Millions Starve in West Africa

Aid agencies warn that more than 10 million people across west Africa face starvation in a food crisis at least as large as the Ethiopian famine of the 80s.

"Niger is at crisis point now and we need to act quickly before this crisis becomes a full-blown humanitarian disaster," said Caroline Gluck, an Oxfam representative in the country.

With food prices spiralling, people are being forced to slaughter malnourished livestock, traditionally the only form of income.

"When you walk through the markets, you can see that there is food here. The problem is that the ability to buy it has disappeared. People here depend on livestock to support themselves, but animals are being killed on the edge of exhaustion, and that means they are being sold for far less money. And on top of that, the cost of food basics has risen."

Another fine example of capitalism unfettered by government interference and what a great f*cking boon to humanity it is. Freemarketeers: discuss.

The biggest causes of future famines in the developing world will be tied to global warming (so no wingnut interest there) and food-price speculation as more of the world's arable land is taken up for the production of grains for ethanol production. Unfortunately, the market likes that money spinner. What it doesn't like so much is the less lucrative business of growing food for people to eat.