As long as the rich can speculate on food, the world's poor go hungry

Published: July 1, 2012 - 3:00AM

WHEN we think of overseas aid, we think of helping people who need it. The government says aid helps people overcome poverty. But does it?

Obviously, to overcome poverty we have to overcome the causes of poverty, and the big causes of poverty today are untouched by aid. Poor countries are still forced to pay off unpayable debts. The global poor are facing ever-higher food prices, driven by speculation. And climate change is already destroying lands and livelihoods.

The United Nations warns that these three factors are now reversing global development. To stop this we need radical change.