China and other countries "land grab" for future agriculture to feed the growing masses. They are not yet wanting another planet(soon though). But they sure want more of this one. The WWF report might be right on target.


"Food crisis leading to an unsustainable land grab

Private companies across the world are buying huge quantities of foreign land for the mass production of food. Sue Branford wonders if this quick-fix solution risks creating an even bigger environmental crisis

The world map is being redrawn. Over the past six months, China, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other nations have been buying and leasing huge quantities of foreign land for the production of food or biofuels for domestic consumption. It's a modern day version of the 19th-century scramble for Africa."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environmen.../food-biofuels

[barbie biggs]

It is a fact that on the same acre of land you can raise a cow, you can feed a family of 10 vegetables. Not too many years ago the Japanese and Koreans ate a little meat with their rice and vegetables. They had very low rates of heart disease. Almost nobody was overweight and diabetes was extremely rare.
Not that I want to turn back the clock but the eating habits of this country haven't helped either.
barbie

[Raisondetre]

The Chinese have always associated meat eating with wealth, and now that they are getting more affluent it's like they're trying to eat up all the meat they can get their hands on with a vengeance. They will be dropping dead like flies from smoking related and cardiovascular diseases very soon ... just give it a couple more decades.

[Hanaleimom]

Originally Posted by Raisondetre

The Chinese have always associated meat eating with wealth, and now that they are getting more affluent it's like they're trying to eat up all the meat they can get their hands on with a vengeance. They will be dropping dead like flies from smoking related and cardiovascular diseases very soon ... just give it a couple more decades.

I am not sure about other Asian countries, but Vietnamese think the same. Only poor families eat vegetables during my parents' generation. In the countryside, some families raise livestock as a living and save chickens only for the New Year fest (yes, meat once a year). We tend to look skinny, malnourished compared to Caucasians. However, I've noticed some really large Asian kids at a young age now, which look like they can be on the brink of juvenile diabetes. Years ago, especially for older folks, fat kids meant your families are blessed and you've raised your kids well. My in-laws always make comment to me about how skinny my kids are and asked what I fed them?

[Monty Hall]

Makes me want to re-watch _Soilent Green_.

Those rat images were so sad. Domestic rats tend to be clean, intelligent, *affectionate* pets!

Japanese also make a big deal about eating beef--'cos it's expensive.

Insecurity about looking poor will be the downfall of us all. The need to be hip, the need to have, the need to be sophisticated blinds us to reality. The less you need, the more powerful you are. Here's to beans and rice--the gaseous alternative!

Thanks for the excellent links and thought-provoking information, everyone!
CarolK

[Caitlin]

Beans, rice and veggies plus getting greener--that's the new hip.

I predict a continued upsurge in buying second hand clothing and second hand stuff, though that has been hip for 40 years.

[Slraep]

Two interesting articles in recent news:

China releases millions of fish to clean lake
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/149726/C...-to-clean-lake

Chinese farmers hit by water shortage
http://www.thenational.ae/article/20...6050/1015/NEWS

[Johanna]

Good Morning,

Recently I read that Paspaley Pearls has joined with a Dubai partner to explore pearl farming in Antarctica. Has anyone heard about this?

I am interested to know if global warming is making it easier or more difficult to develop pearl farms in Antarctica (if they being developed)...is the ocean and general climate more hospitable, or is warming de-stabilizing weather patterns and resulting in more typhoons...?

Discussion welcome!

Johanna Lolax, MA, GIA Diplomate
President and Founder
www.tenderbeautypearls.com
1-877-PEARL-01

[Pearlgully]

Johanna, could you please post the source of this info. I'd certainly like to read about this. Thanks in advance.

Gail

[jshepherd]

Originally Posted by Johanna

Good Morning,

Recently I read that Paspaley Pearls has joined with a Dubai partner to explore pearl farming in Antarctica. Has anyone heard about this?

I am interested to know if global warming is making it easier or more difficult to develop pearl farms in Antarctica (if they being developed)...is the ocean and general climate more hospitable, or is warming de-stabilizing weather patterns and resulting in more typhoons...?

Discussion welcome!

Johanna Lolax, MA, GIA Diplomate
President and Founder
www.tenderbeautypearls.com
1-877-PEARL-01

Not ACTUALLY In Antarctica!

Antarctica is a man-made island in the United Arab Emirates!

http://www.pearl-professor.com/2008/...ntarctica.html