CLUTTERBUCKreports.
Contrary to what agricultural scientists, environmentalists, and most of the Third world think, their problem is not whether whether the climate and resources LITTLESEU roduction, but is normally quite Imply one of the capitalist food industry "suffers' from a chronic tendency to overproduce - for the market, Not enough food can be bought to feed the voracious appetite of capitalist accumulation. Only under capitalism could there besuch a problem.
Take the continued production of wheat in North America since the turn of the century- This became especially enous during the depression of 1929-30 when a massive surplus threatened "wholesale bankruptcy and the welfare of the nation. It was suggested that 12-15 million acres be removes from production. During the 1990s and 60s such "land banks became a reguiar feature of the US economy and by 1972 had reached 70 million acres • - greater than the total land surface of the UK.
Not was this the only way the US World War whest ot rid of its surplus. In the First via Belgium, to both sides. In the second World War EAC national Committee on Food for Small Democracies was founded. After the war, the Marshall Plan supplied enormous quantities Europe. Since then, under Public Law 480, 25 billion dollars worth of whear has been shipped across the world as food aid - which just happens to create dependency on the U.S. through the technologs necessary to utilise its varieties of wheat, and through replacement of native staple foods such as rice, maize and yams. Needless to say, Grain furthered the ends of the U.S. TERESTS those of the countries for which the wheat was Yer what about the well-known shortages and recent rises! Look at coffee: the present shoriage stems from the frost in Brazil in 1975, but the average amount of production In Brazi has been regulated by Government since 1905 through control of the acreage planted. So overproduction is the norm, At the same time food has become yet anorber arena for the speculators, hence forcing prices up.
And it la concern Cuproacon or Be Journe! that is the central motive, not only marketing boards, but also for the Common Agricultural Policy of the EEC. This has the aim of setting up a free trade area within relatively tightly controlled tariff barriers ( to challenge U.S.
egemony). There are now tw centres of overproduction in th mountains and wine lakes Overproduction can also be ased to explain Increased meat or wheat chan Likewise, LOOKEL EEC, where better to get rid of its surplus dried milk than by fooding it to cows? It is used for this DurDose in Cimeny (bere have been complaints from British farmers, being more expene nell sir control mar need to control market forces has some peculiar effects.
The size of potatoes, frozen peas the shape of carrots, the prorein and water content of wheat and food additives are all 'controlled' by 'standards' supposedly sel sclentifically, yet funnily enough, these standards shift each year. While you're stuffing yourself silly this Christmas, just give a thought to the managers of the world's food industry and their problem. Their problem is not how to produce enough food to feed 500 millior starving people. In fact it is the reverse: how not to produce too much food. CHARLIE So is would standards (set by marketing boards) are there to protect the market — people dr They enable the larger growers with well sprayed an 1000 constituted crops, to gain acoess to the markets at the expense of the smaller, armers. They are of particular benelit for processors (Unilever in the guise of Bachelors ar whateseri to conlo the marker But surely this B not the only way 'science" i related to food over: production, Doesn't overproduction of food simply arise from improved tochniques? Ironically it does пос. The technology of fo under capitalism make it easier lo organise production and disentire tribution, but do not necessarily contribute to impeoving vicids. In some areas of production, such as peas, growing is now determined by the corporations, who decide not only LOC harvesting, but also sprays and seed types, and they control credit.
supplied, PROFITABLECROPS TRILCE rationalisation her ledato general, large-scale mechanisation, increed labour productivity and utilising the best land to grow the nost profitable crops has been th incentive, rather rields over wide areas of land, What thus does is concentrate production on some areas of land andmargmals e production on otbers even more. Even in the green revolution where muracle stral: of wheat and rice, together with irrigation, fertilisers. and increased yields on small areas of land, overall food production did not rise.
food price and the necessary fertilisers along with the wealth of this few, there increased rural depopu lation, the ation. The potential capacity fo food production is enormous bu while it i under the control of capitalism it will always be geared to its needs Capitalism feeds profits, not people!
about and although newsagent.
Hertfordshire.
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seem that the EEC and DO YOu evenly more diverse cropping One targe food science and production totally and han increasins pesticides machinery dramatically WINNER of the Socialist unemployment and stary(SCOTLAND From 20 December THEATRE COMPANY HANT SOCIALISTCHALLENGE, 15 December, 1977, page Left-Overs, our Xmas game aims to test the wit and skill players incorporating an element o chance. It is a simple game suitable for any number of Lefl-Overs involves players assessing others perform ance. We would draw you atlention to the fact that Socialist Challenge favour: positive discrimination to oppressed sections society To play Lell-Overe you need the centre pages of the paper; 2 dice; a pack olsuino cards. coins to mark players' positions on the board; pens and paper. The playing cards should be placed in 2 piles - red and THER RULES The game ends when DIO DINEr ENDS OR SO Left-Over plate Play begins with the amones person untowas the dice. The player advances according to the norber town the paye on the left follows suit.
board is divided Into 3 types of squares -blank, red and black Squares: These correspond to the red cards (hearts and diamonds) In the pack A player landing on a red square takes the top card in the red pile, compares i value to the OFE the board and fulfills the Instructions. Player on the left then throws the dice Black squares: As for squares but with clube and spades The used red and blac are placed beside their respective when all have bean used are reshuffled Questions: Some of the cards ask players to answer questions i player can justify one of the provided or think of their maximum of one minute EC BRAMARAWA? CRAT speak.
the othel taneously mark the answer show the marks togathe The score is averaged anc