Sunday, February 03, 2013

Hunger, Biofuel, Taxes, Aid-How are they all related?

My brain has been convinced of capitalism and the benefits of it. Now and then I like to challenge my beliefs and concepts. The choice of capitalism as a solution to better health and wealth of the society comes from the failure of socialism. But one does see lot of inequality, plenty of destitutes, hungry children and women. Get to hear justifications that each makes his own destiny and is architect of his own life. So are the poorest responsible for their condition all by themselves? How responsible are we? How responsible is each person who can make a difference? How responsible are governments?
Few lectures, few readings are making me challenge my thoughts and look closely at some loopholes in capitalism. There is a better way and we need to innovate that better way and employ it.
Lancet has published recently an article, "Hunger:Enough Is Enough". An inexpensive and readily treatable condition in the world is HUNGER. The figures are shameful considering that there is enough food for everyone and lot gets wasted. Numerous reasons are there why the hungry remain hungry. Women and children are the vulnerable lot. And most of them are small farmers.
A report has called for UK to take leadership position in taking action against global hunger. The report Enough Food For Everyone If  is a wake up call for each individual and every government and not just for UK. We all have a moral responsibility to ensure that food which is available reaches those who are dying of hunger.
The policy to use biofuels extensively has led to increase in food prices leading to denial of food to the poor. The poor and small farmers suffer the most as the local products are exported. Also the dodging of taxes results in less funds for governments to employ welfare programs. Tax havens, multiple corporate entities ensure a smooth legal way of avoiding taxes. The taxes avoided are in the developing countries which undermines their ability to utilize those funds. Such and many other facts are highlighted in the report. There could be many counter arguments. One appears in Lancet titled "What's Wrong With Inequality?". Greater regulations normally end up in the flight of capital from developing nations. Markets need to have freedom. Free markets are the best.
But what we see around us need to stir us to innovate better solutions.

The following video gives some hope.


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