Comments on: Americans Are Hoarding Food

By: Annie

Annie — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:29:24 +0000

Well said fiscalferret,

The aquifers and surface flows in this area contribute greatly to flows in the Murray Darling system also. Groundwater is absolutely critical in this area as it contributes to surface flows. Coal mining in this area will require a great deal of the water in the aquifers to be discarded to get at the coal. Years ago when I looked at the legislation, when you extract groundwater for a mining interest there is no charge for that water (could have changed but I don't think so). I hope the NSW water are in there boots and all with some pretty stringent EMPs. There should be lots of questions asked of the feds over this. Stop them getting RIO, they lock someone up, and so they get this as a pay off??? Very sus...

By: fiscalferret

fiscalferret — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:24:57 +0000

The Liverpool Plains area with its world class soil and fragile aquifers, is bread basket land
of the very highest importance. PRICELESS now and especially for future generations. It is an increasingly strategic & globally important resource worthy of FIRB oversight. To INVITE the destruction of its integrity in whole or part by coal mining interests without recognising this fact is not one of our governments smarter moves. It's probably as retarded as our limp-wristed financial/superfunds system failing to s-o-m-e-h-o-w facilitate the remaining capex required for our huge and highly strategic rare earth deposit in WA. Our Chinese friends are far less myopic and their available funding for both the above scenarios (et al) - is very seductive. Yeah, lets just grab da cash and blow billions on a cumbersome jumped up wasteful overkill broadband system instead - jus tink ovda jobs diggin holes and der xtreem sik online gamez we cud play - itedby un-reeeeeeel!!. (sorry about the contempt i was hoping it wouldn't show)

By: John

John — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:37:24 +0000

Andy,

Understand I wasn't advocating a massive move to foodstuff, only raising the concern that the real threat is not a shortage of sweet crude, but of food. The greatest national asset might be arable land, not gold, diamonds, or oil.

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:39:06 +0000

yes we could invest in commodities such as food, but SHOULD we? Trying to 'earn' a buck off a necessity of life hurts those who need such commodities to stay below a certain price to stay alive. Havent we learnt our lesson with that other essential, housing?

By: John

John — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:19:15 +0000

Speaking of resources, and more particularly, the world's imbalance thereof, the major world shortage is not oil, but food. Countries with out large tracts or arable lands such as the middle east, Australia, Africa, and even China may start to see food shortages in the future. Coupled with the fact that American farmers are switching from low income wheat to more profitable corn and soybeans, this could spell trouble. Future headlines may not speak of oil shortages, but of the amber waves of grain that once staved off world hunger converting to biofuels.