An enduring global food crisis has become one of the farthest-reaching consequences of Russia’s ongoing war, contributing to widespread starvation, poverty and countless premature deaths. Ships loaded with Ukrainian wheat and other grains are currently backed up along the Bosporus Strait in Istanbul as they await inspections before hopefully moving on to ports around the world.
But the number of ships sailing through this narrow Turkish strait, which connects the Black Sea to wider waters, dropped sharply when Russia invaded Ukraine 10 months ago and imposed a naval blockade. Moscow has begun allowing some vessels to pass, but it continues to restrict most shipments from Ukraine, in a region that once exported a quarter of the world’s wheat. A severe drought in the Horn of Africa has only made matters worse, and food shortages are further exacerbated by unusually harsh weather in other parts of the world. The UN World Food Program estimates that more than 345 million people are suffering from or at risk of acute food insecurity, a figure more than double what it was in 2019.
Bearing all this in mind, understand that American food waste is responsible for twice as many greenhouse gas emissions as commercial aviation, and climate experts suggest that reducing food waste is one of our best shots at combating climate change. A 2023 resolution for myself as well as any readers who are quick to toss out leftovers; expiration dates are more of a suggestion.
Side Items
RIP Gangsta Boo: The First Lady of Southern Rap & key member of Three 6 Mafia died unexpectedly yesterday at the age of 43. She’ll be forever remembered as a trailblazer and pioneer in the rap industry, who managed to bring a platinum plaque back to Memphis. She also served as a blueprint for many of the younger female rappers today, and is spoken of as someone who always tried to encourage future innovators
14 Killed in Mexican Prison Attack: An audacious and brutal attack on a prison in the border city of Ciudad Juarez resulted in 14 deaths and the escape of at least 24 inmates. One witness said the attackers were dressed all in black, were better armed than the police, and were shooting at any vehicles that passed by. It’s got all the hallmarks of cartel activity, and it’s just the kind of assault that’ll be plastered on the front page of Fox News for a month
River in the Sky: Northern California got caught up in some wild weather last week, as a nasty “atmospheric river” brought floods and landslides to large parts of the West Coast. Rescuers were still plucking trapped passengers from submerged vehicles yesterday, while rivers and creeks swelled until they spilled over their banks. Meanwhile, streets in downtown San Francisco were still draining after the city nearly broke its record for the most rainfall on a single day
Idaho Murder Suspect: A 28-year-old graduate student arrested in connection with the murders of four University of Idaho students is believed to be the only suspect in the high-profile case. Washington State University identified Bryan Kohberger as a Ph.D. student in its department of criminal justice and criminology, and not to make light of a quadruple murder, but it appears Bryan still has much to learn