This seems like a straightforward way to kill a few hundred thousand people, particularly at a time when global wheat prices will be pushing poorer countries out of the market. I think I'd rather pay a little more at the grocery store and not have that on my conscience.
Populations in some countries are expanding infinitely. These countries should adapt now, by reducing family sizes and generally operating within resource limits based on national output and productivity. Losses of 100,000 today will be 100 million tomorrow.
It is unrealistic to imagine that countries such as Mali will voluntarily adopt family planning or quickly reach a sub-replacement fertility rate. The only limit to their population growth is incoming food supplies. About a quarter of the population is already reliant on international aid.
I've heard the argument from the other end from time to time, that Western food aid is bad because it distorts markets for food producers in the destination country (by making local farmers unable to stay in business). But I think this is the first time I've heard it argued that it's affecting prices in the West in a significant way.
> Male Patriarchs in Sub-Saharan Africa who father 6 children
When international policy preferences (especially ones that will result in mass death) are justified with highly specific examples that appear to be described with careful word choice to achieve a particular emotional response, I check for my wallet.
woodruffw|3 years ago
Reichhardt|3 years ago
Mali Population 1950: 4.7 million
Mali Population 2022: 21.4 million
Mali Population 2100: 80.3 million
https://www.populationpyramid.net/mali/2022/
UK Population 1950: 50.6 million
UK Population 2022: 68.5 million
UK Population 2100: 78 million
It is unrealistic to imagine that countries such as Mali will voluntarily adopt family planning or quickly reach a sub-replacement fertility rate. The only limit to their population growth is incoming food supplies. About a quarter of the population is already reliant on international aid.
mbg721|3 years ago
_jal|3 years ago
When international policy preferences (especially ones that will result in mass death) are justified with highly specific examples that appear to be described with careful word choice to achieve a particular emotional response, I check for my wallet.