everyone.

من جهة أخري، عبرت المجموعة في اعلان حول الاقتصاد نشر خلال القمة عن قلقها من تزايد الضغوط التضخمية في الاقتصاد العالمي بسبب ارتفاع أسعار المواد الاولية وخصوصا النفط والغذاء.​

Elsewhere, the group expressed in the Declaration on the publication of the economy during the summit expressed concern of increased inflationary pressures in the global economy due to higher prices for raw materials, especially oil and food.

ورأوا أن ذلك يشكل خطرا جديا علي استقرار النمو العالمي.​

They felt that this was a serious danger to the stability of global growth. <o></o>

وتحدث الاعلان عن تحسين وضع الاسواق المالية في الاشهر الاخيرة لكنه أكد استمرار وجود أوضاع متوترة جدية.​

The announcement of improving the status of financial markets in recent months, however, said the continued presence of tense situations seriously.

من جهة أخري، دعت المجموعة بشكل غير مباشر الصين إلي اعادة تقييم عملتها الين.​

Elsewhere, the group has indirectly to China's revaluation of its currency yen.

وقالت: إنها تدعو بعض الاقتصادات الناشئة التي تسجل فائضا جاريا ونموا كبيرين إلي تصحيح أسعار صرف عملاتها.​

She said: it calls some emerging economies which recorded a surplus being developed and great to correct their exchange rates. <o></o>

وحول النفط اعترفت الدول الثماني بأن البلدان الغنية يجب أن تساهم في تهدئة الاسعار ?ببذل جهود إضافية لتحسين فاعلية استخدام الطاقة ومواصلة تنويع مصادرها? للتقليص من الارتباط بالنفط.​

On the oil admitted eight States that rich countries must contribute to calming the price ?additional efforts to improve the efficiency of energy use and further diversify its sources? to reduce the association of oil. <o></o>

من جهة أخري، أكدت مجموعة الثماني انها ستقاوم المحاولات الحمائية في قطاعي التجارة والاستثمار الدولي.​

Elsewhere, the Group of Eight they would resist attempts protectionism in the sectors of trade and international investment.

ودعا إلي انجاز مفاوضات دورة الدوحة حول التجارة العالمية.​

He called for completion of Doha Round negotiations on world trade.

وقال القادة في بيانهم: إن ?انجاز اتفاق طموح ومتوازن وشامل اساسي لنمو الاقتصاد العالمي والتنمية?.​

The leaders said in their statement: that ?complete agreement ambitious, balanced and comprehensive essential for global economic growth and development?. <o></o>

وتخصص قمة الثماني بعد ظهر الثلاثاء لمحادثات مخصصة للبيئة والتنمية في أفريقيا.​

He specializes Eight summit Tuesday afternoon for talks dedicated to environment and development in Africa.

وتختتم القمة الاربعاء.​

The summit ends Wednesday.

واتفق قادة مجموعة الدول الصناعية الثماني الكبري في اليابان علي خفض انبعاثات غازات التدفئة العالمية بنسبة ?50% علي الاقل? بحلول 2050 علي أن تحدد كل دولة لاحقا اهدافا علي المدي المتوسط.​

It was agreed the leaders of the Group of Eight major industrialized nations in Japan to cut greenhouse gas heating by the World ?50% at least? by 2050 to identify each subsequent targets in the medium term. <o></o>

وقال اعلان القمة حول التغير المناخي: إن مجموعة الثماني وبينها الولايات المتحدة ترغب ?في أن تقرر خلال المفاوضات تحت أشراف الأمم المتحدة خفض الانبعاثات العالمية لغازات التدفئة بحلول العام 2050 بنسبة 50% علي الاقل?.​

The summit declaration on climate change: that the Group of Eight, including the United States wishes ?to decide through negotiations under United Nations auspices reduce global emissions of greenhouse heating by the year 2050 by at least 50%?. <o></o>

واعترفت الدول الثماني بان ?هذا التحدي لايمكن مواجهته الا برد شامل?.​

States recognized that the eight ?this challenge can be met only comprehensive response?.

واضاف الاعلان أن التوصل إلي ذلك يتطلب اهدافا علي المدي المتوسط وخططا وطنية لخفض الانبعاثات، بدون تحديد أي موعد أو حجم هذا الخفض بالارقام، موضحا أن هذه الخطط التي ستقرها كل دولة يمكن أن تعكس مقاربات مختلفة.​

He added that a declaration that requires medium-term targets and national plans for reducing emissions, without specifying any date or size of this reduction figures, explaining that these plans be approved by each State may reflect different approaches. <o></o>​

واكدت الوثيقة أهمية ?مساهمة كل الاقتصادات الرئيسية? وخصوصا الدول الناشئة مثل الصين والهند، وهي نقطة كانت تطالب بها ادارة الرئيس الامريكي جورج بوش.​

The document stressed the importance ?contribution of all major economies? particularly emerging countries such as China and India, a point that had been demanded by the administration of President George W. Bush.

