Forbes speculates on massive food crisis in 2011 A bigger shock than $150 oillink

27 Oct  2010 - "Food prices are high and going higher," says Addison Wiggin in this article in Forbes. "Here’s what’s happened to some key farm commodities so far in 2010..." Corn: Up 63% Wheat: Up 84% Soybeans: Up 24% Sugar: Up 55% The rise has now gone into overdrive, says Wiggins, who blames two factors… "Aug. 5: A failed wheat harvest prompted Russia to ban grain exports through the end of the year ... (then) through the end of 2011. Drought has wrecked the harvest in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan – home to a quarter of world production.   "Oct. 8: For a second month running, the Agriculture Department cut its forecast for US corn production. The USDA predicts a 3.4% decline from last year. Damage done by Midwestern floods in June was made worse by hot, dry weather in August. What if there’s a Russia-scale crop failure in the United States,  asks Wiggins. “When we have the first serious crop failure, which will happen,” says farm commodity expert Don Coxe, “we will then have a full-blown food crisis” – one far worse than 2008. “I believe the next food crisis – when it comes – will be a bigger shock than $150 oil.” If I'm right about the coming ice age, food prices could skyrocket far more than Mr. Coxe is now imagining. During the last Little Ice Age, literally millions of people died of starvation. People dreaded going to prison because they might become part of the menu. There are even reports of parents eating their own children. See entire article, along with suggestions on how to invest defensively: http://blogs.forbes.com/greatspeculations/2010/10/27/the-food-crisis-of-2011/ Thanks to William Sellers for this link

^Coldest in Trondheim, Norway in 222 years - Since 1788 ~ link ~ link

November har vært beinkald i hele landet. Trondheim har ikke hatt det kaldere på 222 år!

^Lethal cold weather grips northern Europe ~ link ~

Thousands of railway passengers had to spend the night in trains in Germany as snow paralysed many high-speed inter-city routes. Flights were disrupted in the UK, France, the Netherlands and Germany. In Poland, 18 people have died from exposure over the past two days. Temperatures dropped to as low as -26C (-14.8F) in Poland on Wednesday.

Temperatures dropped to as low as -26C (-14.8F) in Poland on Wednesday.

Some 3,000 rail passengers were stranded overnight in trains in Germany, German railway operator Deutsche Bahn said. The authorities in Berlin kept underground stations, soup kitchens and heated buses open all night to provide shelter for the city's homeless. Significant flight delays were reported at London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam Schiphol, Berlin Tegel and Duesseldorf airports.

Geneva airport reopened on Thursday morning, but was advising that passengers arrive a full two hours before the departure time and use public transport to avoid traffic problems on the roads.


^Denmark: Worst November weather in 131 years ~ link ~ 

Foto: Heidi Andersen

 

^Snow brings further travel misery in UK - with videos ~ link ~ Also see: Snow causes more transport disruption across England - with videos ~ link ~ The threat of heavy snow is continuing to linger over rail, road and air passengers in England as the severe weather persists. Met Office heavy snow warnings remain in place for the East, London, the South East and the East Midlands.

Gatwick Airport is to stay closed until 0600 GMT on Friday and flights have been suspended and cancelled at other airports. Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has announced a review into travel chaos. Gatwick Airport said its teams were "working around the clock" to make the runway safe but it warned temperatures could drop to as low as -10C overnight. The snow in Sheffield city centre was 38cm (15in) deep on Thursday - the most recorded in December since records began in 1882.

^More snow forecast as disruptions continue in Scotland ~ link ~ 

 

Forecasters are warning of more heavy snow in eastern Scotland as severe weather continues to cause problems across the country. More than 1,000 schools were closed in Scotland, and there has been further disruption on the roads, railways and for flights. Edinburgh Airport reopened to outbound flights at 1600 GMT after being closed for the best part of three days. The Met Office issued a severe weather warning for heavy snow in the east. Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Borders are expected to be the areas worst affected.

Commuters across the country have already had to contend with treacherous conditions after snowfalls overnight and black ice. Concerns have been voiced that petrol and diesel supplies could run out in rural areas of eastern Scotland by the weekend. 

^England: Snow closes roads and schools from Cornwall to Scotland - with video ~ link ~ Deep snow and freezing conditions in the North East and Scotland were causing widespread travel disruption today, with icy temperatures everywhere else creating similar problems for commuters. 

There is no sign of a let-up in the wintry weather, with bitter winds increasing and more parts of the UK including London facing snow in the coming days.