 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Thai PM lashes out at World Bank over biofuel criticism
Bangkok (AFP) April 22, 2008 Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej Tuesday lashed out at the World Bank and UN for criticising biofuel producing nations for soaring food prices while sparing oil exporters. Samak said he had set up two government committees to oversee the urgent issues of energy prices and food supply as he reassured Thais there was enough rice for domestic consumption. Biofuels were developed as part of plans to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, held responsible for global warming, but since they take up land that would otherwise be used for food production, they have been increasingly blamed for soaring food prices. The World Bank said earlier this month that increased biofuel production had contributed to the rise in food prices. "Let me ask the World Bank whether they used to ask oil exporting countries before pointing their fingers and blaming us that we have to use rice fields to grow biofuel crops," Samak told reporters. "They have unreasonably continued to inflate oil prices even though the oil supply is not running out yet," he added. Samak also angrily attacked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who he said had voiced concern over the world food crisis but failed to tackle rocketing oil prices. "Mr Ban Ki-moon complained about agricultural producing countries but he never pays attention to oil-exporting countries, which really cause volatility in our world economy," he said. Samak said his government would immediately study using abandoned government land to increase agricultural output. "Thailand is not to worry at all -- I have asked the finance ministry to consider developing the government's own land for cultivation so Thailand will be the world's kitchen," he said. Thailand, world largest rice exporter, Tuesday projected rice production would hit 30.93 million tonnes of paddy in this crop year. The Office of Agriculture Economics forecast total production after milling would be 20.4 million tonnes, with 55 percent for domestic consumption and the remainder for export. Thailand produced 19.6 million tonnes last year. International demand for Thai rice has soared after other top exporters, Vietnam and India, imposed limits on exports to ensure domestic supply. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com
Scrap capitalism to save the planet : Bolivian president
United Nations (AFP) April 21, 2008Bolivian President Evo Morales proposed scrapping capitalism and developing clean energies as part of radical measures "to save the planet and mankind." |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
