02/28/2008 TO Enviro-news - evening

Food and the Specter of Malthus
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/022808EA.shtml
Mark Thirlwell of The Financial Times writes: "Last week, financial markets experienced that 1970s feeling, as a combination of rising inflation and unemployment in the US triggered unwelcome memories of the decade of stagflation. Then came this week's report that the United Nations world food program might have to ration food aid. Set against a backdrop of rising food prices worldwide - global food prices have now risen by more than 75 percent since their lows of 2000, jumping more than 20 percent in 2007 alone - the news revived fears from a much earlier era, conjuring up the Reverend Thomas Malthus."

Alaska Town Sues 24 Energy Firms on Climate Change
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/022808EB.shtml
Timothy Gardner reports for Reuters: "An Alaskan village north of the Arctic Circle has filed suit in a US District Court against 24 energy companies, in an attempt to link erosion damage from global warming to the defendants' actions."

Brother, Can You Spare a Carbon Credit?
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/022808EC.shtml
Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow of The Boston Globe reports: "Thinkers weigh a radical new way to reduce greenhouse gas: Give everyone an individual carbon allowance, and let the dealing begin."