An executive with Royal Dutch Shell (an oil company) says that it’s morally inappropriate to use food crops to create fuels because there are hungry people in the world. I hope he doesn’t leave any food on his plate when he dines out.
More to the point, currently the world produces more calories of food than are required to feed everyone in the world, and of course more food crops could be produced. There is no global food shortage. Hunger is caused by problems with food distribution and poverty, not due to an insufficient food supply.
It’s this sort of disingenuousness that makes people distrust corporate spokesmen. If they have created some new, sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, I’m excited to hear about them. There’s no need to make up reasons why people should care.
July 12, 2006 at 4:42 am
I could not agree more. When I read that, my jaw dropped. Simply couldn’t believe someone was stupid enough to say that.