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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!harpo!eagle!allegra!alice!rabbit!jj
From: jj@rabbit.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: The Joy of Starvation***New Subject, also***
Message-ID: <2437@rabbit.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 26-Jan-84 13:53:32 EST
Article-I.D.: rabbit.2437
Posted: Thu Jan 26 13:53:32 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Jan-84 01:19:27 EST
References: <854@ihuxl.UUCP>, <355@rayssd.UUCP>, <249@pyuxss.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 46


Well, Sharon, I can't say as I agree completely with your comments,
but I can say that you have at least stated a premise, and
suggested routes that can lead to solutions.  

Can you reference (or quote) some of the UN reports that you 
are mentioning?  <Yes, we all have work to do.>
Please DO bear in mind that a lot of the UN's output
is politically biased, and may not in fact represent
reality. <Look at some of the comments on 
Afghanistan/Grenada/Honduras/Poland to see the difference that
is imputed to the activities of various individuals and countries.>

More specifically, can you explain how US companies (I don't
say American companies> are ripping off small African
countries?  (I know some of the ways that are alledged/happening,
but I'd like to see some discussion.)

On the subject of food, I challenge your assertion that
the US could feed the world.  Our surpluses (even including the
really offensive amount of waste that you mention indirectly) would
indeed feed a lot of people for a while, but they do NOT, as far
as I've been able to tell, come close to reaching a steady
state solution, even assuming NO population growth or increased
consumption.  <Yes, it WOULD be nice to have another answer...>


******NEW SUBJECT**********


A subject that has not been discussed on this net is
the loss of topsoil in the US through erosion due to modern farming techniques.
If continued, the US will not, according to the most pessimestic projections,
be able to feed ITSELF in or around 2010AD.  (The more optimistic projections
give us to 2100.)  This fact <which is documented in many places,
most of them hard to reference>, coupled with the extreme depletion
of many of the major agricultural aquifers (which are being
depleted at SEVERAL TIMES their recharge rate, given excellent weather)
is an indication that farming techniques and food production techniques in the
USA must be severely altered if we are not to starve eventually ourselves.
<I don't justify keeping the current surplus due to that reason, but
it does show why we shouldn't unquestionably feed everyone.>
-- 
TEDDY BEARS ARE PEOPLE, TOO!

(allegra,harpo,ulysses)!rabbit!jj