I noticed this article online a few weeks ago http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7482383.stm and it talks about Tesco in particular, and other British supermarkets pulling out of deals with Zimbabwe.

Putting the economic problems of Zimbabwe to one side, it has been well documented that a large part of the population is starving. Is it therefore right, that BIG western companies actually import food from this country? Surely there is a serious ethical issue here? Tesco are taking food from the starving, to feed the full westerners?

I would also question the economic impact of this. Surely with inflation in Zimbabwe at a reported 2,200,000% the actual cost of importing food from Zimbabwe would be tiny, however with food prices across the world increasing, has this saving been passed onto customers in the UK? Probably not!

I may well be totally wrong, and I hope I am, but I would feel that any relationship Food Superstores have with Zimbabwe are financially motivated, rather than trying to help the country. If governments want to impose sanctions on the Zimbabwean Government then surely severe penalties should be brought against companies who are profiting from the exploitation of Zimbabwe, a country that cannot feed itself, exporting cheap goods to the western world.

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I came across this news article on the BBC NEWS site http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7300570.stm it discusses the possibility of controlling elephant populations through culling. I just wanted to expand on this subject a little.

Elephants, in my opinion, are some of the most majestic creatures earth has been blessed with. Animals who have highly developed social and communication within their family groups. I find it sad that rather than further study of these magnificent animals, we are instead discussing the idea of culling many of them, all because they are starting to get in the way!

It is the last point which really gets to me, we have raped and abused our planet, and it seems everything is only here to serve us. Should a forest get in our way, we burn it, should elephants get in our way, we kill them, hell some people are overjoyed about the Arctic Icecap melting as it will provide a clear path for shipping! Forget about the rich biodiversity which could be lost as a result of the destruction of this fragile habitat.

It seems though, Western Governments have no real interest in protecting or helping international biodiversity, and why should they? After all they cannot even protect their own lands properly, we seem to be on a one way mission of destruction. Short term profit is more important in the eyes of governments compared with long term sustainability.

The comments on the article are somewhat heated and suggestions have been made about culling humans. I don’t believe this is the way to go either, but something needs to be done to curb the ever expanding human race. Every new baby born, is one more mouth to feed, one more person to educate, one more person to provide healthcare for, one more job taken, one less house available. If we continue to fail in addressing the sustainable way we live our lives, then our problems will have grown ten fold. We need to start working with nature, instead of continuing to use it as a slave for ourselves!

Filed under: Ramblings by Moley
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