من جهة أخري اعترفت مجموعة الثماني بأنه يعود الي الاقتصادات المتطورة ?لعب دور محرك? في مكافحة الاحتباس الحراري.​

Elsewhere acknowledged that the Group of Eight advanced economies due to ?play the role of engine? in the fight against global warming.

وخلال قمة هايليغندام ?المانيا? العام الماضي اكتفت مجموعة الثماني بالاتفاق علي ?التفكير جديا? في خفض الانبعاثات الملوثة بالنصف بحلول منتصف القرن الحالي.​

During the summit Hailegndam ?Germany? last year but only by agreeing to the Group of Eight ?thinking seriously? to reduce polluting emissions by half by the middle of this century.

http://www.alwafd.org/v4/News/

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: BEFORE THE G-8 SUMMIT-Merkel Warns Food Crisis Could 'Destabilize Nations'

<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="left">

</td> <td align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]July 03,2008[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" width="90%"> [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]G8 leaders must take action to save most vulnerable in food crisis[/FONT]
</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"> [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]"There is an urgent need to act now to scale-up treatment for children who are most at risk of dying of malnutrition," said Dr. Susan Shepherd, nutritional advisor for MSF's Access to Essential Medicines Campaign.[/FONT] </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"> Tokyo - M?decins Sans Fronti?res (MSF) today called on G8 leaders who will gather next week in Japan to take bold decisions to adequately finance food aid and nutrition programmes directed at young children.

With the crisis of malnutrition contributing to between three and five million child deaths annually, the summit must commit to providing funds to implement new and effective strategies to address malnutrition.

At the G8 in Japan in 2000, world leaders showed that they could act to stimulate concrete change by creating the Global Fund to Fight AIDS Tuberculosis and Malaria. So today there is significant support for a country that wants, for example, to scale-up AIDS treatment. MSF is now calling for the same level of commitment from the G8 in radically reducing malnutrition in children.

"There is an urgent need to act now to scale-up treatment for children who are most at risk of dying of malnutrition," said Dr. Susan Shepherd, nutritional advisor for MSF's Access to Essential Medicines Campaign. "Ninety five percent of children with the most severe form of malnutrition do not get adequate treatment. G8 leaders can take immediate steps to get children this life-saving treatment."

The UN estimates US$8 billion will be needed each year to fund comprehensive nutrition strategies for children and women in 100 million families at risk. One and a half billion dollars of this is needed annually to treat those children most at risk of death from the most severe form of malnutrition. G8 leaders need to ensure that affected countries can scale-up programmes and know that highly nutritious ready-to-use food will be available to them free of charge.

MSF is seeing rising levels of malnutrition in its projects in several of the world's hotspots, including Ethiopia, and Niger. The 'hunger gap' period between harvests, compounded by drought has led to elevated levels of malnutrition. In Oromiya, and in projects in the Southern Region of Ethiopia, MSF has admitted more than 6,500 severely malnourished children since mid-May.

Malnutrition is a chronic emergency that is only exacerbated by rising food prices. When food prices are high, poor families must cut out expensive animal source foods such as dairy, eggs and meats from their diets. These are key to ensuring young children grow properly and are able to fend off disease.

Yet food aid for children consists of corn or wheat/soy blended porridge without any animal source content, which are not effective at addressing malnutrition. The milk component of donated enriched flours targeted at young children was eliminated from U.S. food aid in the late 1980s for economic reasons, when there were no more milk surpluses. Low cost solutions in this case can be dangerous.

As more and more families ask themselves how they will feed their children, MSF asks the G8 leaders if they are willing to make a substantial and sustained investment in children's futures.

"We all know which foods children need to grow and be healthy, so how is it leaders are satisfied with the double standard of sending food that they wouldn't dream of giving their own kids?" said Dr. Shepherd. "Without concrete, significant long-term commitments, we are fooling ourselves to think that we will have a significant impact on treatment and prevention of child malnutrition."

MSF has treated over 150,000 children in 2006 and 2007 in 22 countries with therapeutic and supplemental food.

http://www.msf.org/msfinternational...mponent=toolkit.pressrelease&method=full_html

</td></tr></tbody></table>