The Big freeze in China

[malaise]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7219092.stm
<snip>

Millions of people have been affected by the severe snow
China is struggling to cope with its worst snowfall in decades, with officials warning of future food shortages as winter crops are wrecked. But forecasters are warning of more snow and urging people not to travel.

The bad weather has affected millions of Chinese keen to return to their home villages over the New Year holiday.

Communist Party official Chen Xiwen warned of a serious impact on crop production in the south of the country.

"The impact on fresh vegetables and on fruit in some places has been catastrophic," he said.

"If it heads northward, then the impact on the whole year's grain production will be noticeable."

Analysts say the destruction of crops will drive up food prices and fuel inflation, which has already risen rapidly over the past year.

More than half a million people, many of them migrant workers, have been unable to leave the city for the Lunar New Year holiday because of a blocked train line.

Add Pix
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7213852.stm

[orleans]

1. looks like they'll have to stoop to importing. n/t

[hack89]

2. This will be an interesting test of the Party's hold on power. nt

[Thothmes]

3. Undertand

that they have thrown a million or so of the PLA into clearing tracks and highways, delivering food and fuel.

[NewJeffCT]

4. Snow in Guangzhou? That's crazy - it's like snow in Miami or San Diego

or Mexico, even... WTF?

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/01/31/china.weather/

[SpiralHawk]

5. "...destruction of crops..."

In addition to the tragic human suffering, pay attention to this aspect of the story, in conjunction with these stories which were published in December, 2007 before the global climate change induced Big Freeze:


UN Warns: World food stocks dwindling rapidly

By Elisabeth Rosenthal – International Herald Tribune
December 17, 2007

ROME: In an "unforeseen and unprecedented" shift, the world food supply is dwindling rapidly and food prices are soaring to historic levels, the top food and agriculture official of the United Nations warned Monday.

more...

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/17/europe/food.

===================================


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USDA's Conner: Crop supplies "dicey" in 2008

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. farmers will win the race to grow enough corn, wheat and soybeans to satisfy food, feed and biofuel needs although 2008 will be "very dicey," said acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner on Thursday.

<more>

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN2017609720071220

[malaise]

6. True but the only thing that wakes the world's masses from

their slumber is food shortages. People will soon be rising up across the globe to smite their corporations and their political lackeys.

[SpiralHawk]

7. Hmmm - better if they rise up, grab shovels, and start planting

This is important stuff that will impact everyone. Time, right now, to be proactive...

[malaise]

8. Do both n/t